Help the Wii U, Mario Kart 8, you’re its only hope…

Following Nintendo's revised financial forecast for the current fiscal year, most would agree that the Wii U is in dire need of help. Speaking to MCV, one of games retail's "biggest names" — speaking under anonymity — believes there's only one thing that can help save the Wii U: Mario Kart 8. Specifically, the retailer believes the game would need to be bundled with the system and available at a significantly cheaper price.

“A sub-£200 machine will help, and Mario Kart is desperately needed to reach the fans,” said the anonymous boss of one of the UK's biggest retailer chain. “We also need something revolutionary that makes use of the second screen and has mainstream appeal, which is easier said than done.”

Another games exec at a "mass media market outlet" added: “£199 and Mario Kart 8. Simple.”

Lastly, a "top buyer" at an online games store also weighed in: “There is only one real last chance for Wii U and it is Mario Kart 8. It could still be the game that sparks interest in Wii U, but it would need to be combined with a more mass market retail price.”

Given the sales success of Mario Kart Wii, it's certainly understandable why many are looking to Mario Kart 8 to resuscitate the Wii U. After all Mario Kart Wii has sold over 34 million copies worldwide, but it also helped that the Nintendo Wii was in millions of households by the time it released; unfortunately, the same can't be said of the Wii U. Mario Kart 8 will undoubtedly help move Wii U consoles, but will it be enough to save Nintendo's struggling machine?

[MCV]