By Chris Kavan - 04/01/13 at 07:26 PM CT
As Nelson was so nice to point out in his previous blog - the WiiU has no games coming out this April. The launch was pretty weak already - an extended tech demo, a Mario game and zombies are a potent combination - but not potent enough to spurn that much interest. But for those hoping that the future will be bright for the WiiU - it's looking more and more like things are going to get worse before they get better.
First, third party support for the system is already looking pretty weak for the rest of the year. No Bioshock Infinite (as of this blog, the best-reviewed game of 2013), no Crysis 3, no GTA V, no Tomb Raider - and the list goes on. Sure, it will have some exclusives: Pikmin 3, Rayman Legends and (at some point) a Zelda and most likely Metroid - but these games keep getting pushed back.
Now comes the news that the WiiU that it won't be able to run the Unreal 4 Engine nor EA's Frostbite 3 Engine that will run on the next iteration of the Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Battlefield games. No, those games aren't everything, but they are popular - and when you miss out on those games, you miss out on major sales.
Considering that developers are going to start shifting their priorities the the PS4 and Xbox - whatever - things are probably going to get only more dire. If the system isn't even getting current-gen ports, how badly is it going to fare when the next generation gets into full swing? Granted, it is getting some support - the anticipated Watch Dogs has been confirmed - but will it be enough?
If the WiiU has to mainly rely on first-person titles to keep it afloat, I see it as having a very short console life. Unless they start courting some third parties - and working on some impressive exclusives - I have a feeling this will be Nintendo's Dreamcast. Time will tell, but it's looking a bit bleak right now.
Comments
Jonzor - wrote on 04/02/13 at 01:19 AM CT
I think Nintendo is better off with popular games on their system. That means Crysis 3, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Madden, NCAA, Battlefield... those could help quite a bit.
Or any games at all, for that matter. One of the largest publishers in the world might have been useful for publishing at least ONE game this month.
I know we love hating on EA for SimCity, but let's be realistic.
I'm really starting to wonder what NIntendo's plan WAS for the Wii U... because there's no way this was the way they planned it... but at the same time, what did they IMAGINE was going to happen??
Nelson Schneider - wrote on 04/01/13 at 11:21 PM CT
EA is a terrible company and Nintendo is better off not having to deal with them.
However, all of the OTHER third party game makers are ignoring the WiiU too... and apparently SO IS NINTENDO!
Nick - wrote on 04/01/13 at 07:46 PM CT
The WiiU already has a grave ready. Since the other console makers are essentially making their next console a PC, the fact the WiiU isn't, will give it a quick and early death straight to the grave.
