'The Wii has stalled' - Iwata

Nintendo president says top-selling console has hit a wall due to dearth of "high demand" software, "preparing for next year."

Though it once appeared to be a tiny sales juggernaut, Nintendo's top-selling Wii has struggled in 2009. In July, the Japanese publisher reported April-June revenues that had slid 40 percent from a year prior to ¥253 billion ($2.81 billion). Nintendo didn't fare much better during its July-September quarter, saying yesterday that sales fell 34.5 percent to ¥548.1 billion ($6.09 billion) during the first half of its fiscal year.

Put the Wii down, Iwata. Things aren't that bad…

Nintendo's slipping performance has not gone unnoticed by the publisher's president. As reported by Japan's Mainichi Newspaper and translated by GameSpot, Nintendo executive Satoru Iwata told analysts and investors as part of a post-earnings Q&A that a weak software lineup has contributed to the Wii's sluggish performance.

"The Wii has stalled," Iwata said. "Games of high demand could not be continuously released and the good mood has chilled." Iwata went on to note that it will be difficult to recover from "the slowdown in demand," but he also expressed optimism over Nintendo's ability to continue selling Wiis.

According to Japan's Nikkan Sports (translated by GameSpot), Iwata also said during the conference that Nintendo misjudged market conditions as they pertained to the publisher's sales strategy.

"The mood of the market got colder than expected, and there was a difference in expectations," he said. "Now, we are preparing for next year and thinking about what to do the year after next." Iwata reportedly went on to note that Nintendo is optimistic about its chance to right the Wii's downward sales trend going forward.

Notably, reports have emerged that Nintendo is planning a number of enhancements to its console. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Nintendo would be introducing Netflix's online video-streaming service to the console, functionality that is already available for the Xbox 360 and will soon be introduced to the PlayStation 3. Analysts and industry insiders also expect the publisher to launch an HD version of the Wii or an all-new system in 2010 or 2011 to better compete with Microsoft and Sony's consoles.

As for Nintendo's other hit hardware, Nikkan Sports reports that Iwata downplayed suggestions that the DS was losing ground to Apple's increasingly ubiquitous iPhone. "Our presence in the marketplace is growing," he succinctly stated. Yesterday, Nintendo also took the lid off its fourth DS hardware iteration, the DSi XL. The jumbo-sized DSi, which features 4.2 inch screens, increased battery life, and a larger stylus is expected to launch in Japan later this year for ¥20,000 ($220.50). The device's North American and European launch is expected to follow during the first part of 2010.

1111 Comments

  • zombehman

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 4:22 pm PT

    @ parrot_of_adun all I was trying to say is how come you guys get to bash our system and think you're all that, and as soon as a Nintendo fan makes a crack about your consol you freak out! seriously though each consol has their pros and cons lets all just stop bashing each-other and realize each consol is good in its own way.
    also, @icey05 do you have any idea what you are talking about? where do you get off calling the Wii not next gen, it changed the face of gaming and shattered the boundaries of what was possible to do with a consol, also where do you think M$ and sony got their motion control ideas? (here is a hint NINTENDO!) The Wii itself was the most next gen consol out there instead of using the same formula as everyone else they decided to use motion control instead of controller, they decided to make it accessible and affordable to everyone so please, before you post a comment know what you are talking about. PS: Sony's motion controller is a hillbilly offspring of a Wiimote

  • Conjuration

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:08 am PT

    I staretd this gen with a Wii. But once I got my hands on some PS3 goodness, it was over for Wii. Wii games are ugly, and optionless. PS3 all the way.

  • Isamu_36

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:05 pm PT

    @ psychojosh:

    I don't consider a-year-old games not enough reason to play them. I still have some Gamecube titles to discover and some PS2's too.

    I do agree with everyone's saying there aren't many new hard core titles for the wii but if anyone happens to own one and doesn't know which to play, I think the list that I provided justifies the way in which the system has been designed.

    However, games are just like any other commercial product: they fulfil consumer needs, particular and individual needs that many people won't probably share in common.

