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[Kamina]

It was not just a naming issue, the whole first presentation only ever showed the gamepad, not the base device. Lot’s of people thought it was an addon to Wii.
If they had presented it properly as Wii2 it would have done better, but still mediocre I presume.

 

[SHA]

Remember Reggie's words, it's not about the graphics.

 

[IDKFA]

You never know, that's what's always interesting with a new Nintendo system. But Switch is a much stronger IP at the end of its time than the Wii was. That console more or less fell off a cliff at the end while the Switch is still doing really well.

I'm not sure either..

Nintendo sequel consoles have never sold as well as the originals.

SNES sold less than the NES
3DS sold less than the DS
Gameboy Advanced (I count this as the true successor to the GB) sold less than the GB/GB colour
Wii U was just an absolute disaster compared to the Wii.

Looking at the history, it would appear that the Switch 2 will sell less than the current Switch. However, it's not a guarantee. If Nintendo price it correctly and hit the ground running with some killer apps, plus get incredible first party support then they might beat their sequel trend.

 

[MayauMiao]

The Wii's success proves that the hilarious name is not enough to hurt the console sales.

Wii U is a weird attempt at portable while at the same time not actually a device you can take along with you.

 

[Three]

The general public had 2 misconceptions.

Wii U was a controller for the Wii

Wii U was a Wii in HD.

Nether of these were a significant draw, so it just got ignored.

I don’t think these were the misconceptions. Even if they thought it was a controller for the wii, stupid things like a balance board sold well for wii so them thinking it's a controller for it they would have still shown interest in it to eventually find out it's not. The people interested in a Wii just weren't interested in what it was offering. They didn't want better graphics or a tablet controller. To them the Wii motion control was what got them to buy a Wii and what Wii U was offering was of little interest to them, a lot of them were not enthusiastic about "a better Wii" to begin with.

 

[Esppiral]

Ot would have sold more for sure, the console would still be a piece of crap though

 

[Party McHardy]

Makes you wonder how they’re going to make switch 2 an enticing proposition. Better graphics and the numeral 2?

 

[tomato shrub]

no the gimmick was idiotic and launch year games such as Wii Fit and New Mario Bros Rehash were a joke. They also dropped Wii too early and burnt the casual gamers who left for Kinect.

 

[LordOcidax]

Makes you wonder how they’re going to make switch 2 an enticing proposition. Better graphics and the numeral 2?

They already a lot of attention, they only need a constant flow of good games, like the Switch.

 

[fastest finger]

I don’t think these were the misconceptions. Even if they thought it was a controller for the wii, stupid things like a balance board sold well for wii so them thinking it's a controller for it they would have still shown interest in it to eventually find out it's not. The people interested in a Wii just weren't interested in what it was offering. They didn't want better graphics or a tablet controller. To them the Wii motion control was what got them to buy a Wii and what Wii U was offering was of little interest to them, a lot of them were not enthusiastic about "a better Wii" to begin with.

Based on conversations I had with Wii owners at the time, they were.

 

[Trogdor1123]

It would have helped but it also would have been good to have a different form factor too

 

[Mozza]

Do you think the same will happen with the Switch 2?

No, I think Nintendo have done what I thought was impossible after the Wii and DS, they have managed to get the more causal crowd to buy games. The software sales on the Switch have been very good. I am expecting the Switch 2 or whatever it ends up being called, to do very well indeed.

 

[Mozza]

I'm not sure either..

Nintendo sequel consoles have never sold as well as the originals.

SNES sold less than the NES
3DS sold less than the DS
Gameboy Advanced (I count this as the true successor to the GB) sold less than the GB/GB colour
Wii U was just an absolute disaster compared to the Wii.

Looking at the history, it would appear that the Switch 2 will sell less than the current Switch. However, it's not a guarantee. If Nintendo price it correctly and hit the ground running with some killer apps, plus get incredible first party support then they might beat their sequel trend.

To be honest we are not really comparing apples with apples here, and Nintendo have laid out some impressive groundwork with the Switch brand. If you also look at the software sales with over 1.3 billion units sold up to now, then it looks like the rapid drop off with the Wii has been avoided. Plus you have to take into account the Switch is catering for both Nintendo's handheld and home console markets. And even with the Wii U and 3DS, Nintendo managed to shifes around 90 million consoles between them.

I think we also underestimate the power of the Switch's online system, it's news network featre in particular is a great way to reach it's more casual existing userbase. Also Nintendo are keeping the hype levels at a maximum for their next console. In my opinion all they have to do is keep it simple, offer backwards compatibility, more power will be a given as it's releasing nearly 8 years after the original. I just can't see Nintendo missing with this one.

