Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata believes the market is ready for new consoles.
"I think that the market is now waiting for a new proposal for home consoles," Iwata said.
"Along with effects from our trade marketing activities in December which mainly focused on the Nintendo 3DS, we were not able to sell the Wii as well as we usually do," he added, referring to the US market. "However, not just the Wii, but the overall performance of home consoles in December was lower than the previous year.
"Usually, the Wii enjoys high sales in December, but last year, even though The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was highly acclaimed, we were not able to expand it sufficiently to our target audience, and although the Wii was the platform which sold the most software in December, we were not able to propose new Nintendo titles to our broad audience.
"In Europe," Iwata continued, "it resulted that out of the home consoles, the Wii sold the most in December; however, we can see that the beginning of the year-end sales was slower and the peak was lower compared to that of the previous year."
Yesterday Iwata reiterated that Wii U will be available in Japan, Europe and the US by the end of 2012.
Comments
31 comments so far...
racxie on 27 Jan '12 said:
I don't get why companies believe that consumers want a new console when hardware sales decline. Surely All the people that buy a console want to spend time getting their money's worth by buying and playing games, so I would have thought it'd better to judge this on a decline in software sales.
sm0k3y2307 on 27 Jan '12 said:
of course the wii aint sell aswell now its about £100 and most people that want 1 has 1 by now
guiltyspark on 27 Jan '12 said:
Am I the only person not waiting on a new console?
I'm more than happy with the current selection and with all 3 home consoles having a back catalogue that would take forever to play through i'm in no hurry to start looking into new consoles.
I can understand the console companies (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) feeling the need to bring a new console but's it's not really required right now.
JBoo on 27 Jan '12 said:
Do they? Hmm maybe Wii & Xbox 360 owners say it? ? ? but i never hear PS3 owners say they want a new next gen console yet/now? Just because other console makers have run out of steam & ideas it don't mean SONY has LOL
thelazyone on 27 Jan '12 said:
In the same boat as you, adding to the back catalogue of games, we also have new games out this year, some of which are day one purchases.
I'm in a happy place, when gaming is concerned.
sonic_uk on 27 Jan '12 said:
Not really, I'm more than happy with my current machines and will only upgrade for the sake of them becoming obsolete. That said I will only buy next gen if it comes with physical media and the ability to play my games in 10 or 20 years time from now if I wish. The rumours I've heard about the new 360 concerning game online activation's and the like have put me off, not to mention the Kinnect b***s**t that's rammed down our throats at every single opportunity, so I'm now looking at Sony and the Ps4 to see what the machine is capable of and if it suits my needs outlined above. If it dosn't I'll just stick with my current machines and my Pc and although I legally buy all my games and am against piracy I will be forced to crack the games I buy just to get around the drm/always online b***s**t so I can play my games years down the line if I reinstall or upgrade when the online servers have inevitably been shut down, thus adding to the already construed statistics.
Is it half term already?
TheLastDodo on 27 Jan '12 said:
Maybe Wii owners are but personally I think I can make do with Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us, Mass Effect 3, Lollipop Chainsaw, Starhawk, Metal Gear Rising, Anarchy Reigns, Sly Cooper 4, Borderlands 2, Syndicate, Twisted Metal, SSX, Darksiders 2, Metro Last Light, DMC, Kingdoms of Amalur, Catherine, GTA V to name a few.
Thats without including digital games & HD Collections.
Yep I'm definitely waiting for a new console I am.
Would I feel differently if I were being drip fed new games? Possibly.
sonic_uk on 27 Jan '12 said:
Couldn't have said it better Dodo. Let me add Immersion, Ridge Racer Unbounded, FarCry 3, Tomb Raider, Sniper Ghost Warrior 2, Aliens Colonial Marines, Prey 2, Halo 4, Serious Sam 3 (on console), Ninja Gaiden 3 and The Last Guardian to that list.
Spudfella on 27 Jan '12 said:
My body is ready.
TheLastDodo on 27 Jan '12 said:
@sonic
The fact that I forgot about big names like those you mentioned says it all. The current generation, at least on PS3 & 360, is far from dead.
Without tarring every Wii owner with the same brush, if you picked up a Wii to only play Wii Sports it would be understandable if you were ready for a new console by now.
