Iwata: Wii Sports 2 benched for now

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 14, 2007 5:42 pm PT

Nintendo CEO dismisses possibility of sequel for popular console pack-in popping up anytime soon.

Satoru Iwata.

Wii Sports has been seen by many as a primary factor in the dramatic success of the Wii worldwide. In Japan, the only territory where it was not bundled with the console, over 2 million units of the minigame compilation have been sold, according to research firm Media Create. According to a recent Financial Times report, Wii Sports' accessibility has helped convince over 7 million nontraditional gamers to purchase the Wii in other territories, making the console the best-selling "next-generation" machine.

Given the success of Wii Sports, one would assume a follow-up would be guaranteed. However, in a recent interview with the Japanese game blog 1101.com, Nintendo president and CEO Saturo Iwata announced that Wii Sports won't come out anytime soon--if it comes out at all. "We're not going to take such an easy way, not by including seven new sports in the game since Wii Sports has five," he said. "We're not closing our doors to the possibility of a sequel, but it's definitely not coming out soon."

According to Iwata, a rushed Wii Sports sequel would only introduce incremental improvements that wouldn't be as fun for players. "If you start making such decisions without thinking, you start doing the easy stuff. You disengage yourself with the pursuit of true entertainment," he explained. Furthermore, Iwata said simply following Wii Sports with more-of-the-same gameplay wouldn't be in line with Nintendo's goal to expand the gaming market. "Our mission is to surprise people in a good way, and this became very clear as we made Nintendo DS and Wii. You can't open up a new market of customers if you can't surprise them."

Branching out with this mentality, Iwata notes that it isn't only a Wii Sports sequel that is being put on the back burner. According to the Nintendo exec, the similarly popular Nintendo genres of brain-training and cooking games are being sidelined in favor of new types of titles. "Even if we make great products, if the number of new customers doesn't increase, it won't reach people," Iwata said. "That was clear to us, so doing the easy was not an option."

In the end, however, Iwata notes that it's much easier to take the position of innovator while a company is in a solid financial position. "I think we can say we won't do the easy because we are currently making a profit," said Iwata. "If we were having a hard time, maybe we will chose the easy [way], so that we could make a profit for certain."

319 Comments

  • dailybread5

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 10:58 pm PT

    It'd be great to have Wii sports 2, just for more maps on golf!

  • pochacco209

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 8:11 pm PT

    Wii Sport is fun, Wii Play is Fun, Wii Zapper/Link Game is fun, they should make a Wii Sport 2/Wii Play 2 and Zapper game. Bring back Duck Hunt as a new min game for Wii Play 2 where u can use the Zapper Mini game. They should make more fun mini game and it should be price around 9.99-19.99

  • chickmagnet_1

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 4:40 pm PT

    Hockey, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, and Frisbee. And as a minigame, they should have online multiplayer hackysack. That would be totally dope!!! Just imagine having to move back and forth to follow the hacky and then flicking the remote up to kick it. Definitely should be the next games!!!

    (Would have said ping pong, billiards and the like, but those are already in Wii Play)

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:43 pm PT

    man, I wanted some basketball or somethin'

  • aaaawwww

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:49 am PT

    "And the decrease in nintendo's sells, were due to Wii sold out. There was not enough aprovisionement "

    "Aprovisionement" ? What the hell is that? People would take you alot more seriously if you didn't make up your own language!!!

  • DuaneDog

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 8:33 pm PT

    Wii sports is pretty cool but I want to see the next great thing with this interface. There is tons of potential and with a good installed base perhaps we'll see some innovative uses for the Wii controller.

  • GaMeWiZaRd93

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:25 pm PT

    I had fun playing the first wii sport. Cant wait 2 see wat they would put in the squeal.

  • Ampersan5340

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 7:55 pm PT

    a sequel? awesome

  • pro_gamer12345

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 6:13 pm PT

    to rgvcavi why the hell are your flaming the WII. Well no one cares about your opinion. Screw halo 3 cause its one of the most pointless games ive seen in all my life. Crap i bet COD 4 will even have better ratings than that piece of crap. If you like the 360 so much go to their forum and stop coming to the WII and start flaming it.

  • VendettaRed07

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    , miyamoto said this along time ago

  • SlortaHauz

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 7:42 am PT

    RgvXavi:
    Could you sound like more of a nerd?

  • Bozanimal

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 7:22 am PT

    I thought Wii Play was a Wii Sports follow-up of sorts?

  • GoddBless

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 7:03 am PT

    There is no need for a sequel right now. Everyone is still enjoying the 1st one.

