Nintendo's Wii U has never exactly flown off the shelves, but with the company's new console reveal on the horizon, one might think Wii U sales would drop off. That hasn't been the case so far, as Nintendo's latest earnings report shows the company sold more Wii U consoles worldwide last year than in 2014.
Globally, the Wii U sold 3.06 million units in 2015, a slight increase from the 3.03 million in 2014. Sales in the Americas were down, while sales in Japan were up.
The Wii U's steady sales are likely thanks to strong performances from two heavy-hitting Wii U-exclusive titles: Super Mario Maker and Splatoon. One might expect Mario to sell well. It is Mario, after all, and sell it did with more than 3.34 million units of the game.
What's surprising is how well Splatoon did. The game was a new IP from Nintendo, and as such, a big risk, but fans quickly latched onto the game's unique gameplay and characters. Splatoon sold more than 4.06 million copies, according to Nintendo. Both Splatoon and Super Mario Maker sold enough for Nintendo to declare the titles as "blockbuster" releases. It also likely foretells the arrival of Splatoon 2 in the years to come.
Nintendo also points out that "evergreen" titles like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8 continued to sell well. Competitive holiday bundles, such as one that bundled together both Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon, likely also helped Nintendo's numbers.
How the Wii U will perform in 2016 remains to be seen. Nintendo will be announcing its new NX console this summer. With new hardware looming on the horizon, many players who may have been on the fence about snagging a Wii U will likely wait to see what Nintendo does next.
In other Nintendo news, the company's interactive Amiibo toys continue to sell incredibly well. You can read more about that here.
