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Nintendo considering new name for Wii U - Report

Underwhelming reaction and concerns of customer confusion supposedly have the Mario maker weighing its options for a rebranding before this year's E3.

The Wii U will hit stores this coming holiday season, but there's a chance it will be called something else by launch day. According to a report on CVG, sources close to Nintendo told the site that the company is considering rebranding the console, which was first unveiled at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo last June.

Would a Wii U by any other name smell as sweet?

Would a Wii U by any other name smell as sweet?

Nintendo is supposedly unhappy with the initial reaction following the Wii U's announcement and is concerned that it might be inviting consumer confusion with the Wii. Such misunderstandings were one of the blamed culprits for the rocky launch of the 3DS. Some of Nintendo's marketing has since made a point to emphasize that the 3DS is not just another DS, but an entirely new system.

If the Wii U were to be renamed, it would be a sort of reversed reprisal of Nintendo's last console launch. At E3 2006, Nintendo renamed its in-development console from the Revolution to the Wii, a move that drew mixed reactions from gamers and analysts alike.

As of press time, a Nintendo representative had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

510 Comments

  • FLOWZMENTAL

    Posted Feb 14, 2012 4:22 am GMT

    It doesn't matter what it will be called. If it's not compatible with more than one U controller or what ever the visual controller is called. Then it's useless to me. All I know is that it reminds me of the VMU for the Dreamcast.

  • diggyman

    Posted Feb 13, 2012 6:52 pm GMT

    Thank GOOOOODAAAALLLLLLMIIIIIIIIIGHTY!!!!

    WiiU pretty much stinks as a console name IMO.
    You want to appeal to core gamers more? get rid of the Wii stigma altogether.
    Remove 'Wii' from the name.

    "Nintendo U" is the best idea I've heard so far.

  • craigprime

    Posted Feb 13, 2012 2:33 pm GMT

    There's no "U" in "Wii". At least, maybe.

  • TI99Kitty

    Posted Feb 13, 2012 11:56 am GMT

    @The_Mighty_KELP:

    I'd actually buy it BECAUSE it was called that. ^_^

  • iverson89

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 10:45 pm GMT

    name this new console revolution..

  • JMcN76

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 9:31 pm GMT

    The more important question is who is going to buy it?

  • Coolyfett

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 6:58 pm GMT

    Coolyfett would get this system if it played cassette tapes.

  • nate1222

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:41 pm GMT

    The single tablet controller doesn't look bad. But, like many gamers, I prefer the Classic controller. It does everything I need a controller to do and doesn't cost much.

  • austrato

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:23 pm GMT

    Hyper NES?? Anyone??

  • rarson

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 10:48 am GMT

    Wii turned out to be a good name because it's easy to say. "Wii U" lengthens the name and doesn't even suggest that it's a successor. I don't think the name is horrible, but the concerns about it are pretty significant when it comes to sales and customer confusion, in my opinion.

    They could go for something simple, like "Wii 2". I think they were trying to imply a 2 with the U ("Wii U" looks almost the same as "Wii II"), but a simple number would be easier for people to understand. And really, the average consumer doesn't care why you named your console "Wii" or "Wii U", they just think it sounds funny (and confusing).

  • lazycomplife

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 3:58 am GMT

    They should call it the Dolphin.

  • Wolflink001

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 7:37 pm GMT

    How about "Wii Pii On U"

  • Flint247

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 5:37 pm GMT

    Nintendo Entertainment Center

  • The_Mighty_KELP

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 5:21 pm GMT

    Why is the console's name so important anyway? I'd buy a console to play my favorite games if it was called "Super Lungfish Turbo Cow-puncher XLD3600"!

  • digi-demon

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 3:20 pm GMT

    @PlusFour
    No doubts that this is the press release glamour shot of the sleek pad controller - no fears for health and safety muppets will change all that - N will be forced to release it with a giant silicone 'condom' cover for it (like the wii motes before) and making the final pad controller look more like an Atari Lynx

  • Manemix10

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 3:07 pm GMT

    nPad

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 6:47 pm GMT

    If the Zelda that comes out for this system looks anything like the tech demo Zelda they showed at E3, I will camp out to pick this thing up. I've been waiting for an epic Zelda for so long. Nintendo: Make an Ocarina of Time-like Zelda with today's graphics, and they will come. They will come.

