At the twilight of the Wii U era, Nintendo faced a bleak sales landscape and a growing anticipation for its next console—what many had dubbed the “NX” at the time. To keep the revenue streams flowing into the holiday season, the company turned to two nostalgic powerhouses: the NES and SNES Classic editions, which proved to be a surprisingly lucrative stopgap.
Reggie, ever the PR maestro, was quick to champion the mini‑systems at launch. He and the then‑president of Nintendo of America openly acknowledged that these classics were a temporary bridge while the Switch was still in development, a sentiment they shared with Kotaku in a candid interview.
Fast forward a decade, and Reggie revisited the topic during a recent NYU Game Centre Lecture Series. In a more concise, no‑frills style than his earlier remarks, he highlighted how the Classic releases were a deliberate business move to sustain Nintendo’s fortunes during a critical period.
“We did that to sustain our business,” Reggie explained, “because we needed something to sell at volume come the holiday season.” He went on to note that the Classic launches, the reduction of the 8 GB Wii U variant, and a push for indie titles were all part of a broader commercial strategy—an acknowledgment that the Wii U was on life support.
By the end of 2019, the combined sales of the two iconic consoles had surpassed ten million units, propelling Nintendo into a new era as the Switch gained traction.
While speculation about additional classic releases—such as the rumored N64 Classic Mini—persisted, the company’s robust growth and the continual expansion of the Nintendo Switch Online service suggest that such retro hardware ventures are unlikely to materialize.
News Source: Nintendo Life
Smart move by Nintendo to pivot to the NES/SNES Classcs as a stopgap—those mini consoles were pure nostalgia gold and kept the lights on while Switch was cooking. Classic Reggie PR too. aigoo, finally
Smart move by Nintendo to pivot to the NES/SNES Classcs as a stopgap—those mini consoles were pure nostalgia…
I agree, though I’m keeping my expectations in check. teh news for Wii U Still on Lie is promising, but the actual launch is what matters. Accessibility is vital for casual players.
Smart move by Nintendo to pivot to the NES/SNES Classcs as a stopgap—those mini consoles were pure nostalgia…
I agree, though I’m keeping my expecctations in check. teh news for Wii U Stll on Life is promising, but the actual launch is what matters. Need a bit more info. just my thoughts
The Wii U’s struggles were rough, but those Classic Editions were a genius move—nostalgia saved Nintendo’s holiday salles while the Switch cooked. Still wild how inde support and Reggie’s hustle kept them afloat.
smart move by Nintendo with those Classic editions—kept fans happy and revenue flowing while waiting for the Switch. Reggie kneew what was up! daebak news!
Man, Wii U was rough, but those NES/SNES Classics were genius moves by Reggie. Kpet Nintendo afloat while Switch cooked—smart play with indie support too.
The NES and SNES Classic editions were such a smart move—Nintendo really nailed the nostalgia facor. Crazy how they kept the lights on with those mini consoles while waiting for the Switch. RIP Wii U though.
The NES and SNES Classic editions were such a smart move—Nintendo really nailed the nostalgia facor. Crazy how…
I’m in the wait-and-see camp as well. Oce a few independent reviews drop, we will know for sure about Wii U Still on Life. Great if it is easy to pick up. in my opinion suugoi!
Wii U Still on Life looks pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Technical benchmarks will be key. we will see skol!
Clasisc Mini consoles were such a smart move—helped keep Nintendo afloat before Switch. Reggie’s totally right, those nostagia hits saved the holiday season. Stlil miss my Wii U tho. *(192 characters)*
by Odin’s beard! Nintendo played it smart with the NES/SNES Classics as a stopgap, but let’s not pretend the Wii U wasn’t a misfire—Switch saved them. Reggie’s honesty about needing something to sell just confirms how dire things were.
Smart move by Nintendo to pivot to the NES/SNES Classics as a stopgap—those mini consoles were pure nostalgia gold and kept teh lights on before Swicth dropped. Reggie’s hindsight confirms it was all about the holiday sales hustle.
smart move by Nintnedo to lean on the NES/SNES Classics and indie support to keep things afloat before the Switch. Reggie’s honesty about the Wii U’s struggles is refreshing—those mini consoles were a genius stopgap. daebak!
Looks like a great step forward for Wii U Still on Life. Some minor risks, but the overall picture is solid. Chaacter development is key. that is just how I see it ya akhi, thiis is what we needed.
valhalla await! It’s wiild how the NES/SNES Classics kept Ninetndo afloat during teh Wii U’s rough patch—smart move focusinng on nostalgia while prepping Switch. Reggie’s honesty about it being a stopgap is refreshing.
the Wii U’s failure pushed Nintendo to rely on nostalgia caash grabs like the NES/SNES Classics—smart stopgap, but glad they pivoted to Switch. Reggie’s honesty about it being a band-aid fix is refreshing. sugoi!