After racking up more than 100 million units sold worldwide, Nintendo is ending production on one of its most successful pieces of hardware and focusing solely on the Wii U. October 21, 2013 10:29 AM PDT (Credit: Nintendo) Nintendo has pulled the plug on the original Wii Monday, a modest end to the best selling console of the current generation. The company hinted at this move earlier this month, and its officially followed through with a simple posting of the words seisan shuuryouon, or production ended," on its Japanese Web site. Related stories: GTA V spurs 27% gain in overall game spending iPhone game controllers cropping up Nintendo wins ITC ruling over Wii motion technology The Wii, the first video game console to make motion control mainstream, was considered an underdog when it first hit store shelves in 2006. It didn't sport high-definition graphics -- an exclusion that made it the butt of many Sony and Microsoft fanboy jokes -- and its reliance less on the hardcore gaming community and eagerness to rope in fitness junkies and families earned it skepticism. But it went on to both outsell the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with more than 100 million units sold worldwide. When Nintendo Japan's Web page for the Wii read, "Manufacturing is scheduled to end soon," earlier this month, a Nintendo spokesman, speaking with AFP, confirmed the discontinuation, saying, "Our new generation Wii U console is already on the market and allows users to play software originally designed for the Wii." Putting every ounce of its energy towards the Wii U may be a smartest move for Nintendo at this point. Despite the massive success of the original Wii, its predecessor's sales have been lackluster, forcing price cuts and pushing Nintendo to bet big on the nostalgia-driven success of legacy titles from its Super Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong franchises. Via Kotaku.
After racking up more than 100 million units sold worldwide, Nintendo is ending production on one of its most successful pieces of hardware and focusing solely on the Wii U.
Nintendo has pulled the plug on the original Wii Monday, a modest end to the best selling console of the current generation. The company hinted at this move earlier this month, and its officially followed through with a simple posting of the words seisan shuuryouon, or production ended," on its Japanese Web site.
Related stories:
- GTA V spurs 27% gain in overall game spending
- iPhone game controllers cropping up
- Nintendo wins ITC ruling over Wii motion technology
The Wii, the first video game console to make motion control mainstream, was considered an underdog when it first hit store shelves in 2006. It didn't sport high-definition graphics -- an exclusion that made it the butt of many Sony and Microsoft fanboy jokes -- and its reliance less on the hardcore gaming community and eagerness to rope in fitness junkies and families earned it skepticism. But it went on to both outsell the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with more than 100 million units sold worldwide.
When Nintendo Japan's Web page for the Wii read, "Manufacturing is scheduled to end soon," earlier this month, a Nintendo spokesman, speaking with AFP, confirmed the discontinuation, saying, "Our new generation Wii U console is already on the market and allows users to play software originally designed for the Wii."
Putting every ounce of its energy towards the Wii U may be a smartest move for Nintendo at this point. Despite the massive success of the original Wii, its predecessor's sales have been lackluster, forcing price cuts and pushing Nintendo to bet big on the nostalgia-driven success of legacy titles from its Super Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong franchises.
