Wii U continues to struggle as 3DS booms

The Wii U is continuing to struggle to hit solid sales numbers, having moved only 300,000 units in the second quarter. This is as opposed to the 3DS, which sold two million.

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Nintendo's Wii U console has failed to light the world ablaze, resulting in lowered projections for previous financial periods. The latest fiscal numbers from the company show some progress for the tablet-based console, but it continues to struggle.

The results show that Nintendo sold roughly 300,000 Wii U consoles between July and September. This period includes just over a week of the Wii U price cut, which had been announced in late August. 300,000 is a certainly a large improvement over its first quarter, which only moved 160,000 Wii U units. That puts its lifetime sales units at 3.91 million.

Nintendo outlined its strategy moving forward, with a focus on key first-party titles to "regain momentum." It also made mention of software bundles, and the upcoming free download to promote the release of Wii Fit U.

Standing in stark contrast to the Wii U is the 3DS, which moved a whopping two million units during the same period. That puts its lifetime sales at approximately 35 million. A supplemental financial release today also noted that five 3DS games sold more than one million units in the period: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and the Japanese Tomodachi Collection. That doesn't count Pokemon, which released after the fiscal period, but it will most certainly appear as a top seller in future results.

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  • reply
    October 31, 2013 3:30 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Wii U continues to struggle as 3DS booms.

    The Wii U is continuing to struggle to hit solid sales numbers, having moved only 300,000 units in the second quarter. This is as opposed to the 3DS, which sold two million.

    • reply
      October 31, 2013 5:03 PM

      We have to wait for 3D World magic.

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      October 31, 2013 5:25 PM

      That's because the best Zelda game in forever came out for the handhelds.

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      October 31, 2013 8:26 PM

      I'm sure I'll eventually grab a XL, but every time a game comes out on the 3DS it comes out on my PC/PS3. /meh

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        October 31, 2013 8:27 PM

        [deleted]

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          October 31, 2013 10:24 PM

          I'll be honest. I bought one for Phoenix Wright. This amounts to a $200 game that has practically zero replay value. I am not disappoint.

          and I hear Layton vs Phoenix Wright will come stateside afterall. I'm happy as a clam.

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        October 31, 2013 11:06 PM

        This makes no sense at all.

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        November 1, 2013 12:33 AM

        What games are you talking about? All I can think of is Resident Evil Revelations... PC/PS3 doesn't have Luigi's Mansion or Super Mario 3D land or Shin Megami Tensei 4 or Fire Emblem or Etrian Odyssey 4 or Mario Kart or Animal Crossing or etc. etc. etc.

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        November 1, 2013 5:25 AM

        say wut?

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      November 2, 2013 5:16 PM

      There's nothing appealing about the Wii U. It has "alright" graphics, games that i can get earlier and prettier elsewhere, and nothing new like a motion controller to make up for it. The mass audience does not want to buy just another Wii after realizing they never use their old one and many of Nintendo's lifelong fans have become accustomed to playing on an Xbox or PS3 this last generation, only turning on the Wii for those rare first party gems. The tablet is very poorly utilized by the majority of the games and honestly, I can't come up with enticing ways to change that. In comparison, the 3DS is coming out with game after game of awesomeness; the ones listed in the article acting as the mere cherry on top of the sundae. The 3D was somewhat of a miss (as the introduction of the 2DS implies) but it doesn't matter because it has a boatload of games i can't get anywhere else. Add to that, the new zelda 3DS XL bundle which will not only attract new gamers but cause others to upgrade from their old 3DS's, and you have a home run.

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