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Nintendo: Wii U Production to Continue in Next Fiscal Term or Later

Nintendo responded on Wednesday to Nikkei's report that Nintendo would cease production of its Wii U console in 2016. Nintendo said that there was no formal announcement from the company, and that it plans to continue production on the Wii U in the next fiscal year or later. The next fiscal year in Japan is between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017.

Nintendo launched the Wii U system in 2012 and has since reported weak sales for the Wii U compared to its predecessors. As of December, the Wii U had sold 12.6 million units worldwide, compared to the Wii's 101.6 million units worldwide. The Wii had surpassed 70 million units by its fourth year.

Nintendo will announce details on its next generation platform, currently called the "NX," this year. Company president Tatsumi Kimishima said that the NX will not be the successor for existing game hardware, and it will be based on a completely new concept. Nintendo's late former president and CEO Satoru Iwata then revealed in May that the company is considering making the console region-free.

Nintendo reported its first positive operating income in its 4-6 month financial reports in five years in October.

Source: NLab via Hachima Kikō ]