BTW The Last Guardian doesn't actually exist, it's just a tech demo.
roland82 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Its interesting how people with things to sell always seem to know what we the customers want. Its funny how what we always want is to spend more money on more new stuff. Iwata and the head of GAME should listen a bit more and talk a bit less.
In the case of Wii owners I think a lot of them did need a console so they bought a 360 or a PS3.
Dont worry Nintendo you'll always have the casual market to fall back on, its not like they are fickle or anything.
a3HeadedMonkey on 27 Jan '12 said:
I am ready for the next gen. 1080p, 60fps with enough RAM for massive worlds please. Bring it!
Padua on 27 Jan '12 said:
My ideal gaming system would be a decent upgradeable HDTV friendly PC with the availability of a PS3 and 360 on a card that I could just slot in. Wouldn't need a Wii on a card because I could just run that in emulation mode
MPH on 27 Jan '12 said:
I'm quite happy with all 3 consoles atm (for the most part) although I do prefer my 360 to my PS3 and Wii... I know I know, that'll give you fits. Lay down rabid fanboy.
gmcb007 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Another guy who thinks he can speak for all consumers.
We are in a period where the current consoles are being taken full advantage of and we're getting top notch games. Also, have you seen the recent global market? It's not the best time to be flogging a new (and most definitely) expensive product.
thelazyone on 27 Jan '12 said:
Well if he doesn't forecast to his stakeholders, then he's not doing their job.
Reading between the lines, he saying, we are pushing our new hardware out, expect people to buy, expect to make more money than last year.
Agent75 on 27 Jan '12 said:
The Xbox 360 (as an example) has been on the go since the end of 2005, publishers want more power now. The Xbox 360 could go on until it's 10 years old, but the market has changed now, I don't even think the PS3 will go on for 10 years plus like with the PS1 and PS2. Game sales have nothing to do with it, it's just power mad publishers. But all in all, I think it's time for the Xbox 720, come 2013.
sonic_uk on 27 Jan '12 said:
True. To be honest I bought my Wii just to play old Gamecube games in semi HD via Component, and also for a few exclusives that didn't require motion controls or at least not in any vigorous fashion such as the awesome Sonic Colours and the brilliant New Super Mario Bros.
Last Guardian - I've seen a few tech demos as you say but I was under the impression the dev team were actually making the game too?
KMakawa on 27 Jan '12 said:
Im not waiting for a new console, im waiting for Mass Effect 3, Tomb Raider, Syndicate, Assassins Creed, Max Payne 3, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, CS: Global Offensive, Guild Wars 2, Hitman Absolution, Far Cry 3 and GTA V.. So not sure about you iwata, but 2012 gaming is very much still alive..
roland82 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Im in no way an expert but I think publishers should be careful what they wish for. How many developers have been shut down in this current generation citing rising costs as the reason.
More power = more expensive to make= more sales to make a profit
Do we really want more devs outta business and more COD clones?
@ sonic , I think your leg is being pulled mate.
TheLastDodo on 27 Jan '12 said:
@sonic:
I was only half joking about The Last Guardian mate, it wouldn't surprise me if it was a tech demo at first then Sony said make a game out of it.
I would be surprised if The Last Guardian was ever released at this point, it's been in development for around what 4-5 years now? The team is falling apart, as I've said before, if it's ever released I highly doubt it will live up to peoples lofty expectations, The Last Guardian is now the "Chinese Democracy" of gaming.
One thing that has to happen at the conclusion of The Last Guardian saga is deciding over the future of the Team Japan, personally I wouldn't be shocked if they were shut down, if not that then a major restructuring is certainly on the cards.
budge on 27 Jan '12 said:
I'm perfectly happy with my PS3 and Xbox and i'm planning on getting a Wii so i can play all those lovely JRPG games it has.
What we really need is more original games. Most likely the new Playstation and Xbox consoles will launch with Uncharted 4 and Halo 5 (and s**te Kinect 2 games!) respectively, albeit slightly better graphics.
charliecheswick on 27 Jan '12 said:
I'm just waiting for the new Nintendo console. i've nearly finished Skyward Sword ( i think,it's HUUUUGE! ) then that's it for me with the Wii. It'll be put back into the box from where it came and popped into the storage room with the rest of my old consoles and a select few games. I swapped my 360 for a shiney new PS3 last year as i didn't see the point of owning both and my Live membership was up anyway. For me,the PS3 still has plenty to offer and will sit alongside the Wii U for a while at least but,i've got to admit ,i won't be anticipating the next console offerings from Sony and Microsoft quite as much.
