Nintendo in their earnings call had some good news to share. The company confirmed that over 10 million Wii U units have been sold so far, which has helped them earn over $9 million in profit.
With this announcement, Nintendo has indirectly confirmed that the company has not lost the console war to Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s Playstation 4. The Wii U console got released much before Sony and Microsoft could launch their consoles. When it came out in 2012, it was a bit of a disappointment for the gamers for a variety of reasons.
The Wii revolutionized the console gaming space with its motion sensor controllers. It was obviously a step into virtual reality but without wearing any of those heavy VR headsets. People enjoyed it so much that they expected Nintendo to release something futuristic with their next console. But, the Wii U came with a touch pad controller which wasn’t innovative or groundbreaking. The same result could be achieved with any console when a smartphone or a tablet is paired with it.
Adding to the woes, Wii U lacked first party exclusive titles. Unlike PS4 and Xbox One which is supported by companies like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, Nintendo’s consoles are highly dependent on their home studios. Games like Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart and Zelda are the ones that convince the people to buy the console.
Everything changed when Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros got launched on the Wii U. The console started selling like hot cakes and has touched a notable benchmark with 10 million units. Sony’s Playstation 4 sold the same number in just nine months since release while Xbox One is close on its heels. Nevertheless, it is a great achievement for Nintendo that prompted them to proudly announce it during their investors’ call.
The handheld 3DS console has sold two million units. There are gamers who still love Wii games which helped Nintendo sell 1.1 million titles within a short span of three months. Everything’s going good for the company so far. They have also confirmed their interest in the mobile gaming industry.
Within the next three years, five different first party titles from Nintendo will land on the iOS and Android platforms. They are also working on a new console titled the NX. It is touted to be the next big revolutionary change in gaming industry. We could confirm the same when it gets launched in 2017 or later.
