Looks like Nintendo is finally calling for the end of the Wii. In a recent update that went up on the Nintendo of Japan website, the company has announced that as of March 31, 2002, they will close down their repair center for the Wii. Meaning that any parts required to repair the Wii will be harder to find, as they will no longer produce any. Needless to say that this is the end times for the console.
Released in 2006, the Wii managed to capture the hearts and wallets of gamers, from all age groups and went to become Nintendo’s best selling console of all time with 101 units sold. Despite the console being considered dead by many, it still is scheduled to receive one more game, with Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2020.
Ubisoft just sent me a PR email, opening with the line that Just Dance 2020 is last Nintendo Wii game ever…
…Somebody quick, make a game for the Nintendo Wii.
— Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan) November 5, 2019
Despite Nintendo closing stopping production of parts for the Wii, there are thousands of Wii’s sitting in various stores and online. Just because Nintendo is calling it quits doesn’t mean that the fans and community are going to give up on the console. Not only are there a bunch of fan-favorite games that are Wii only, such as Mad World (Platinum Games), Punch-Out, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and Donkey Kong Country Returns as examples. Though I’d be lying if I secretly didn’t want Nintendo to bring those games over to the Switch.
Just because Nintendo is finally looking to stick a fork in the Wii, doesn’t mean it’s over. Just look at Sega’s Dreamcast, a system that has been dead for years and yet is widely sought after and there are still games before released for it. Thanks to the efforts of homebrew games and ports of existing games from other platforms.
As for me, I have two Nintendo Wiis. One sitting in my retro collection, the other collecting dust in the junk closet, so I think I’m covered.