 

[IDKFA]

To be honest we are not really comparing apples with apples here, and Nintendo have laid out some impressive groundwork with the Switch brand. If you also look at the software sales with over 1.3 billion units sold up to now, then it looks like the rapid drop off with the Wii has been avoided. Plus you have to take into account the Switch is catering for both Nintendo's handheld and home console markets. And even with the Wii U and 3DS, Nintendo managed to shifes around 90 million consoles between them.

I think we also underestimate the power of the Switch's online system, it's news network featre in particular is a great way to reach it's more casual existing userbase. Also Nintendo are keeping the hype levels at a maximum for their next console. In my opinion all they have to do is keep it simple, offer backwards compatibility, more power will be a given as it's releasing nearly 8 years after the original. I just can't see Nintendo missing with this one.

I do agree to an extent, but other factors to consider would be the price of the system and the cost of the games.

I'm going to assume the high software sales are because the games are cheaper than games on the PS5/XB. First party titles are currently £40. If Nintendo goes for £70 games then that'll be a hard sell.

The console also needs to be a reasonable price. I'm thinking around £370. It can't be near PS5 prices.

 

[RayHell]

Bad concept, no games. The name has nothing to do with the success.

 

[Führer-President Banjo]

After this infamous presentation the WiiU was doomed no matter what it was called, the console had the same design as the Wii, the same colour, New Mario was like the one on the Wii, the Miis were like the ones on the Wii, it used Wiimotes, it played the same game as Wiisports, etc... it's normal that most of the public thought it was an expensive peripheral for the original Wii and not a new console, the launch software line didn't help either, Nintendoland was horrible and New Super Mario Bros U was too similar to the previous two.

I can forgive everything except the nintento land slander. That was my favourite game as an 11 year old

 

[Alan Wake]

I'm not sure either..

Nintendo sequel consoles have never sold as well as the originals.

SNES sold less than the NES
3DS sold less than the DS
Gameboy Advanced (I count this as the true successor to the GB) sold less than the GB/GB colour
Wii U was just an absolute disaster compared to the Wii.

Looking at the history, it would appear that the Switch 2 will sell less than the current Switch. However, it's not a guarantee. If Nintendo price it correctly and hit the ground running with some killer apps, plus get incredible first party support then they might beat their sequel trend.

Given how well the Switch has sold I can't even imagine a successor doing even better. Selling less doesn't mean it will do bad, though. Selling a 100 million would still be fantastic.

 

[Jeff Spicoli]

I don't know.

 

[Dorfdad]

I don’t get all the drama over the name. PlayStation 1,2,3,4,5 and still a huge success. It has nothing to do with the name. Switch 2 is fine and makes sense!

 

[E-Cat]

No. The WiiU name was shit, but it was also a terrible console.

 

[TVexperto]

After this infamous presentation the WiiU was doomed no matter what it was called, the console had the same design as the Wii, the same colour, New Mario was like the one on the Wii, the Miis were like the ones on the Wii, it used Wiimotes, it played the same game as Wiisports, etc... it's normal that most of the public thought it was an expensive peripheral for the original Wii and not a new console, the launch software line didn't help either, Nintendoland was horrible and New Super Mario Bros U was too similar to the previous two.

I agree, I honestly assumed it was just an expensive additional controller for the standard Wii

 

[bad guy]

The motion-control console market was saturated after the Wii.

 

[Mr.Bond]

3 didn't save the PS3 from being a catastrophe, so no.

How'so? it outsold the 360 afaik

 

[Kerotan]

It would have boosted sales by maybe 10M but ultimately the fad that sold the Wii people were over it.

Like a PSP2 instead of Vita could have done a bit better but ultimately still a failure.

 

[DonF]

I literally once saw a mom and her kid in the mall saying "no, you already have a wii"

regular people saw the wii u as an accessory, specially cause the console looked similar too.

 

[Mitsurux]

Having a 2 in the name would have helped a bit i'm sure, but it also needed much better marketing and reveal/announcement.
But even with those it was going to be an uphill battle to sell (convince) all of the "new" players that bought a Wii that they should now upgrade to the new system.

(This Nintendo might have a similar issue with the Switch to their next system)

 

[E-Cat]

I can forgive everything except the nintento land slander. That was my favourite game as an 11 year old

11 years old at the time of the Wii U… mind blown

 

[Xaeroxcore666]

I believe it legitimately would've sold triple the units if they named it the Wii 2 and marketed it properly.


It was never going to match the Wii, but the system was not lacking at all in super high quality games from well established Nintendo IP.

Kinda agree with this. Not sure if triple, but yes at least double. But yes, wouldnt had been nowhere near close as the OG Wii success. But yes, Ninrtendo IP side it was covered, i mean, some of the best sellers of Switch (Mario Kart 8, Zelda BOTW and Super Smash are in fact improved Wii U games, so....) Third party support wasnt the best, as usual...Ironically, Wii U had some triple A multiplattform franchises Switch lacks, like Tekken and COD.