Dcubed

The natural course of the 3DS being due a replacement first (being released a full 1.5 years earlier than the Wii U would mean that its successor would've been in development for that much longer - plus handheld games are quicker to make than console ones). The timeframe of the New3DS' release matching up perfectly with the DSi. The March release (which is completely unheard of for a console, but being normal for Nintendo's handhelds). The third pillar strategy in use with the NX (again matching the DS). The fact that they skipped Pokemon Z and are getting Pokemon S&M out for November (exactly like Pokemon B&W, which came out mere months before the 3DS did). The lack of internally developed releases being lined up for 3DS, while Wii U is getting more support from Nintendo's own internal developers. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting as well... That list is not exhaustive. Their lists of games in their financial reports are never exhaustive (same goes for 3DS, there are notable absences that we know about; including Rhythm Heaven Megamix in the US).

They can't lie to their investors (or else they'll get shut down for doing so). They can be vague about things, but not outright lie. He specificially said March, so we can safely go by his word; if he wanted to be vaguer, he could've actually said just "2018". Plans can change either way though, but that's what we have to go off of right now, so that's what we should take stock in. Heh, very true Also true, but I'm inclined to believe in the 4 month timeframe because of the other hints suggesting a late 2017 release for the console... It's not one line on its own. It's just yet more evidence on top of what we've already seen (and that I have mentioned previously that I don't care to repeat). At the very least, it's a strong indicator that they intend to support Wii U up until the end of 2017 and thus, the Wii U is not in the last year of its life. In fact, Zelda Wii U may well not be the last game it gets after all! (It wasn't for Wii either actually, so it's not unprecedented either).

Well I did say seemingly. March 2018 is obviously their current plan; doesn't mean that it will be the final date (if the NX console gets delayed, it might even get discontinued later than that), but if that wasn't the current intended timeframe, he wouldn't have specifically mentioned it. You have to remember that the Wii was a huge success and was still selling nearly on par with the Wii U when it was first launched in 2013. The Wii U however is not the huge success that the Wii was; it's more like the GCN in that regard and the timing matches up rather suspiciously if they are indeed planning for a November 2017 launch for the NX console And if the NX console is indeed not coming out until November 2017, then that means that more games must be upcoming for Wii U from now until then. I somehow doubt that the plan is to keep the Wii U in manufacturing for a whole 12 months after its successor comes out. Not even the Wii got that luxury! Nintendo don't usually keep supporting their older consoles for very long after they get replaced. They're not like Sony in that regard.

Comes from Reuters. Apparently Kimishima mentioned it during the meeting. Current plan is seemingly to continue manufacturing Wii U until March 2018. That definitely suggests a longer life than most are predicting...

First off, the 3DS is due to be replaced first. It's a year and a half older and the handheld would've been in R&D for that much longer. Hardware takes time to develop, as does a launch lineup for both handheld and console individually and business needs don't change that. Secondly, a March release date for a home console is absurd. I refuse to believe that Nintendo would do a worldwide release of a home console in anything other than the Xmas shopping season for reasons I've listed before. Handhelds however? March is the usual date outside of November. Thirdly, If the NX console that succeeds Wii U is due to come out March 2017, why would Nintendo be planning on continuing manufacturing Wii U until March 2018? Makes no sense. The GameCube was discontinued 4 months after the Wii came out... So. If the Wii U was to see the same fate, the NX console would have to come out... November 2017

How's this for proof? http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1212349 That's not next year In fact, if the NX console comes out in November 2017, the Wii U would be discontinued relative to the NX console at exactly the same time as the GCN was relative to the Wii (GCN was discontinued 4 months after the Wii came out).

@kav82, I like your controller designs. The bottom one looks like a retro cool tape cassette as well for extra awesome as well! : peace:

Because 1, this isn't the end of the Wii U's life. Have you not noticed how both Iwata and Kimishima keep mentioning how the NX is not going to replace the 3DS and Wii U? There's a reason why they keep mentioning this... And 2, they are going to show them at E3, they're just not going to be playable on the show floor for journalists to play. Why they're doing this, I'm not quite sure, but I've already put out my suggestion for what they might be planning (E3 demos on eShop)

You forget that the Wii U is suffering from manufacturing issues. That actually limits how many consoles they can ship. Also they've had a tendency to overestimate their forecasts recently. Putting out a conservative estimate this time allows them to put out some positive news if they do better than expected.