  • theNexus

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 7:02 am PT

    This will be one of the bankers, everyone knows there is a concern with this console that the novelty will ware off at some point and sales fall in a big way at some point becuase Nintendo does tend to put its eggs all in one basket and then just role out sequels all the time which are the same as the last ones more so then other platforms.

    The sequel here should be a big hit and they will save this for when sales start to fall, sales are good right now so they will bank this game till the time they need it.

  • Slash_out

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 3:49 am PT

    RgvXavi
    thats all the wii is a nice gimmick to get casual gamers to spend thier money on an inferior system as opposed to the Xbox 360. i'm not gonna flame and talk crap about the piece o s**t 3(much) but the wii fad will most certainly die down... and soo
    -------------
    That's actually called flaming man .
    Especially since the Wii sold more console than others (It has sold more than the x360 after being released one year later, and it sold more than double the amount of PS3...). It's already a success, wether the sells dies down or not, It's too late. Because of the consolesold ,devs will make game on it, better game, new ones, the ywill take more risk. And because of that new people will get the console.
    -------
    EvilResident

    Ok...this one is definitely bs from Nintendo. They say making Wii Sports 2 would be "the easy thing to do" and act like they want to surprise people, and yet they have Mario Kart Wii coming out.
    --------
    Really? Did you see any mario kart on Wii? Indead, there will be a new mario kart on the wii but what's the problem? It will use the wii mote unlike previous game. It will give us a new way to have fun with that game, and it will allow ither that never played the game to enjoy it.
    You won't see any other mario kart on the Wii. That's what happened to the super nes, n64, and GC. One for each system.

    ---------------
    darkzerogamer

    We;'re doing ok so we dont need any sequels. Wheres the logic in THAT?
    -------------------

    The logic is that, since we have enough money coming in, we can take risk and make something new. Because if we mess up, it's ok, we still have money coming in, to make up for that failure.

    ----------
    WorldMusc_basic --
    Not to mention sales have already dropped in Japan and PS3 is picking up.
    --------------

    Just so you know, the boost of the PS3 already died down. And the decrease in nintendo's sells, were due to Wii sold out. There was not enough aprovisionement .

  • ardandil

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:39 pm PT

    im pretty sure that anyone could learn something from those statements. i can see the "Miyahon Check" between the lines...

    Nintendo is Nintendo after all...

  • Outlawlaw

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 8:10 pm PT

    Innovation sold Nintendo's console, innovation in titles will only see the same trend.

    I'm tired of sequels and re-runs, when a company says something like this it gives me more confidence with the future of video gaming in general.

    Maybe well see some new franchises instead of the same known quantities.

  • elbarto69

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    Brilliant

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:09 pm PT

    I still need to play the first one, so no worries here

  • Ospov

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 6:12 pm PT

    Well at least Nintendo says they're trying to make good games instead of doing easy sequels. GJ Nintendo.

  • pro_gamer12345

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 3:47 pm PT

    A sequel would be good and all...but wii sports isnt a game really needed for sequels..i would get it though if it looks promising. =)

  • nikolajz1

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    Wii Sports is pretty fun for being such a simle game but a sequal is not needed.

  • RgvXavi posted Sep 17, 2007 2:50 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    RgvXavi

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 2:50 pm PT (hide)

    my question is: who really cares? i mean really cares? i've had my wii for like 4mos now and it only gets played by my casual gaming fiancee(loves Twilight Princess) and when her friends come over to play wii sports(bowling mostly). i get on now and then and play some VC titles but i didn't buy it for the games i bought it for the NOVELTY. seeing as its hard to find i like to brag to my friends that i have one and they don't. thats all the wii is a nice gimmick to get casual gamers to spend thier money on an inferior system as opposed to the Xbox 360. i'm not gonna flame and talk crap about the piece o s**t 3(much) but the wii fad will most certainly die down... and sooner rather than later. for now im more than happy playing SkAtE/BioShock/Stranglehold on my 360/Live. plus Master Chief get's released on 9/25 and I already got like 20 heads coming to my place(4 HDTV's/360's) on 9/29 for the Halo 3 Xbox Live All- Nighter. will post pics of the event within a week after the all nighter. what was i talking about?... o, yeah who cares about this article?

  • darkzerogamer

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 2:20 pm PT

    We;'re doing ok so we dont need any sequels. Wheres the logic in THAT?

  • Chromeo_basic

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 2:16 pm PT

    @EscobarPR_basic

    Couldn't agree more. This just means even fewer titles for the Wii. *sigh* My wii has been relegated to merely popping out when I have friends over. Please Nintendo, let's get some more games!