  • dreamfist11 posted Feb 9, 2012 12:25 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    dreamfist11

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 12:25 pm GMT (hide)

    In all seriousness however, if they truly want the casual audience to distinguish this piece of shhit from the old piece of shhit they should name it the Wii 2.

  • dreamfist11

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 12:23 pm GMT

    The Nintendo Shhit

  • walders

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 9:22 am GMT

    Nintendo iPad? No body would be confused with that.

  • Geordielass78

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 9:16 am GMT

    Got to admit, couldn't give a toss what they call it - I'm far more interested in whether it's going to be worth getting and whether there will be decent games for it.

  • digitaltiger

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 11:18 pm GMT

    Wii-HD

  • Acetoxic

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 9:11 am GMT

    i've thought of a name "wii 2" seriously why do they think they need original with there names...
    they should change to a matte black scheme aswell.
    oh i just read the posted date i'll submit anyways yay.

  • foxfacer2d2

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 10:00 pm GMT

    hot wiiener

  • Elann2008

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 9:32 pm GMT

    NES 2. Ooooh..yeah...

  • Elann2008

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 9:32 pm GMT

    Revolution would have sounded so lame anyways. Wii U is fine. I believe they're over-thinking it.

  • Llama345

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 7:57 pm GMT

    WiiD? Stoners would love that.

  • Jestersmiles

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 3:53 pm GMT

    Wii gimmicks ?

  • Cozm1kaos

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 10:06 am GMT

    We need to keep the Nintendo name alive!! none of this WII or WII-U i dont hear NINTENDO anymore, and we all know Super Nintendo was the greatest name and system. Let the legendary name carry on with Ultimate super Nintendo in short USNES

  • Cozm1kaos

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 10:04 am GMT

    Ultimate super Nintendo

  • DeViLzzz

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 6:29 am GMT

    stop worrying about the name and make sure the gaming is more fun than what is currently on the Wii ...

    would like to see motion gaming where the AI I am facing is actually capable of beating me and would like to see a huge improvement in the graphic presentation

    you could call it a #%$* for all I care as long as it was awesome

  • bandit7319

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 6:03 am GMT

    I think a name change would be good. Wii U sounds like it would be a training class for the Wii, not a new system.

  • Regulus27

    Posted Feb 6, 2012 3:51 pm GMT

    I say use all of the original names for nintendo's previous systems: The Ultra Dolphin Revolution 64. Sweet!

  • Sgthombre

    Posted Feb 6, 2012 2:04 pm GMT

    Go with the original name for the Wii: The Nintendo Revolution. That name was awesome, but then Nintendo had to go and make their console completely stupid.

  • digi-demon

    Posted Feb 6, 2012 12:37 pm GMT

    Its name?... Wii 2.... done.

  • superxtreme101

    Posted Feb 5, 2012 10:27 pm GMT

    Wii will Wii will rock U

  • IevildirkI

    Posted Feb 5, 2012 2:27 am GMT

    is wiipad what dogs pee on?

  • rey2

    Posted Feb 4, 2012 10:53 pm GMT

    NES, SNES, GB, GBA, GC, NDS

    Simple easy titles from Nintendo. Was kinda a bit lost when they introduced Wii. For now it's Wii U. The "U" as in you or "U" as in universal? Can't really follow. Confounding isn't it?

  • digitaltiger

    Posted Feb 4, 2012 1:35 pm GMT

    Wii Too

  • SDTalyor

    Posted Feb 3, 2012 4:36 pm GMT

    At least it still has the option to play used games, instead of trying to strongarm gamers into having to buy new games.

  • MadGamer132

    Posted Feb 3, 2012 2:57 pm GMT

    i think they'll rebrand it. if u are worried and confused. do it

  • smoke_dog_4ever

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 8:04 pm GMT

    @XxKing_BlazexX they already did that. They called it the "Wii". Same graphics, just a few more features

  • smoke_dog_4ever

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 8:03 pm GMT

    As long as they don't call it "Wii 360" or "Wii 720" or some other really stupid name+number that is supposed to signify some great importance that no one cares about. Wii 2 = win. Wii U = ...?

  • praack

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 5:44 pm GMT

    the WooHoo!

    bit late for brand confusion- no one really knows what this machine is about - so they are already confused

  • Vambran

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 5:36 pm GMT

    Why not just call it Nintendo?

  • Agent-M

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 5:02 pm GMT

    New name: Wii Wii

  • Agent-M

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 5:02 pm GMT

    New name: Wii own U

  • husam1999

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 12:12 pm GMT

    call it iWii?!?! :$

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