If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Wii U's struggling sales have nothing to do with the console's name, says Fils-Aime  

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime doesn't think Wii U's struggling sales can be attributed to its name, but to the lack of steady game releases - something Nintendo has admitted time and time again over the last few months.

Speaking with Kotaku, Fils-Aime said the fact Wii U has sold 1.5 million units - half of what Wii sold in the states during the same release period - has nothing to do with consumer confusion.

"The challenges we're facing with Wii U are not issues of the name," Fils-Aime said. "The issue is the lack of a steady rate of software launches to motivate the consumer to drive buzz and engagement and to highlight the wide variety of uses of the GamePad. That's the issue."

"The consumer understands that we have a new system. But the consumer is saying: 'What am I going to play? And what am I going to play that's a new and unique and compelling experience vs. what I can do today, whether it's on the Wii or any other system?'

"And that's why experiences like Pikmin 3, like Wonderful 101, like Zelda Wind Waker HD, with the off-TV play, experiences like Super Mario 3D World—that's why it's critical that we launch those, have consumers experience them in malls across the country, which we'll be doing. It's critical that the consumer see for themselves the range and breadth of compelling software for the system."

Hopefully the $50 Wii U Deluxe model price drop and Q4 2013 release slate announced yesterday will help the company move more systems.

Sign in and unlock a world of features

Get access to commenting, homepage personalisation, newsletters, and more!

Related topics
About the Author
Stephany Nunneley-Jackson avatar

Stephany Nunneley-Jackson

News Editor

Stephany is VG247’s News Editor, with 22 years experience (with 15 of them at VG247). With a brain that lacks adhesive ducks, the ill-tempered, chaotic neutral fembot does her best to bring you the most interesting gaming news. She is also unofficially the site’s Lord of the Rings/Elder Scrolls Editor.

Comments