What’s in a Name?
One of the biggest mistakes Nintendo has made in recent years was when the company named the Wii’s successor. Simply adding the “U” at the end seemed like a genius idea to Nintendo, but it instead caused tons of confusion among consumers looking for something new. Naming a console the Wii U while there is still something called the Wii on shelves didn’t pan out the way they probably intended.
Sure, Sony only increases the number after each of its platforms’ names, but that provides a clear indication of succession. Difference between a PS3 and a PS4? One has a higher number, so it must be newer. That’s clear cut, right? Throwing a U behind an existing platform lead to the confusion of whether or not it was just an add-on.
A clear name that represents what it is and what it’s capable of will go a long way in moving the NX off of shelves. Or they could just, you know, call it the Wii U 2. Third time’s the charm, right?
