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Gaming Saturday, February 16th 2013 at 2:00 pm

Wii U Sells Ridiculously Poorly in January, Only Manages to Move Around 50,000 Units

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There used to be a time where you could easily find hard data on exactly how many units video game consoles manufacturers managed to get out the door, but the NPD Group has all that locked up tight these days. That said, they do release some numbers still, and a little extrapolation goes a long way. For this past January, it looks like Nintendo‘s really taking a beating. Not only has their Wii U software not been selling, but the Wii U console itself is said to have only moved around 50,000 units. That’s worse than any of the other current generation consoles ever did, for a little perspective.

Ars Technica notes that the Wii sold around 67,000 units last October, and even Sony’s PlayStation 3 moved about 82,000 units in April and May of 2007 when it was still stupidly expensive. The Wii U selling this poorly is downright impressive, actually, but it’s not like we had a great time with it either. It might have been the wrong time for it. The Wii certainly wasn’t selling this poorly so soon after release.

It’s not like Nintendo has a whole lot of options here, though. It’s pretty unlikely that they’ll drop the price. Their only course now is to provide a strong lineup of games going forward, but even that looks tenuous right now. The company’s just going to have to take their lumps and hope for the best.

(Gamasutra via Ars Technica)

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  • Big Boss

    I remember a time when I got a 360. I also remember dogging PS3 because there were no games out for it. It was also the same tone everyone else had, “ps3 sucks, where are the games?” It took a full year before we saw anything “great” hit the system. Now look at it. Nintendo obviously has a massive line up of games coming for the system that they are developing, it’s just taking longer to get them out. Development cycles should have been near complete when the system launched. Seems like they started making those games too late, but when they do come, you can expect Wii U sales to soar through the roof. Why is anyone going to buy a system to play Arkham City and Black Ops 2 when they have the means to play it already. Anyone who takes that launch seriously has problems, those were obviously all fillers until the REAL games came out.

  • Breadbin

    “REAL games” – sorry didn’t realise Nintendo made any of those! The PS3 was different sittuation, it was top of the line, nothing like it and clear that the real potential of it would be found later. The Wii U has nothing new to offer, so why pay the money? Wii at least (although awful) was a breath of fresh air from the company. Any new games will be found on current, better consoles, or probably best avoiding altogether!

  • esfs

    stop damage controlling

  • Kyle Berger

    well Mario is a real game and it still sells better than halo and little big planet combined.

  • Anonymous

    To be fair, it isn’t like you have many choices on a Nintendo console. I still think the gamecube has some of the best games, but Nintendo is always trying to bring in good third party games and never quite reaches the success that other consoles have had.

  • Anonymous

    I know the gamecube wasn’t relevant but I feel obligated to mention my love for an under appreciated console.

  • http://twitter.com/MikeBreese Michael Breese

    The PS3 thing was a whole different ball game. Sony had a system that was hard to program for and too expensive, the issue was fixed by a price drop and people learn the tricks to developing for it.

    Nintendo has a system that is vastly underpowered compared to the upcoming hardware, and the 3rd party support isn’t coming regardless how many times they state otherwise. Sure with the Wii they got away with it because they had a gimmick, nobody’s buying into the Wii U gamepad this time and the casual gamers so sold on the Wii are too busy playing with their ipads and iphones to notice what Nintendo is doing.

  • Whallahalla

    Wii U users are constantly comparing the launch of the PS3 saying that “hey the PS3 got better”. Thats because the PS3 was (arguably) the most powerful console of the generation so it was only a matter of time before it took off and made use of the hard ware. The WIi U has only shown graphics the same or even worse than the 360 and PS3 (for more money) with no credible games to buy the system with. This is a totally different monster than the PS3 launch and with the new consoles on the way it’s only going to get harder for the Wii U (especially since Sony has said their new console may only cost around $400).

  • Whallahalla

    Also the PS3 didn’t have to deal with more powerful consoles on the horizon spreading doubt on weather or not it can compete.

  • Whallahalla

    Nintendo made killer Mario games (Mario 64, Mario Galaxy, Paper Mario), but this whole NEW Mario Brothers series makes you feel like your paying $70 for an iPhone game.

  • Michael Smith

    Two games: Zelda and smash bros. Problem solvers waiting to be released

  • Blurpbleepblurp

    Uh, the Wii U has better graphics than the PS3 and Xbox360 because all of its (are at least most of its) games run at 1080p 60fps with a second screen with 420p graphics and only 1/6 of a second of lag.

  • Michael Smith

    i wish people would get off Nintendo’s unit sales. this should matter not. and im sure Nintendo expected this. they’re still moving guys, and they’re moving strong. give it a year, at least. sony had to rise from dirt with ps3 too.

  • Don

    Yea.. Nintendo is doomed. Just like that 3DS console of theirs. Once the more powerful Vita comes out from Sony or the Google ad from Microsoft Nintendo will loose all their money due to their failed 3DS system.