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 2:32 pm PT

    I'll say it is a safe guess that anyone at Nintendo of America that has any business-wise talent, or at least cared a little bit about the fans that supported them for more than 20 years, had fled the company due to a sudden yet huge wave of hired-by-sony/microsoft retards that come up with business decisions via throwing crayons into a fire burning printer paper.

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 7:03 am PT

    @ onuross88
    You just praised the most bashed console with no support why you did.
    Congratulations, you've just made a zealous fool of yourself.

  • Tricky

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 3:11 am PT

    Nintendo is not doing the games industry any favours and they need to change their attitude. Why ? Because Sony and Microsoft have spent years marketing games to show that they aren’t just for kids. Then Nintendo comes along with the Wii and all that effort goes out the window with Nintendo’s single minded and childish agenda. They should at least market their products for ALL demographics rather than giving games that ugly title of just being for kids.

  • OrchidJake

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 7:16 pm PT

    @shoelaces-4-all

    sweet. that actually raised my hopes for nintendo. thank you

  • jetstopia

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 4:36 am PT

    Is is just me or do games developes seem to be getting greedier. or is it just the nature of the business, flog everything off while you can cause there may be a drought tomorrow

  • convince73

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 4:46 pm PT

    wii needs good games,not great games but some good games. i cant wait for next residnent evil!

  • thepyrethatburn

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 5:23 pm PT

    @parrot_of_adun:

    "namely the part about your apparent inability to interpret information in a coherent manner"

    You're projecting your issues on to me again.

  • Pokedude1013

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 9:40 am PT

    HARDCORE

  • OneMoarLevel

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 9:32 am PT

    We don´t need Wii HD but better games. That´s all ...

  • sandrockcstm88

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 9:23 am PT

    The issue with Nintendo is that they've become very lax and lazy after the Wii had huge success. When the N64 and Gamecube were out, they were very much the underdogs, and had to fight tooth and nail for every inch. Some of the most classic Nintendo games came out during this time... nowadays, Nintendo has become fat, lazy, and content in its own success. What kind of games has it released in the past few years? Minigames, remakes, ports, and rehashes. Nothing neither new nor innovative. The novelty for the motion sensor controller has also worn off, and frankly, I think if they stick with it they're gonna have a dead end system.

    It's a wonderful idea really, but nobody has used it well. The system has been out for several years, and I can't remember hearing of a game that really, truly made use of the motion sensitive controller the way Nintendo promised it would. Meanwhile, the 360 has had some critically acclaimed games, and had a more solid offering than the Wii has had.

    Also, I'm just saying... handheld systems are on the way out. You can think what you want, but when Sony's answer to the "next gen of portable systems" is to release a system without the ability to play store-bought games, and Nintendo's is to make it bigger and heavier... well, we're just beating a dead horse at this point. Either way, Nintendo may have to go to the bottom of the pile again before they figure out that we expect quality from them, not one or two good games ever half a decade.

  • Incredible_Bulk

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 9:16 am PT

    @Aizou

    Nintendo hasn't completely given the finger to hardcore games, but they have shown a definate lack of interest in making them or promoting them, if you ask me. There have been HC games for the Wii, MadWorld, The Conduit, along with a COD 4 port that is soon to be released, but the problem with the Wii, is that it was designed primarily with casual gamers in mind. Therefore, Nintendo saw an explosion of sales as parents, kids, and just regular people who had no real prior experience with games before the Wii, bought it in droves, but the hardcore gamers saw it for what it is. A Casual/Party game console that would be fun for awhile, but would not hold their attention for very long. Nintendo needs to address this by releasing more hardcore oriented games, not necessarily bloody, hack and slash, murder everyone, affairs, but something that appeals to gamers more than just another Wii-ware game, like Wii Sports/Fit/Resort/etc.

  • fireball2020

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:53 am PT

    @ Aizou:

    That's exactly what I did, and I haven't regretted that decision yet.

