UK's second-biggest supermarket stops stocking Wii U

UK supermarket giant Asda, a subsidiary of US retailer Wal-Mart, is no longer stocking Nintendo's Wii U console at any of its 555 retail stores across the country.

The retailer says it will continue to stock selected Wii U titles through its online store, however. "Asda continues to offer customers a selection of Wii U games and accessories through Asda Direct, but these ranges are currently not on offer in Asda shops," said a spokesperson for the supermarket to CVG.

"Asda will stock [Wii U] games on a title-by-title merit basis as they come along through Asda Direct. We will continue to support Nintendo as a format holder partner," concluded the UK's second-biggest supermarket.

Speaking to MCV, Asda says that it only ever offered the Wii U in 100 stores, but that it is removing the console from stores to make way for more successful hardware, including the 3DS.

Furthermore, Asda said that it will continue stocking the Wii U online but is currently out of stock due to a recent sale on the hardware. In previous months, Asda has repeatedly slashed the prices of 3DS hardware to shift stock. The retailer is still accepting preorders for Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4, both of which are due to launch later this year.

Nintendo refused to comment on the situation, but said it was "looking forward" to the Wii U's year ahead.

"Nintendo UK does not comment on specific business practices with individual retailers. However, as we have seen with Nintendo 3DS, software sells hardware, and with titles such as Wonderful 101, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Super Mario 3D World already announced for this year as well as the recently released Pikmin 3 and New Super Luigi U having reached number 2 and number 6 in this week's chart respectively, we are looking forward to the year ahead on Wii U."

A report from early July stated that specialist US retailer GameStop was also gearing up to discontinue stocking the Wii U Basic.