Nintendo lowers Wii U sales predictions; slashes financial forecasts

Finally accepting the fate of the Wii U, Nintendo has lowered its bold financial predictions for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. Previously, the platform holder had expected a net profit of ¥55 billion for the year, but due to the underperformance of the Wii U (and even the 3DS, oddly enough) Nintendo is now estimating a net loss of of ¥25 billion.

The new number is a result of revised sales predictions for the Wii U and 3DS handheld. Nintendo originally estimated that it would sell 9 million Wii U units worldwide during the financial year. Despite the alarming lack of units moved, Nintendo stuck by its ambitious goal. On a side note, I'm pretty sure everyone but Nintendo knew it wouldn't hit that number. I guess it just took them a little longer as the estimate has now been revised down to 2.8 million. Comparitively — just to let you know how bad of shape the Wii U is in — Nintendo forecasts its predecessor, the Wii, to sell 1.2 million consoles during this financial year (also down from the original 2 million forecasted).

Even the Nintendo 3DS — the best-selling hardware of 2013 — is failing to live up to Nintendo's lofty expectations. The handheld was forecasted to sell 18 million units worldwide this financial year; now it's down to an estimated 13.5 million units.

Things are certainly looking grim for the Wii U, but hope is not all lost. Looking ahead, there are still a few games to be released which could help boost sales. The question is can Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. save the struggling console?