GameStop: Wii U sales “slower than we expected”, will need great titles to compete
The Wii U has been experiencing “slower than expected” sales in the US following the console’s launch, according to GameStop president Tony Bartel.
Bartel, in an interview with Forbes, noted the importance of Nintendo bringing “some of their biggest IP” to the console throughout the year:
“Following the holiday launch period, sales have been slower than we expected. Nintendo plans on launching some of their biggest IP over the next few months which we think will increase gamer interest.”
Later in 2013, the Wii U won’t be the only new console on the market. The PlayStation 4 is coming this holiday, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 successor is also on the way.
So how can Nintendo compete with Sony and Microsoft? Forbes asked this very question of Bartel in the same interview:
“Software will play a big role in each console’s success over the holidays. We’re already seeing great developer and publisher support for PS4, so Wii U will need some great titles, especially first-party titles, to compete. There’s also a need to increase consumer awareness of the new features available on the Wii U and its tethered tablet features.”
