EA not developing anything for Wii U

Electronic Arts is distancing itself from the struggling Wii U, the Battlefield and FIFA publisher has confirmed with Kotaku.

"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," company spokesperson Jeff Brown said, noting that this could change in the future.

As Kotaku points out, during Nintendo's 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata welcomed then-EA CEO John Riccitiello to speak, where he talked up the console.

"What Nintendo's new console delivers speaks directly to the players of EA Sports and EA Games," Riccitiello said at the time. "Nintendo's new console will produce brilliant high-definition graphics and new gameplay opportunities. We look forward to seeing great EA content on this new platform."

EA launched several titles for the Wii U early during the platform's life cycle, including Mass Effect 3, Need for Speed Most Wanted, and new installments in the Madden and FIFA franchises. Brown told Kotaku that these offerings were indicative of EA making good on its E3 2011 partnership.

The original Wii saw steady support from EA, as the publisher launched 78 total titles for the platform, according to the company's website. EA has released just four games for the Wii U.

The Wii U has officially sold 3.45 million units worldwide as of March 31. Nintendo has attributed the platform's slow adoption rate to a lack of major titles and marketing failing to communicate the novelty of the system.

Nintendo plans to spark system sales by launching key first-party titles on a more regular basis moving forward, beginning with Pikmin 3 in August. The company also aims to reduce manufacturing costs to make the Wii U profitable.