In The Year 2023, One New Wii U Was Sold

The Wii U was actually not essentially the most profitable console Nintendo’s ever launched, and whereas some might fondly bear in mind it in 2023, at the very least one individual really purchased a model new Wii U from a retailer as if it was 2013 over again.

Launched in 2012, the Wii U was Nintendo’s comply with as much as its massively standard Wii console. While the Wii would go on to change into one of many best-selling online game consoles of all time, issues went a lot in another way for the Wii U and its pill controller. The console by no means got here near promoting in addition to the Wii, and by 2017 Nintendo had moved on to the Switch, which might go on to outstrip the Wii U’s lifetime gross sales in its first yr. But we will now add yet another Wii U sale to its complete tally.

This odd stat comes from Mat Piscatella, government director at Circana (previously NPD) who posted on Twitter (X? Whatever) that one (1) new Wii U was offered within the United States in September. According to Piscatella, that is the primary time a brand new Wii U has been offered within the U.S. since May 2022. Which can be very unusual, now that I give it some thought.For these unaware, Circana tracks “individual store level sales data” to maintain tabs on what individuals are shopping for and promoting. They then promote that information to people who care. What that additionally means is that this Wii U wasn’t a used one at GameStop or one thing like that. This was a “new,” sealed Wii U console that was lastly offered a decade after launch.

How did this occur? We don’t know particularly, however as people who’ve labored retail at large chains have defined within the feedback beneath Piscatella’s tweet, this isn’t that unusual. Speaking to some people I do know who’ve labored at shops like Walmart and Target, previous shit can get buried within the again. Or possibly a Wii U had been sitting for the final decade on a retailer shelf in, like, Georgia or Montana and at last, after a decade, somebody determined to purchase it and play some Super Mario 3D World. I hope they get pleasure from it!

Also, Piscatella added that three new PS Vitas had been bought in November 2021. I’m glad these forgotten consoles, sealed up in packing containers and buried in storerooms or misplaced inside decrepit Best Buys, are discovering houses. Brings a tear to my eye.

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