Nintendo has confirmed it is to end production of the Wii U console in Japan.
Since the announcement of the Nintendo Switch last month, reports have suggested the last Wii U would soon leave from the production line for good.
After last week denying reports production would end imminently, Nintendo has now confirmed the end is coming “soon.”
"Production is scheduled to end soon." an announcement translated by Kotaku (via Engadget) reads, before the company added "within Japan.”
However, it is not clear when the company will be halting production in other territories.
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The Wii U has sold more than 13 million units since it went on sale in 2012, falling way short of the 101 million consoles moved by its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii.
The console struggled from its initial launch, with Nintendo never quite managing to conveying the message behind the new touchscreen controller.
The system also suffered from a dearth of third-party releases to back up a stellar first-party library.
With the Nintendo Switch arriving by the end of March 2017, the company is now shifting its manufacturing focus to the new hybrid home/portable machine.
Interestingly, the firm remains committed to building and releasing the ever-popular 3DS console, at least for the time being.
Was the Wii U under-appreciated or an ill-conceived console from Nintendo? Can the Switch succeed where it failed? Share your thoughts below.