I've posted before that i think it's a shame this generation is entering it's twilight years as the standard of games over the last year or so has been consistantly fantastic. I don't know if it's developers just getting to grips with the hardware or if they've just been trying to out do each other but,i could reel off a minimum of ten AAA stunners in the last few months alone. It's been an incredible time to be a gamer and it looks set to continue this year. Last thing,this is the first generation where my interest hasn't tailed-off a few years in. If anything,i've grown more excited for what games lie ahead for the current hardware,instead of just waiting for the next batch of consoles to be released. Best generation ever? Hell yes!!
Zabba 2 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Nintendo need a new console because they're grossly behind in nearly all aspects of the home console market.
On the other hand I see no need for a PS4 or Xbox 720 for a good few years. It's strange to think we've gone beyond the time frame of past generations, and yet it still feels like we can get a lot out of what we have. I'm more than happy with the PS3 and 360 right now, and would hate for new and expensive consoles to come in tearing up the place.
Although, it's different with the Wii. Skyward Sword was seen, in my eyes at least, as it's last hurrah. There's very little keeping the console going now. The problem is, the Wii U matches the currently available consoles in tech, so once again Nintendo will be behind once it's competitors find the means to up the game.
Balladeer on 27 Jan '12 said:
Oh Iwata. How am I meant to laugh at Sony idiots for making sweeping statements when you do exactly the same?
Truth is, not even the Wii needs to die. It all depends on software. But with The Last Story being the Wii's last huzzah, it's obvious that Nintendo's consumers need the WiiU (or the 3DS) if they want to keep buying Nintendo games. You talk about SS selling badly - well what if you had a line-up of six top-quality Wii games for Q1 2012? Then what would happen?
That doesn't mean I'm not happy that there's a new Nintendo console on the horizon. I am, and the second screen intrigues me. But the next generation isn't necessary, not by a long shot. And unless you really are that shallow/need the extra power to develop a larger and more interactive environment (two very different positions), that includes Nintendo.
shogunreaper on 28 Jan '12 said:
I'd be happy if new consoles didn't come out for another 2-3 years.
I certainly don't have the money to drop on a new console, not to mention having to buy the new games.
Old Skool Gamer on 28 Jan '12 said:
I am for sure, new system and new IP's, cannot wait to see what Halo will look like in a few years time??
rhyfel on 28 Jan '12 said:
the only reason why he says that "the public wants new consoles" is to justify the launch of the wii u , the wii u is not a next gen console, its a catch up console and 5 years late at that. most "so called" hardcore gamers with ps 3s and 360s coulden't give a rats arse about the wii u, and with families struggling to pay ever increasing bills a new console or consoles? are the last things on peoples minds.
laminated0 on 28 Jan '12 said:
This is true...
I for one am under the impression that the xbox360 and PS3 are now peaking in that the developers have become extremely familiar with the limitations and quirks of the hardware enabling them to create the best games visually and technically possible on the consoles, hence the next few years should bring some of the best games of this gen.
Nintendo are in a strange position though because their next gen console is (as far as I can tell) a *this* gen console maybe with a bit more oomph behind it. I'd like to see what the Wii U is like, it is intriguing.
Well here's to at least another few excellent years of gaming before proper next gen consoles are released by microsoft and sony.
HarleyQuin on 29 Jan '12 said:
Please some one tell me why we need new consoles just yet when we still have great games coming out great graphics whats the point nintendo should not have made a console that only die hard ninty fans or kids would what in first place.
gguru1 on 31 Jan '12 said:
I guarantee you that if Wii only appealed to Nintendo fans and kids it wouldn't have outsold the GameCube five times over.
In any case, it seems like a LOT of excitement for new home consoles from all three major manufacturers has been buzzing through the gaming community since right before E3 last year.
In fact this thread is the first major backlash I saw against the idea of gamers anticipating a new console cycle, but I guess that's in part because gamers dont like feeling as though the leaders of these companies are telling them how they should feel, even if in general it's true.