Interesting....so now the release dates for the Wii U line up for upcoming games are really close together.
-Twilight Princess HD: Early March
-Mario & Sonic and Pokken: March 18th
-Star Fox Zero: April 22
I really wonder if this means that March/May/June are going to get Wii U game announcements in the coming month or two; this could mean that they are blowing their final load of Wii U software for the first half of the year (outside of Zelda U) to focus on the NX this fall.
I'm guessing possible Wii U games could be an HD Remaster of a GC game or Pikmin 4.
Edit: This also points to when we will finally hear about the NX, which I feel will be sometime in April after Star Fox Zero's release. I see Feb or March getting a massive Nintendo Direct aimed at Wii U and 3DS for final wave of announcements for both systems then a teaser for the NX at the very end with 'More information coming soon!' said.
I'd say that this dumping of games represents Nintendo cutting the Wii U adrift, not Nintendo preparing a new salvo of games.
I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.
I'm with Exterminieren on this. I don't think it's realistic to expect Nintendo is going to waste resources on more significant Wii U-only games. I expect SF0 will be the last first party exclusive for Wii U, and that Pikmin 4 and Zelda U will be cross-platform with NX.
It also means that besides Zelda Wii U ( and ShinXEmblem crossover) there still 1 or 2 not announced Wii U games in their pipeline.
It's the only way this all makes sense, specially if following the logic that the NX first component is the handheld part.
I think this is where we differ, though. I expect the handheld to come out first in JP and the console to come out first in the west, or for both to release at the same time (with $50 off in a combo pack) with most or all games being playable on both so it won't be as big of a deal to Nintendo if you only buy one. If it's supposed to be a unified family of systems that would make some sense. I mean it's a tricky balance as to whether Nintendo wants to put two similar products on the market at the same time but if they want to get their unified family of systems idea across they may feel it's best to just start that rollout all at once, or dependent on region. JP needs the handheld a bit more and the west needs the console a bit more. There are enough solid Wii U sellers now that with the system winding down if a new console releases this year it's already better than prior last years of Nintendo consoles insofar as droughts go.
So you're thinking that we will be getting a......four month Wii U game drought after Star Fox? ....I could see that honestly, so you're likely right.
Then in September, it kicks off with #FE releasing and November comes with Zelda and the NX launch line up (3D Mario and WarioWare/Wii Sports Team projects a shoe-in for this).
I agree the WW/WST/NL team will have a launch title as a proof-of-concept for the system. Don't forget Pikmin 4. That's about the only one I could see coming to Wii U before NX rather than simultaneously or the other way around as I expect will be the case with Zelda. Fans will be less up in arms about that one being on Wii U a couple months (for example) before NX. Again I want to reiterate I expect the remaining 3DS localizations to come (Picross 3D2, Style Savvy for NA, and RHTB+--maybe the first and third of these as eShop only in NA at least) sometime this summer.
The biggest problem for Nintendo if both systems are going to play most or all of the same games is going to be getting over their fear of releasing too many games near or at the same time. Nintendo was willing to release 3DW and LBW at the same time (11/22/13) because they were for two different platforms. But Nintendo needs to be able to be less worried about releasing games at the same time when there's a unified platform. If the price is right and the quality and appeal are there people will still buy them. Plus, Nintendo games that sell are evergreen sellers typically so they shouldn't be as concerned about frontloaded sales.
I take it this is being announced because in PR because we are not getting a January Direct? I always assumed there'd be a reasonable one if we were getting NX news pre E3.
I do think a January Direct is looking less likely by the day.