Gaming
Is Nintendo ending production of Wii U this week?
This year could be the end of the line for the struggling Wii U. Nintendo will reportedly halt production of its current home console this Friday, Japanese newspaper Nikkei and gaming site Eurogamer have claimed in separate reports, citing “multiple sources.”
To quote Eurogamer:
‘Nintendo’s Japanese production line will shut down for the last time this week after the final deadline for orders passed yesterday… Only a small number of further orders were placed.’
The news is hardly surprising, as the Wii U had struggled to draw an audience away from the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One following its well-received debut run. In July, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima concluded that confusion between the Wii and Wii U hurt the latter badly. The system’s odd and unwieldy tablet controller certainly didn’t help its cause.
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Released in November 2012, the Wii U had big shoes to fill. Nintendo’s insanely popular Wii, the console that immediately preceded it, sold 101 million units; the GameCube and N64, 21 million and 32 million, respectively. Initial sales of the Wii U were strong, no doubt buoyed by the popularity of its predecessor and the novelty of exclusive, first-party games.
But since moving a few million units at launch, sales have been slow, and support from third-party game publishers withered as successes were few and far between. Nintendo eventually repeatedly lowered its sales forecasts for the console, blaming poor numbers throughout its lifespan. It has sold just 13.36 million systems worldwide as of the end of September. Its last earnings report shows that Wii U sales were down 53 percent versus the same period in 2015. Ouch.
All this isn’t to say the Wii U is dead as a door nail. In fact, it has one more noteworthy title slated for release sometime next year: Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But then again, that game is coming out on the Switch as well, and most people may prefer playing it on new hardware. And after what Nintendo has shown in the Switch trailer, we wouldn’t blame anyone for not thinking twice about abandoning the Wii U altogether.
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Source: Eurogamer
Gaming
The Nintendo Switch is now Nintendo’s best-selling console ever
Meanwhile, the Switch 2 just crossed 17 million units sold.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s success was bound to happen. After enormous success with the original Switch, Nintendo is practically destined to also put up impressive numbers for the console’s recently released sequel. Today, the company has whipped out some proof. The Nintendo Switch 2 officially sold 17.37 million units, as of December last year.
Nintendo shared the console’s numbers through an investor’s report. Despite coming out only eight months ago, the Switch 2 is already putting up impressive numbers. With those numbers, the console is already Nintendo’s fastest selling platform to date.
For comparison, the original Switch sold less than half of what Switch 2 has sold in the former’s first eight months. Though the second console is still miles away from its predecessor’s total numbers, it’s already well on its way. In fact, Nintendo already expects the Switch 2 to break 19 million units by the end of the quarter.
The second Switch isn’t the only console reaping the rewards of its hard work. The original Switch has also crossed a major milestone. As of last year, the console has sold 155.37 million units, making it Nintendo’s bestselling console ever. It just overtook the Nintendo DS, which sold 154.02 million units.
With that, the Switch 2 has a mountain to climb, just to reach the same heights that its predecessor already attained. For sure, the console’s ongoing success is buoyed by the goodwill established by the original. Now, the question is whether the Switch 2 can sustain its growth on its own.
To help, the console is expecting significant first-party titles including Pokémon Pokopia and Meetup in Bellabel Park, a Super Mario Bros. Wonder DLC.
SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is nearing the end of its lifecycle
Gaming
New Civilization VII update will address everyone’s biggest issue
Soon, everyone can play as a single Civ.
Despite being enjoyable in its current state, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a work in progress. Firaxis Games is still working on improvements, especially as suggested by the franchise’s fans. Now, approaching the new game’s first anniversary, Civilization VII is getting a massive patch, called the Test of Time update, later this spring.
Playing as a single Civ
Test of Time will address the biggest problem that players had with the base game: the inability to play as a single Civ. Currently, players are forced to evolve into Age-appropriate Civs at the end of the previous Age. The system leads to odd histories, such as Maurya somehow evolving into modern-day America.
Starting with the update, players can now take a single Civ across the test of time. And it’s not a shoehorned feature, too. Civs will now have an Apex Age, meaning the Age they were historically associated with. Playing Civs outside of their Apex Age will introduce a new kit that corresponds to the other Ages.
Plus, this also introduces a new system called Syncretism. Playing a Civ outside of their Age allows players to choose a unique military unit or infrastructure from other Civs to help bolster their strategy.
The new system works in reverse too. Players can start a game in the Modern Age using an Antiquity Age Civ. Finally, if players decide to use this system, the AI will follow suit, ensuring an equal playing field.
Reworked victory conditions
Besides the playability of Civs, Civilization VII will rework Victories. Instead of a clear path to victory via Legacy Paths (which players have complained as being too rigid), the new Triumph system will introduce new optional objectives to prod players further down the line of victory.
Plus, getting extraordinary progress in one victory condition can help players earn victory even before the Modern Age. Victory can be earned as early as the Exploration Age, but Firaxis has not explained how this can happen.
Firaxis says that the new system should help the game feel more dynamic and exciting after the Antiquity Age.
Now, to celebrate the actual anniversary, players will get access to a new leader, Gilgamesh, a fan favorite from the previous game. He will be free for all players with update 1.3.2.
Gaming
CM Punk graces cover of WWE 2K26
The game will feature over 400 playable characters, the largest to date.
Compared to the gigantic NBA 2K, WWE 2K is a relatively small series. Well, with thirty teams and a healthy roster of hall of famers, that’s no surprise. This year, however, WWE 2K26 wants to catch up, featuring the biggest roster that the franchise has ever had and a plethora of new features.
WWE 2K26 will feature over 400 playable characters, which includes current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. As always, Legends and Hall of Famers will be playable wrestlers.
This year, however, the roster of classics are much healthier. Specifically, there are three different editions dedicated to past wrestlers. The first, called The King of Kings Edition, centers the spotlight on Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer, Triple H (or Paul Levesque). The Attitude Era Edition features Superstars from that era, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock. Finally, the Monday Night Wars Edition includes Superstars from WCW such as the nWo’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.
Meanwhile, the Standard Edition features a Superstar that’s been no less decorated over the years. CM Punk, who will also grace the cover, will have his entire career featured in the annual 2K Showcase.
For gameplay, WWE 2K26 has four new match types: I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell, and Dumpster. Intergender matches are also available now. The environment is now more interactable with more usable weapons. Plus, the Stamina and Reversal systems have been reworked.
The Standard Edition (US$ 69.99) launches on March 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
The King of Kings Edition (US$ 99.99), the Attitude Era Edition (US$ 129.99), and the Monday Night War Edition (US$ 149.99) will all launch a week prior, on March 6.
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