  • Like a boss

    To expensive I would buy one if it was cheaper I gonna get the ouya

  • Anonymous

    Whatever helps you sleep at night.

  • Eatdatchicken

    If they are better I can barely notice, if being true next gen it should be damn obvious and indisputable. I can tell the difference between a Dreamcast to a PS3, I can tell the difference between a NES to a Genesis but I can’t tell the difference between a 360 and a Wii U. But it’s okay, if you lose this argument you will just say “It’s not about the graphics”, baby its ALWAYS been about the graphics. It recently been “all about the gameplay” since Nintendo started making weak consoles. NES – more powerful than Atari, SNES – more powerful than Sega, N64 – more powerful than Saturn, Gamecube – it looks better than N64 (the turning point) – Wii – more ‘fun’ than 360 – Wii U – It’s not about the graphics…

  • http://www.facebook.com/orliplayer Orlando Alicea

    What about the Gameboy? Was it more powerful than the GameGear? Was The Gameboy Advanced more powerful than the Neo Geo Pocket? Was the DS more powerful than the PSP? Is the 3DS more powerful than the PS Vita? It is always about the games. How about the iPhone, iPad and all those smartphone games… Are they all more powerful than the PS3,XBOX 360,Wii and Wii U combined? Your problem is that you think power is the only thing that matters. And Nintendo has never done a single sistem with power being the only “next gen” characteristic… You should see is more aout how to play, how to keep games fun.

  • http://www.facebook.com/orliplayer Orlando Alicea

    Doomed? the only videogame company that actually makes money? How are they doomed? It takes Sony and Microsoft over 6 years for their consoles to turn a profit but Nintendo turns a profit from day one… It’s good to be doomed…

  • Anonymous

    The real problem is that the Wii U is still just a console with weak processing power, memory, storage….

    The nextgen consoles will still be jokes…having hardware comparable to previous generation PCs WHEN THEY LAUNCH.

  • Ibi Salmon

    Wii U- more powerful than Wii.

    If that isn’t an indication that the Wii U is a next-gen system, I don’t know what is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/eric.degrechie.3 Eric Degrechie

    He was being facetious. Last year people were spelling doom for the 3ds, saying it will sink Nintendo and a good line-up of games wouldn’t save it. They were wrong.

  • http://www.facebook.com/eric.degrechie.3 Eric Degrechie

    Who cares? If people are buying any of the consoles for powerful hardware, they’re buying for the wrong reasons. I think with consoles price, convenience, and exclusive games are what matters.

  • Kyle Berger

    I think that super Mario bros is getting old but Mario kart and the 3d games are not even close there r so many possibilities for those.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ruby.lennox.33 Ruby Lennox

    I like to speak the truth all the time, and the truth about the Wii U is that… it’s garbage. Simple as that.

    Who wants to buy garbage?

  • TheOne

    The Wii wasn’t this generation… it was last gen re boxed with a new controller.

    lets see if Watch Dogs comes out on Wii-U, or anything of its quality.

    then I will say its “Next Gen”

  • TheOne

    That’s all that matters… what business school did you attend?

    I’m so glad I didn’t get one now, knowing true next gen is 2013.

  • TheOne

    Yeah and all Nintendo’s exclusive games are for kids who never grew up.

    There is NOTYHING convenient about the Wii-U.

  • TheOne

    Mario is not a real game… its for kids, and adults who never grew up, I don’t want to run around a bright plastic world, fighting weird Nintendo things collecting mushrooms, I’m an adult, I want to play “The Witcher” or “BioShock”… a REAL game.

    name one good Nintendo exclusive that isn’t a kiddie mess of bright colours and princess being saved by cartoon characters?

    Nintendo geeks really should wake up to the truth, and where are you getting your sales figures from? because I think your grouping all sales from Mario ever… which is just bad stats, its existed a long time before the two you cited, and lets see how the Wii-U games sell compared to PS and MS’s exclusives.

    Its bombed, get over it, move on.

  • TheOne

    Someone who understand the industry… finally.

    thank you for bringing some sense to this uneducated ignorant mess of a comment section.

    devs still struggle with the PS3, look at Skyrim and its add-ons.

  • Kyle Berger

    yes im sure “knack” will outsell Mario.

  • mikes1025

    i was implying that it shouldn’t matter to the consumer. as long as you can see good things in it and enjoy it, its popularity should mean little. it’s like a relationship. would you dump your girl because she doesn’t sell to people well?

  • baal2003

    Wow I was unaware that adults didnt have kids that like to play mario. I guess playing mario with my two sons after work, makes me me a kid. And here I was a well employed 30 year old kid raising my children responsibly. Thanks for telling me.

  • Anonymous

    Nintendo is a dead company walking.

