Ubisoft Reinforces Support for Wii U Amid Anticipation for First-Party Nintendo Titles
Ubisoft, a leading global developer and publisher, has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to the Nintendo Wii U platform in 2013, with hopes high for a boost in the console's trajectory ahead of the competitive holiday season.
Despite the Wii U’s underwhelming early performance, Ubisoft eyes Nintendo’s flagship first-party titles as the key catalysts to increase the console's install base, as they prepare for a strategic review of their support after the holiday period. In a statement to GamesIndustry International, Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s Chief Executive Officer, restated the company’s significant investment in the Wii U, noting that several major Ubisoft releases were planned for the system during the critical fourth quarter of 2013.
Titles such as “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag,” “Rayman Legends,” and “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist” were scheduled as part of Ubisoft's diverse lineup, showcasing the publisher’s confidence in the Wii U's unique hardware features.
Highlighting the innovative potential of Nintendo’s console, Guillemot commented that the Wii U delivers fresh gaming experiences, particularly by merging gameplay between the television and the GamePad’s tablet screen.
"We see compelling opportunities in the system's design, allowing for new forms of gameplay between the main screen and the GamePad," Guillemot shared, emphasizing that these features set an important industry precedent and might even influence gameplay trends on other platforms such as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Ubisoft's expectation for the holiday season was that the release of anticipated Nintendo-published titles would reinvigorate Wii U sales, providing a larger audience for both third-party and exclusive games.
Guillemot remarked, “We are supporting the Wii U throughout this holiday, anticipating a sales uptick strengthened by Nintendo’s own games.
Early next year, we will evaluate the market and the console’s momentum before determining our next steps.” This pledge from Ubisoft underlines the importance of collaboration between Nintendo and third-party developers to bolster the system’s appeal and extend the value of the Nintendo eShop ecosystem.
As the Wii U entered its second holiday season since launching in November 2012, all eyes were on new first-party titles to reverse its fortunes after a slow commercial start.
Ubisoft’s steadfast approach ensured that Wii U players would have access to some of the most sought-after multi-platform experiences as the market awaited signs of resurgence from Nintendo’s innovative but challenged hardware.
Despite the Wii U’s underwhelming early performance, Ubisoft eyes Nintendo’s flagship first-party titles as the key catalysts to increase the console's install base, as they prepare for a strategic review of their support after the holiday period. In a statement to GamesIndustry International, Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s Chief Executive Officer, restated the company’s significant investment in the Wii U, noting that several major Ubisoft releases were planned for the system during the critical fourth quarter of 2013.
Titles such as “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag,” “Rayman Legends,” and “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist” were scheduled as part of Ubisoft's diverse lineup, showcasing the publisher’s confidence in the Wii U's unique hardware features.
Highlighting the innovative potential of Nintendo’s console, Guillemot commented that the Wii U delivers fresh gaming experiences, particularly by merging gameplay between the television and the GamePad’s tablet screen.
"We see compelling opportunities in the system's design, allowing for new forms of gameplay between the main screen and the GamePad," Guillemot shared, emphasizing that these features set an important industry precedent and might even influence gameplay trends on other platforms such as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Ubisoft's expectation for the holiday season was that the release of anticipated Nintendo-published titles would reinvigorate Wii U sales, providing a larger audience for both third-party and exclusive games.
Guillemot remarked, “We are supporting the Wii U throughout this holiday, anticipating a sales uptick strengthened by Nintendo’s own games.
Early next year, we will evaluate the market and the console’s momentum before determining our next steps.” This pledge from Ubisoft underlines the importance of collaboration between Nintendo and third-party developers to bolster the system’s appeal and extend the value of the Nintendo eShop ecosystem.
As the Wii U entered its second holiday season since launching in November 2012, all eyes were on new first-party titles to reverse its fortunes after a slow commercial start.
Ubisoft’s steadfast approach ensured that Wii U players would have access to some of the most sought-after multi-platform experiences as the market awaited signs of resurgence from Nintendo’s innovative but challenged hardware.
