5) Win Back The Third Parties
Another problem with the Wii U is actually out of Nintendo’s hands, to an extent. Third party software is of huge importance to the success of a console; the vast majority of titles released on a console can be classified as third party and getting those publishers and developers releasing on your console is a must. It’s why the arrival of Assassin’s Creed III was so heralded with the Wii U’s original launch (the series had never been on a Nintendo platform, despite being one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world).
Unfortunately, most studios have all but turned their backs on the console. EA is still a notable publisher but even they have had to quash rumors that they’ve abandoned the console entirely. In fact, it was said that EA wasn’t actually producing any games for the Wii U last year, though the company has since said that games are in development for the platform.
Poor sales may be to blame for this, but Nintendo’s image cannot be ignored. Are developers going to want to release their more mature titles on a ‘console for kids’? That is what should be most important to Nintendo right now – winning back their reputation as a console for everyone, including the hardcore gamer, and trying to inspire some of that old familiar Nintendo magic in people. Hardly an easy task, but if Nintendo can increase the sales of the Wii U, the developers are sure to come flooding back.
