Original Story: According to a report in Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Nintendo will cease production of the Wii U some time later this year. The news certainly isn’t completely unexpected, as the Wii U has struggled with sales ever since it debuted in 2012. However, as its successor has yet to be officially unveiled, it still might feel premature to some.
As translated by Dr. Serkan Toto, the CEO of Tokyo-based game consulting company Kantan Games, the report states that “Nintendo will stop producing Wii U within 2016. It doesn’t say they will necessarily start selling NX in 2016.” Also, “some Wii U accessories are already not being produced anymore. Nintendo plans to deplete inventory this year.”
The Nintendo NX has been the source of endless speculation and rumors ever since it was officially announced as the successor to the Wii U. However, not even pictures of the system have been shown, leading to some wild ideas about how the platform will function. Many are expecting Nintendo to unveil the NX at E3 2016, giving real details for the first time.
If this report from Nikkei is to be believed, then they might also announce a release date within the next year or so. Unless stock of the Wii U is backlogged, stopping production will lead to a shortage relatively quickly, as consumers buy up the last of the available systems. And with accessories also stopping production, even longtime owners might have some issues, if a new system isn’t on the horizon to replace their Wii U.
- This article was updated on March 8th, 2018
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