Topic: Was this E3 the final nail in the coffin for the Wii U?

@HollywoodHogan: I generally consider wait-and-see to be a smart approach to ANY console. You're bound to at LEAST catch a price drop, and you can even wait for games you're actually interested in to drop. The only addendum I have to that rule is that because everyone and their mom could tell you we'll be getting a new Smash, a new Mario, a new Mario Kart, and a new Zelda on the next system, I'm personally ok with getting a console at launch because I know I'm gonna want all of that stuff.

I don't understand why people buy a system when it doesn't have at least a few games they want already released on it. Granted, I got my 3DS in 2011, but Star Fox 64 3D and Ocarina of Time 3D were already out for it, and Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 were releasing in the next few months. Not to mention the system was compatible with all my DS games.

I'm just sad Nintendo never did anything so bold or aggressive to save the Wii U as it did with the 3DS and its steep price cut followed by a blitz of good first-party software.

@Ralizah: YET. Nintendo hasn't done anything bold and aggressive to save the Wii U YET. People seem to forget that the NX isn't out yet, and even then, we still don't know whether or not it's going to replace the Wii U. Nintendo still has at least two years to make a late-game break for it.

The Wii U seems to be tapering out, Nintendo has already announced a new console is on the way (what it is, we don't know), and they are seemingly already stretched to their limits when having to create software for only two systems, let alone a third.

All indications point to the Wii U winding down. The chances that Nintendo suddenly increases software development for a console nobody really wants, while they are prepping another one release, are slim to none.

And to add to my previous statement, Nintendo has already released MK, Smash Bros, DKC, a Zelda (with another on the way), a main series Mario 3D game and a Star Fox title to release soon on the Wii U. Aside from Metroid, those are all their 'big guns' so to speak.

So what else that is 'bold and aggressive' is left for them to do with the Wii U? Nothing.

@HollywoodHogan: I'd say that Zelda U's development as well as the other bunches of games coming out for it soon (in NA at least) point to the Wii U having a good bit of life left in it.

• Zelda U
• Xenoblade Chronicles X
• Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival
• Devil's Third
• Fatal Frame
• Star Fox Zero
• Project Guard (if that ends up being a game...or is it the other "project"?)
• Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem
• Mario Tennis

...and whatever they haven't announced yet.

Wii U will be getting games up to 2017. Don't panic.

@GrailUK: Proof of that statement?

It's still in development, Platinum Games is helping them out. No word on Giant Robot...

@Octane: I thought Giant Robot was merged into Star Fox Zero...?

I feel fairly comfortable in saying that only Zelda U will be a sure fire hit, with Star Fox and XC also potentially selling well. The rest, to be honest, are either crappy throwaway titles (Mario Tennis? An Animal Crossing Mario Party clone?) or niche titles that don't even appeal to most Nintendo owners (the JRPGs and Devils Third). If Bayonetta 2, arguably one of the best action games ever didn't even sell that great or boost sales, how do you honestly expect those titles you listed to 'turn the ship around'? The system has zero third party support other than Lego games, and the majority of the games you listed, though they may appeal to you personally, are of no interest to the general gaming audience ie. the people Nintendo need to sell the Wii U too.

There will be no turn around. Just a petering out. Xbox and PS4 will have all the big titles this holiday season.

3D World is not a bold and aggressive Mario game by any means. It's one of the safest Mario games to ever come to console. If they want to be bold and aggressive show me a collectathon game and Metroid Prime 4, the Wii U doesn't have any games like that yet.

@HollywoodHogan: I wasn't putting that list up to try and say they'd be able to turn the Wii U's fortunes around with those games...just saying that the Wii U's got a fair amount of support over the next year with these titles and there are likely more we haven't heard of yet.

I don't think the Wii U will suddenly have a boost in sales. I just think this (known) lineup shows that the Wii U will have healthy support from Nintendo and the remaining third parties for a little longer.

@Bolt_Strike

Never said it was. Personally, I felt SM3DW was a bit bland. Graphics were nice but it didnt blow me away.
I was just making the point that Nintendo has already released nearly all of its big franchises on the Wii U but it hasn't helped sell it yet. I don't know what else they are supposed to do with it at this point but cut the price, hope they sell a couple million more, then move on.

I'm not sure, haven't read anything about that yet. A few months ago it was still planned for a Q1/2 2015 release, but nothing has been heard of the game ever since iirc.

@HollywoodHogan: Releasing games for Wii U that they release for every console isn't bold or aggressive. That's not to say that some of their software hasn't been quite bold: Splatoon, in particular, is the most unusual and interesting game they've made in years. But they haven't gone out of their way to push Wii U hardware sales like they did with the 3DS. Contrast this with, say, Microsoft, which has gone to great lengths to make its home console more appealing to consumers.

Also: advertising. I see adverts for 3DS everywhere. Not so much for Wii U. There's even still confusion among many people about what the Wii U even is.

What we know is that Wii U and 3DS are still going to be supported even after the NX releases. That's likely where the idea of Wii U getting support into 2017 is coming from.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/07/nintendo_nx_will_avo...

When NX is launched, there already will be a certain volume of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U hardware widely existing in the market, so from a software business perspective, it would be highly inefficient to stop releasing titles for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U right after the launch of NX.

I really doubt they're going to support the Wii U in any significant way after the launch of their home console. The Wii was not when the Wii U launched (for about a year before it launched, actually), and the gamecube was not when the Wii was shown. I'm thinking support for Iwata might mean still releasing eShop or virtual console games. Because there's no way they're going to put any meaningful dev teams to make Wii U games when they could be working on next-gen console games.

@TwilightAngel: Source: The internet silly! Go look and don't just take my word for it.