  • g-master999

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    That's pretty good reasoning. I'm glad Nintendo isn't taking the easy way out. But more importantly, Iwata is holding a BLACK Wii.

  • carrierj1

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    WorldMusc, haven't you read over and over again that Nintendo has the most 3rd party games in development. Sony is losing support and most of its games are available on the 360. You're stretching it by saying GTA and FF are innovative each time and Zelda and Mario aren't. How much canges between each STA title. Read the headlines. Sony is third.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    --WorldMusc_basic --
    Not to mention sales have already dropped in Japan and PS3 is picking up.

    ~~~~~

    That's the marketing spin...saying it's good news you only got outsold 3:1 compared to 7:1 the month before still means you are losing ground at a huge pace and is not really good news.

    IF the PS3 was outselling the Wii at this point 2:1 it would take over 4-years to catch up to the Wii sales. But they are still being outsold 3:1...

  • zaphod_b

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    WorldMusc_basic:

    Nintendo has released sequels of their big 4 titles on every system because fans would go absolutely insane if they didn't. They have also released many new, original titles for the GC and now the Wii. Sony DREAMS to have the type of video game icons Nintendo has, and if they did, you can be sure they would use them over and over again.

    GTA is by no means innovative or shocking. The same goes for Final Fantasy. They are just as much a rehash as any Nintendo title, and you only defend them because they are on your platform of choice. Don't be mistaken into thinking that Sony cares about you. They are ALL out for money. I for one find it nice that Nintendo is saying they don't want to make a bunch of sequals. Somehow you have found the bad in it. Whatever. To each his own.

  • Williedude87

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    WorldMusic.. you think Zelda and Mario a less continually innovative then GTA and FF? What? Pretty much every game attached with the Zelda name has been outstanding. I was not a fan of The Wind Waker, or Four Swords, but I know many people who really loved those games. Have you even played the new Zelda? Also, the core Mario series has been pretty outstanding as well.. Mario 64 literally completely revolutionized 3D gaming.. before it camera and controls where crap. I admit the spin offs are questionable, but so are the FF spin offs. But there hasn't been any core Mario releases really since Super Mario Sunshine(which wasn't so fantastic) besides on the DS which had some fantastic Mario additions. Come on Super Mario Galaxies looks great. I would definitely say that Zelda and Mario are great franchises that should be continued.

    Also to the people bringing up Mario Party.. read the clause at the end of the article. It is no doubt Nintendo was in trouble after the gamecube, which may explain the lackluster additions to the series. In that light, it makes perfect sense and Iwata is still making a strong statement. They haven't announced Mario Party 9 have they? Although, I think they should to wash out the taste of the mediocre 8th edition. As long as they bring back the magic that made some of the earlier versions so great.

  • EvilResident

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 1:12 pm PT

    Ok...this one is definitely bs from Nintendo. They say making Wii Sports 2 would be "the easy thing to do" and act like they want to surprise people, and yet they have Mario Kart Wii coming out. It doesn't get more predictable than a new Mario Kart on a new Nintendo system. And this is the same Nintendo that's already basically ported a WarioWare, Cooking Mama, and soon to be Brain Test title to the Wii form the DS.

    So if you don't want to make a new Wii Sports sequel that actually has some depth, then just say it, don't insult our intelligence by saying you're doing it because it wouldn't be "original" and PLEASE don't tell us you're not doing things the easy way since MP3 is the first Wii title, from any company including Nintendo that actually looks and feels like a next gen (or current gen) title. Everything else has been subpar or a port.

  • WorldMusc_basic

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    All nintendo is going to do is rehash the same old titles over and over. Its funny how people talk about Sony rehashing titles, when Nintendo has been using the same franchises for decades before the playstation even came out. Pretty sad, they're not gonna produce jack

    Sony already has 100 3rd party titles in the works, what does Nintendo have? Oh yeah, they have jack for 3rd party developers. Not to mention sales have already dropped in Japan and PS3 is picking up. There's a reason the last 2 Nintendo consoles bombed, the games they brought out sucked, and the good ones were too few and far between. There's a reason rockstar keeps making GTA, and sony brings out Final Fantasy n, its because they are continually amazing and innovative in what is done with each sequel, unlike the zelda or mario series. Wii is for casual gamers and young children, Nintendo is only about money and doesn't care about any of the hardcore gamers who want new innovative titles. Wii FIt won't cut it, if I wanted to workout I'd go to the gym, not play balance beam on a cheap weight scale.

  • soulfood4

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 12:19 pm PT

    Why do they put quotation marks around next gen? Its a next generation system, theres no doubt about that. Anyway...i didnt like Wii Sports that much so idc..

