LogFAQs > #975980089

I'd argue on the marketing end that it was doomed to fail unless they developed a TON of high quality first party titles for it (which they didn't).

The stupid name choice, the bottom tier controller design, and touch screen gimmick (which was already out of style before the console was even announced) were just icing compared to the release timing. The console was comparable in strength to the PS3 and Xbox 360, which were both at the tail end of their lifespan and already each had a massive install base. When the PS4/XBone released the next year, the Wii U was made completely obsolete, and lacked the innovative gimmick that drew people to the Wii (even among the casual fans that actually understood that the Wii U was a full new console, not a Wii add on).

Nintendo either had to accept a failure in the interim, or wait things out until technology became affordable enough to produce the Switch. It was pretty hard to wait it out, given that the Wii was running on 2001 tech.

Basically, they screw themselves over by making the Wii as underpowered as they did. It became a huge success and likely was the right move, but they had to pay for it in the long run with the Wii U. I think if Nintendo sticks to a Switch strategy by having a hybrid console release at or near the technical capabilities of competitor consoles roughly 2-3 years after, they'll continue having long term success.