Nintendo’s Wii U really is a world of trouble. The Japanese company had, for a long time, forecasted 9 million units in sales for the 2013 financial year, which ends on March 31 this year. It’s now significantly lowered those expectations.
The company has now said it expects to sell through just 2.8 million of the things, a third of the expected total. Interest in the Wii U is at an unfortunate low, despite big hitting games like Super Mario 3D World having been released.
“Wii U sales fell short of our targeted recovery by a large margin,” Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said in an earnings statement. “Sales in the US and European markets in which we entered the year-end sales season with a hardware markdown were significantly lower than our original forecasts, with both hardware and software sales experiencing a huge gap from their targets.
“In addition, we did not assume at the beginning of the fiscal year that we would perform a markdown for the Wii U hardware in the US and European markets
“We can no longer expect our financial performance to recover in the current fiscal year.”
The 3DS is doing pretty well, thankfully – but even so, Nintendo’s selling fewer of the handheld than expected. Forecasts are now at 13.5m units, down from 18m units. 3DS games sale forecasts have likewise been slashed from 80m units to 66m. Nintendo is set to make a rather staggering ¥25 billion, or $240 million loss this year, it’s third straight one in a row, and the third ever for the company (which is still valued higher than all of Sony).
It doesn’t look good for Nintendo, or for Iwata, who’s presided over Nintendo for long enough to see the company lose 80 per cent of its value.
Last Updated: January 17, 2014
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 11:33
I wonder if this console really will die out
Rock789
January 17, 2014 at 11:34
What can you say to that kinda news other than… Ouch!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 17, 2014 at 11:35
Header image hur hur hur
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:40
hahaha
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:41
They should do a R999 sale again, but less 50%
😛
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:44
Shame, and Geoff really loves Nintendo
Tarisma
January 17, 2014 at 11:44
What is the price of the Wii U now?
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 11:47
4000 lol
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:48
Really? Still?
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 11:48
Yup, 3800 up with ZombiU/Mario Bundles
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:51
Genugtig.
Her Highness the Hipster
January 17, 2014 at 11:59
I picked up mine for R3k last year when they were trying to get rid of ZombiU bundled consoles. such a winner!
Tarisma
January 17, 2014 at 13:28
Thats about how much I would pay for one, not a cent more
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 12:02
Whaaaaat!?
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 12:03
Yup look on Kala and Take alot. Those are bundles though with two games and a pro controller.
Willem Swanepoel
January 17, 2014 at 11:59
Nintendo is like the 3rd child that is sitting eating glue and watching the other two kids (Microsoft and Sony) are fighting the console wars …
The same picture with the browser glue thing 😉
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 12:00
hahahahahaha
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:59
Shame man. The need to rethink their model big time.
Grant Hancock
January 17, 2014 at 12:13
Nintendo doing a SEGA …