  • Aizou

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:45 am PT

    The big thing with the Wii is for no apparent reason it like to gives to the finger to hard-core gamers. Aside from the occasional Zelda or Mario game it seems to get a lot of games that are just a bunch of mini-games thrown together. I'm thinking of cutting my losses and ditching it for an XBox 360.

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:06 am PT

    @thepyrethatburn - "Given that my most recent comment is mimicing the analysis of the people bashing on the Wii"

    No it wasn't. Most of the people here seem to understand that the cases are not analogous.

    I don't really want to argue this with you. Partly as I would just be repeating myself (namely the part about your apparent inability to interpret information in a coherent manner), but mostly because I'm lazy.

  • SDBusDriver1979

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 10:46 pm PT

    Truth and decency to have the balls to tell this to share holders.

  • jokoo

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    ps: the DSI XL project sounds ridiculous. Abandon ship now before you lose all your money. I don't think there is a large demand for a BIGGER portable device. I could pull out my Atari Lynx if i wanted a bigger portable device.

  • jokoo

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 9:36 pm PT

    Here's a way to make money nintendo. This awesome advice is buried in one comment box on Gamestop. Hopefully you will find it:

    MAKE YOUR ONLINE STORE AWESOME and here's how:
    make wii ware have required demos. make all nintendo DLC have a more competitive price. Make the nintendo store interface more akin to the awesome interface of apple's app store.

  • jakarai

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 9:15 pm PT

    This is what happens when nothing but **** games are being released on it. Nintendo never learns.

  • hannify

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 7:23 pm PT

    @EternalYoshi

    Because Nintendo are perfectionists and the Wii can't handle patches so it means they can't bring out an undeveloped game then patch it up after

  • EternalYoshi

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:21 pm PT

    Wait. Shouldn't the underpowered hardware and software architecture in comparison to the other two mean that making games for the Wii would be faster and cheaper?

    And yet their output is a tad slower than Sony and Microsoft.

    Strange... can someone explain this to me?

  • 73X

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:21 pm PT

    It's about time. I'd like to see a truly next-gen Zelda game on truly next-gen hardware, Nintendo, not another mediocre exercise game.

  • thepyrethatburn

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 5:47 pm PT

    parrot_of_adun:

    Given that my most recent comment is mimicing the analysis of the people bashing on the Wii, your comment would seem to indicate that you think that the Wii-bashers lack analytical skill.

    I agree.

  • BigNalive

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 5:23 pm PT

    It is not that way boys. The Wii is fun, of course Nintendo disappointed me, but games as Mario( the new one), Metroid (Other M) and Final Fantasy are coming out!

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 3:52 pm PT

    @zombehman - "what gives you guys the right to bash our system?"

    First amendment.

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 3:43 pm PT

    @thepyrethatburn

    Your analytical skills are lacking...

  • MyLameUsername

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 2:37 pm PT

    Mostly everyone who wants a Wii, probably already has it.

  • cjasko94

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:20 pm PT

    And still...if "wii hd" (lame name) really does come out...will it have better online? Friends list..(at least features that PSN has)
    It will still probably have a lack of great games...WHAT Mario in hd big woop.

  • cjasko94

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:19 pm PT

    If you ONLY own a Nintendo Wii, then you're really missing out...I mean damn

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:54 am PT

    if they are coming out with a wii HD, I am not touching it. I havent touched my wii in almost a year, im sure of it

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 9:41 am PT

    would you like to take the money and run or risk it all

  • ricardo-sene

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 9:17 am PT

    Well said, @thepyrethatburn

  • Flint247

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 11:37 pm PT

    A Wii with a PS3 or 360 is a way to go.

  • icey05

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 10:45 pm PT

    @zombehman

    actually its a comments section..not a forum =]
    we have free reign.

    the wii was never a next-gen console.

    how can they expect to release a console built for party games and working out, and KEEP competeting with the likes of sony and M$.

    also the ps3 and 360 have their own respective motion sensing technology releasing in the near future, which is way more advanced than the wii, that will be game over for nintendo, because motion sensing is ALL they have atm.

    its a console for families and kids.
    unfortunately, both of those areas are a dying bread, kids want to kill things with large guns and big explosions, and families are more interested in better things.

