Speaking to the Associated Press, Nintendo executive and video game legend Shigeru Miyamoto recently revealed that the company has “production lines that are working on ideas for what the next [Nintendo] system might be.” Miyamoto reinforced that Nintendo is focused on delivering a good software lineup for the Wii U next year. It is interesting to hear that Nintendo is already thinking about the next follow-up to the Wii U. However, the news raises some concerns. Perhaps Nintendo is ready to put the Wii U in the rear-view mirror. Regardless, is it really the right time for Nintendo to develop a successor to the Wii U?
Sales of the Wii U have certainly been picking up in the last six months. Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. Wii U have become big hits for the console. In addition, Nintendo launched the Amiibo figurine program. Amiibo is a toys-to-life video game software for Nintendo. Essentially, it is Nintendo’s own version of Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Sales results have been through the roof. The Amiibos are a hot seller that have only scratched the surface of their lucrative financial potential. At first, sales for the Wii U were slow; but lately, things definitely look to be picking up for the Wii U.
The main reason Wii U had so many problems is that it was rushed out too early. In addition, the WiU suffered from a lack of third-party support–unlike the endorsement that went to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Getting the Wii U out a year before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 proved to be a miscalculation. Therefore, instead of moving on from the Wii U, Nintendo should think about more unique ways to prop it up, just as the company did with the Amiibo. The Amiibo figurines are a nice start, but Nintendo should not try to rush out its next console so quickly.
Nintendo should learn from its mistakes with the Wii U. In addition, 2015 will see the release of The Legend of Zelda for the console. That is sure to be another hot seller. If anything, 2015 looks like a year to dig in and make the Wii U better than ever. Sony PlayStation worked out a deal with Capcom to get Street Fighter V exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Perhaps Nintendo can craft a similar deal for something like Mega Man X. A new Mega Man X, or just new Mega Man, with Wii U compatibility, would be fantastic. Fans are already eating up the replica Mega Man mini-helmets from Loot Crate. There are still possibilities for the Wii U that Nintendo could exploit. A Wii U successor simply comes off as premature.