  • 1357900

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 12:01 pm PT

    I wanted a Wii for 2 reasons:
    1.Nintendo only franchises
    2.the VC

    I'm more than pleased with my Wii. I'll admit, things could be better; Nintendo could make certain things better{i.e. VC titles costs, points cards, stuff like that}, but I'm satisfied.

    As for inovation, Nintendo won't make a Wii Sports franchise, but they will make a 900th Mario Party? Maybe they think the non-traditional gamers will see it as a quick, & cheap way for Nintendo to make money. Either way, Iwata doesn't seem to want to take the easy way for the Wii Sports franchise for some reason.

  • heavensch1

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 11:37 am PT

    If they would put out downladable wii sports content such as new sports or for thiat matter or new levels to play on (golf) i think they could kill two birds with one stone... make a decent profit and at the same time cater to the needs of us gamers.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 11:25 am PT

    I do not think it's a bad decision for the most part. I mean really like he said how many people would be happy or even bother buying a slightly better game with a couple different sports.

    What they should do is offer those few new sports they come up with as download expansions or something.

  • EscobarPR_basic

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 10:55 am PT

    This is a great example of how far they've fallen out of touch with gamers. It doesn't matter how many consoles you've sold - we want games, period. I can't believe some of you posting here saying "great, we're not getting Wii Sports 2, woohoo!" Its all about choices and giving the consumers what they want, and there's only 1 console this generation doing that. Its damn sure not the Wii.

  • FoxHoundADAM

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 10:47 am PT

    Wow for the first time I acctually want a sequal to a nintendo game and they decide they don't want to schill themselfs out for easy sequals. With decisions like this they won't be the top dog again for very long.

  • sharkey_farmer

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:33 am PT

    Don't take the easy way, eh? Yeah that Mario Party series is just full of innovation.

  • gord_mose

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:21 am PT

    The real question isn't how to expand the market, but it's how to get that market to buy more than one game a year. The PC has a huge market and I think the core gamers are still the ones buying all the games. Just because you love casual games doesn't mean you're going to spend your disposable income on them. We, the core gamers, spend our money on games. And I think most of us aren't spending very much of it on casual games, unless we are just buying them for our loved ones, that is.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:06 am PT

    I mean what could be next. Volley ball, curling, ummm slot machines????

  • SkankForCrack

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 9:00 am PT

    I agree that Nintedo hasn't released GREAT titles. But face it they took the path that strayed them from the hardcore gamers and went to the casual gamers. I mean I own a Wii but I bought it knowing the only games id buy were Zelda and SSMB:Brawl.

    And thats why I also own a 360.

    Gears of War ftw.

  • rusty_13

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 8:59 am PT

    EmoChild999555 ... did you read the article.. or even the title?

  • Chirico_Cuvie

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 8:53 am PT

    If you want to keep the millions of people that were duped into buying the Wii for the innovation of Wii Sports, content, you'd better start a Wii Sports franchise. One title like Wii Sports 2 with several would be blowing the load, agreed; but a franchise of Wii Sports: Basketball, Wii Sports: Football, etc, would be the way to go. Fully realized sports games with the charm and precision of Wii Sports would be the next logical step.

    Few would argue that Wii Sports is still the best release for the hardware, and the longer you force people to endure lackluster "games", you run the risk of the over-inflated appeal blowing up in your face.

  • StonyShred420

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 8:22 am PT

    Hey Iwata,
    Wheres all the titles that don't suck? All you have given the world for decent/good Wii games is Zelda, Metroid 3, Madden, and Rayman....4 games still isn't going to convience me to get a Wii, but you have a much more compelling arguement going for you than the PS3...that thing has put out nothing but crap...or games that have been out on the 360 for weeks, months or even a year (Oblivion).

  • EmoChild999555

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:54 am PT

    cool cant wait 4 it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Space-Q

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:11 am PT

    in other news...mario party 345235 is coming out next spring

  • Comingcurse

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:01 am PT

    They refuse to "take the easy way" by releasing Wii Sports 2, but they will take the easy way when it comes to pubishers, letting them put out any garbage on the console. How about more original titles Iwata?! Where are the titles made for the Wii and optimized for the Wii-mote? For that matter, where is project H.A.M.M.E.R.? We're waiting....

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Wii Sports Boxshot
Wii Sports

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    432 of 59,192
    (down by 7)
    WII Rank:
    31 of 1,763
    Tracking:
    11,000 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    1,221 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    4,565
  • Number of Players:

    1-4

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. wii sports
    2. wii
    3. sports
    4. baseball
    5. golf
  • Everyone Rating Description

    Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Related Games

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs