As we celebrate our landmark 15th year with videos from the our archives, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since the release of the Wii U! It’s Unbelievable to imagine that one of Nintendo’s most divisive consoles came and went in only five years time: 2017 was the last year that the Wii U would be on store shelves.

Day one opinions on the Wii U were very mixed, with Harold Goldberg taking it upon himself to cover the console’s showcase in 2012. Journalists from all over gave their two cents on the future of Nintendo’s consoles, with some being hopeful over what was showcased, and others not echoing the same sentiments. 

“Sticker shock,” says Libe Goad-Ackerman noting price one of the biggest drawbacks of the console for many at the showcase. While a console being between $300-350 isn’t shocking nowadays, comparing the Wii U’s pricing to the Xbox 360’s more modest $200-300 range created a glaring issue for folks such as Polygon’s Chris Plante. Even tech guru Dan Ackerman parroted this thought, comparing the capabilities and price of the console to the Kindle Fire or the Apple iPad, deeming them better choices than Nintendo’s newest star. 

Yet, despite the many concerns raised, Leigh Alexander was overall joyful for the Wii U’s announcement, primarily for games like Bayonetta 2 and the prospect of home hardware advancing even further. Leigh pours her thoughts out, saying, “We thought the Wii was a ridiculous proposition, and we were completely incorrect, so I think if we’ve learned anything about the market over the years it’s that it’s impossible to predict how a Nintendo product will do.”

While it may not have been Nintendo’s greatest console yet, the Wii U helped pave the way for the Nintendo Switch, which has solidified Nintendo once again as one of the big 3 household names in gaming. 

As we move forward to events such as the 15th Awards, it’s always helpful to remember that every path will have its potholes, even for worldwide companies like Nintendo!

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