Have you considered that these games have been in development for a while now? Pikmin 4 also makes more sense when you consider that it's probably reusing the Pikmin 3 engine and assets like Pikmin 2 did with its own direct predecessor.

Told you before. There's Paper Mario Colour Splash, Pikmin 4 and probably Retro's new game. A new Animal Crossing game for Wii U also looks likely, going by the press release for the mobile AC game. I think we need to wait and see what they have to show before saying they have nothing to show. Paper Mario CS came out of absolutely nowhere just a few weeks ago after all! In fact, the penultimate year of a Nintendo console's life (2004-2005, 2010-2011 etc) is usually its best; so seemingly this is the Wii U's equivalent

If my guess is right and they do go ahead and release the E3 demos of their upcoming Wii U titles on the eShop during E3, I bet they'll put out demos for everything except Zelda. Gives the journos at E3 an exclusive and makes the tease all that much more of a tease to us here at home.

It is indeed. A miracle in fact because it did terribly in both Europe and Japan. America completely saved this game's sales!

Where do I make a definitive statement? I've still yet to do anything of the sort. My guess about it being an app that ties into a mainline AC game for a dedicated game device was correct, but I've still yet to state definitively what console it's gonna be for That being said, I would guess that the timeframe suggests a Wii U AC game coming out this Autumn (probably October, given past AC release dates); the fact that it's the series 15th anniversary this year and that the NX isn't coming out till next year is another hint as well. Note that I still haven't made a definitive statement (though I'm feeling pretty good about this one coming to Wii U )

More than 50% (almost 60% in fact!) is pretty much unprecedented. Only other games that have ever managed that to my knowledge are Wii Sports, the original Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt.

Oh don't worry, we have some ideas already

WTF!? Just realised that it seems that Smash Bros Brawl (yes Brawl, not Smash 4) sold roughly half a million copies last year!! That's just nuts! (NSMB Wii also managed another 280,000 copies and MK Wii did 220,000! Games from 2008 and 2009 respectively! HOW!?) 7.5 million copies of MK8 also puts it at near Wii Sports levels of attach rate to hardware. Wow!

About this mobile Animal Crossing game being a big hint that Nintendo were working on a mainline Animal Crossing game for Wii U.

Maybe not quite as true as you'd think... http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1212219 Looks like my guess about Animal Crossing Wii U might have been more on the money than we realised

Funny you and I should say that... http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1212219 He he, was I right again? Man! I'm on a roll!

Most of the advertising money they've saved this generation has been down to stopping the E3 live conferences. Those flashy lights and free alcohol were expensive

At this point, I would be surprised if Skyward Sword didn't get the HD treatment at some point as well (if not on Wii U, then on the future NX console). They've gone and remade every other 3D Zelda, so there's nothing but a big skyloft shaped hole now... Why? It's not like they haven't released Wii U games that require Wii Remotes before (and a good few Motionplus only games as well to boot). Nintendo Land? Wii Party U? Wii Sports Club? Mario Party 10? Skyward Sword couldn't be made compatible with any other controller without being completely redesigned and re-built as a completely different game anyway, so it's the only way it can be done. Knowing them, they'd go full hog and make the Gamepad your shield and the Wii Remote Plus your sword! :p

Probably ever since 2015, when they said that getting it out on a schedule was no longer their priority.

She's gonna be very disappointed if she's expecting a traditional AC experience here though...

We already know that's not true. Pikmin 4 is supposedly "nearly complete" and will no doubt be releasing this year, so they could've made that playable. But in the end, it doesn't really matter to us does it? They don't do live conferences anymore anyway. What's stopping them from putting the E3 demos on the eShop? They've already dabbled in it with Nindies@Home last year, who's to say that they won't take the next step this year? That's not optimistic, that's all very realistic. We already know about Pikmin 4 and Retro's been cooking up a game ever since November 2013. If it were to come out November this year, that's 3 years worth of development. Tons of time (and no, it wouldn't be an NX game because it has been in development long before any dev kits were made available, so it has to be for Wii U). Edit: Actually, come to think of it, we might even see Monster Games' new racing game here as well! While it could be for NX, it's not impossible that it's actually for Wii U...