  • Anonymous

    Except the Wii U is already an under powered console … it’s built to compete with the current generation of consoles (Xbox 360 / PS3) and won’t be very competitive against the next-gen consoles. With the PS4 and upcoming Xbox 720 announcement, the Wii U has a major uphill battle.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Bryant/100000554979148 Matthew Bryant

    Uh, the Wii U has better graphics than the PS3 and XBox 360 because all of its (or at least most its) games were supposed to run at 1080p 60 fps, but actually only run at 720p and 30 fps (and the multiplats actually run worse than current gen consoles) with a second screen that does nothing but gimmicks currently and 1/6 of a second of lag which is about 30 ms more than current controllers.

    FIXT

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Bryant/100000554979148 Matthew Bryant

    Literally it’s a next gen console. Comparative to the PS4, it’s worse than the Wii was to the PS3. Look at the Zelda tech demo and then look at Killzone Shadows Fall gameplay footage. You can argue that the Wii U is literally next gen, you can’t argue that it looks next gen. It doesn’t.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Bryant/100000554979148 Matthew Bryant

    Since the 3DS isn’t selling well anywhere but Japan and currently the Vita is outselling the Wii U in Japan… I’d say your argument isn’t overly logical. The Wii U isn’t sell well anywhere right now. No where. I can understand why Nintendo made the move they did. They will never win the core gamers from Sony and Microsoft so they had to do something to try to get children’s attention away from the iPad (and I really do hope they succeed because ewww). However, arguing that the Wii U is in direct competition with the PS4 and the next XBox is laughable. It isn’t. The Wii was never in competition with the PS3 and the XBox 360. Different demographic, different market. You can’t compare the two. The Wii U is current gen casual and children’s console. That doesn’t mean it can’t have some great games that everyone will love, but if it’s going to survive it has to stop going after the core gamers that completely ignore it exists and chase the children and casuals again. That’s where Nintendo shines.

  • Ibi Salmon

    Like I said, it’s more powerful than than Wii and is a next generation console.

    Whether it “looks” next-gen or not is a different subject altogether.

  • phillyfan1987

    i guess you didnt play ZombiU, its as hardcore as games get and it scared me more than any other game I’ve ever played, sure you will bash it without playing it but you asked and i answered

  • Guest

    Your completely ignoring the reality of today. You’re arguing that handheld is relevant to home console, which it’s obviously not. The success of the Wii relied largely on its appeal to the casual market. That appeal seems to be non-existent at this point. The Wii U is not sold out, casuals are not lining up to buy the Wii U for their grandparents or for their family, it sales are terrible recently, and… honestly it’s just not captivating America or Japan like the Wii before it. Nintendo released the Wii with a ton of games focused toward the casual gamer and the child gamer. The Wii U did not do the same. It’s focused at the core gamer, and obviously the core gamer doesn’t care.

    Nintendo realized that the casual gamer was moving away from the Wii and that they couldn’t count on the casual game for the Wii U. Well, Nintendo obviously still doesn’t understand the core gamer. We DO care about graphics. We DO care about network capabilities. We DO want a console that isn’t catered to children. What Nintendo needs to do is focus on children and say screw everyone else. Then they’d still make a profit. They aren’t willing to do that. They want the core gamer, but they won’t get the core gamer.

    The 3DS is losing Nintendo money right now and the Wii U is losing Nintendo money right now. I know they have more than enough money to go around, but if they want to be relevant in the future they have to either focus on children or focus on the core gamer. You can’t do both anymore. It won’t work. Microsoft is testament to that right now with Kinect and how much more popular the PS3 became suddenly.

  • LoStranger

    Wii U sucks…..moving along

  • shiznon

    lol….nice. He never replied?….

  • Ibi Salmon

    Apparently not. xD

    Oh well, I guess he didn’t have anything to say and left it at that.

  • JacobHhhggjj

    Wow I love reading these you guys have probably never picked up the controller yet your judging it no third party whatever they are greeting most of the games ps4 and ps3 and Xbox are getting the already have 9vrt 60 games on e shop with 1-3 more a week 3ds is not bad either I bought one to lay zelda and it performed beyond my expectations fanboy no I have my favorite which is ps3 tied with Nintendo 64 which was the most amazing console from the 90′s if you ask me Yeah zombie u is for people that never g
    Grew up and silent hill is for babies that whee just born try aomething before you whine about it and it’s network capabilities what they are now on par with expectations now I just have to wait for some wireless turtle beaches

  • Dew

    Have any of the posters used a Wii U? If you have you would know that the console is plain trash. The menuing is painfully slow. 10-30 second responses to inputs. The old WII console is at least 50% faster in real world operations. The WiFi connectivity is horrible. The WII U console won’t connect in strong WiFi coverage areas, while the old Wii console right next to it will. Nintendo got away from getting off the couch and using your body to play their games with the WII Us game pad. In short, the WII U is an epic failure for Nintendo and anyone who purchases one.