Wii-U sales up nearly 700% as Wind Waker hits shelves

Sauce Is this just a temporary boost?

Nintendo has not been having an easy time of it so far this year but the latest reports from the UK may offer some comfort, with sales of the Wii U jumping 685 per cent in the last week.

The reports (via gaming site MCV) suggest that the boost is due to the release of the HD remake of Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

The title was originally released for the GameCube more than a decade ago but its cel-shaded art-style has proven to have enduring appeal, with 'Wind Waker HD' entering the all-format gaming charts at the number 4 spot this week.

"We have long believed that software sells hardware and it's great to see that reaffirmed this week with an uplift of Wii U hardware sales to coincide with the launch of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD," said James Honeywell , Nintendo’s head of consumer marketing in the UK.

This has long been Nintendo’s message regarding poor sales of the Wii U. Although the eight-generation console shifted just 160,000 units between April and June this year (leading to Asda, the UK’s second largest retailer, removing the hardware from stores) this can be blamed, at least partly, on a dearth of titles utilising the company’s beloved franchises.

Nintendo’s familiar characters certainly still have the power to attract gamers, as the recent global launch of the latest games in the Pokémon franchise shows: Pokémon X & Y (the first titles in the series to be rendered in full 3D) entered the UK charts in third and fourth place this week, whilst in Japan they games have sold out after pre-orders of 1.26 million.

The release of X & Y also coincides with the launch of the 2DS: Nintendo’s surprising decision to create an entry-level handheld gaming device, stripping the 3DS of both its 3D capacity and its hinge.

Although the ‘slice of cake’ form factor took many by surprise, the 2DS might prove to be a winner with younger generations. The 3D technology on the 3DS never wowed critics and Nintendo even had to warn gamers under seven not to use the console because of it.

By dropping the 3D tech, the breakable hinge, the price of the console, and then adding the latest Pokémon titles into the mix the 2DS has become a very attractive package, and will likely experience a similar spike in sales ahead of Christmas.

However, it should be remembered that these estimations are relative, and whilst a 685 per cent sales bump is an appealing figure, Nintendo has yet to release details of exactly how many consoles are being sold.

So it sold 685 consoles then?

Game's a system seller.

Pretty sad state of affairs when an HD remake is a system seller.

See also: Persona 4 Golden and PS Vita

Sony are allowed to do that.

Sorry, I keep forgetting.

Not trying to troll here but 700% of nothing is still nothing lol.

I don't know why this just cracks me up :)

@DaX_Factor:

because youre a fanboy?

Zelda has always been able to sell Nintendo systems. That is one game that has one of the strongest fanboy cults cultures.

You know, if I get a tattoo it might be a Zelda one too... At first I thought it was geeky but the series speaks to me and as an obsessed videogamer it gave me some of the best memories. Plus Zelda art tends to look good. Unlike most tattoo's out there.

what's even more sad is that Bayonetta 2 looks effing amazing and no one will even buy it... What type of message does that send a company wishing to make money?

The story of many Platinum games unfortunately...

What type of message does that say about the consumers?

I've always thought we sucked tbh. :P

Pretty much says it all about the nintendo fandom.

Got one myself. Too good to pass up.

i more interested on the next console Zelda game.

I got one of those bundles, along with Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101. so far I'm very pleased with the purchase.

new gamespot is confusing