  • Master_Niko

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 9:17 pm PT

    Of course the sales have stalled. The few ppl out there who dont already own a wii are probably not going to get one. And for the few ppl who are shopping for a console...why would you buy a wii when for a couple 20's more you can have a PS3 with blu-ray...which is so awesome. Once you go blu-ray you cant go back.

    And no im not a fanboy i own all 3 systems

  • zombehman posted Nov 3, 2009 7:38 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    zombehman

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 7:38 pm PT (hide)

    It amuses me how bad the Console wars have gotten man, I this is going so far and for what? a couple of PS3 and 360 fanboys decide to rag on the Wii because it has "stalled" saying things like @ RedSoxfan67
    have people finally realized that the wii doesn't havee a good game, that's why i bought a 360

    @ thedemon44
    Best news I heard in some time. Down with the gamecube! I mean Wii...

    what gives you guys the right to bash our system? you may own a Wii and think it sucks fine, truly I don't care, but seriously stay they the H*** away from Nintendo based forums! please I would rather eat my own entrails like spaghetti than hear another 360 or PS3 fanboy bit** about the Wii YOU DON"T LIKE IT SO DON"T PLAY IT AND LEAVE US ALONE!

  • The_Dragon_Born

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 5:58 pm PT

    The problem with the wii is that its not really next gen. Its an innovative gamecube. Gamecubes are old news nintendo! And so is family of ds systems. I hope iphone spanks the ds if nintendo doesn't get wise and TRULY move into the next generation of handhelds. Enough with the ds brothers! How about an all new handheld?

  • thepyrethatburn

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 3:18 pm PT

    http://www.gamespot.com/news/6238436.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=hot-stories&tag=hot-stories;title;2

    " Today, rival Sony announced it took a ÂĄ63.2 billion ($696 million) net shortfall during the same period"

    So, using the logic that people keep using in this topic that the Wii is losing profit because of a lack of good games, Sony's games must truly be a black hole of suck.

  • RedSoxfan67

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 2:49 pm PT

    have people finally realized that the wii doesn't havee a good game, that's why i bought a 360

  • killip

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:30 pm PT

    @kiblespoop
    haha it would seem that way, guess no one told Nintendo that though

  • thedemon44

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    Best news I heard in some time. Down with the gamecube! I mean Wii...

  • Voda20

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:21 pm PT

    So economy recession finally hit gaming giants? If they thought they going to avoid market crash, they live in dream world. Granted, it hit them much later than automakers and financial companies, but still, it was expected. I don't think games releases or hardware quality has much to do with it. Sales down for everyone - not just Wii.

  • Somebody89

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    Looks like the boring wii library is finally getting to them.

  • kiblespoop

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    Oh my god! Fads die?!? No way.

  • shawise

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    @dbpvivi Yeah....i've come across 4 families with children who loved the system when they first got it, but now barely touch it at all. Nintendo needs to get their creative team back to being creative they started out on the right track but somehow have wondered off the path.

  • dbpvivi

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 11:48 am PT

    Its simple, People buy a WII, use it, get bored.

    Thats it. Its like the yo-yo; a fad that will die away in time. Given project Natal and (hehe) Sonys wand idea the wii is in trouble.

    I'm so glad i didn't get one ¬¬

  • sison101

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 11:31 am PT

    It seems as though developers kinda took a year off to get a good grasp of the system and how to utilize motion controls. Sure there weren't too many games out that were stellar this year, but next year will be different. There aren't that many "I need to have this game" titles that have come out recently and let's be honest - There are already a lot of wii consoles out there. Just wait till next year, I think it'll be fine.

  • kbaily

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 11:16 am PT

    You know you all complain about lack of good Wii games but when stuff like Madworld, No More Heroes and Okami sell poorly then why should companies bother making core games if you're not going to buy them anyway? Nintendo can't make everything.

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