Wii U name to blame for poor sales according to former Nintendo executive
One of the biggest gripes that Nintendo fans have had with the Wii U console is that its name is overly confusing. The main point being it fails to differentiate itself from its predecessor, the Wii. They argue that this, along with its similar look and size, means that many potential customers are not aware that the Wii U is a brand new console.
Well it has emerged today that it’s not just fans that hold that opinion. Speaking in an interview with ask.fm Dan Adelman has revealed that he believes that the poor marketing and strange choice of name for the console has severely damaged the sales figures for the device.
“Wii U is not selling as well as it deserves to. It has a lot to offer with great games you can’t get anywhere else. The value of the GamePad hasn’t been justified. But the name Wii U is abysmal. I think that cut sales in half right there.”
Dan Adelman recently left Nintendo, where he had spent nine years in charge of indie games and development for the company. His blunt remarks, something he has been known for in the past, suggest that not everyone at Nintendo agreed with the name chosen for their latest console.
Whether or not the name is to blame, it cannot be argued that the console is performing poorly at retail. Recent financial reports from Nintendo revealed that the company had lost $229 million in the last financial year. The gaming giant pinpointed the poor sales of the Wii U as the culprit for the losses in the report.
Despite the doom and gloom, the performance of the Wii U has begun to pick up. The release of Mario Kart 8 drove a large increase in the number of sales, while further upcoming games like Super Smash Bros. and The Legend of Zelda are expected to cause even more demand.