14 DAY TRIAL // The Nintendo Wii U has struggled to get its share of the gaming market ever since its launch in late 2012, in spite of the fact that it has a pretty good lineup of exclusive titles, but after this year's E3, the underdog seems to have gotten back onto the radar of the community.
This past E3, Nintendo went all out, revealing a ton of exciting stuff, with a new presentation format and a focus on what matters most, a ton of games and a lot of actual, in-game footage showing exactly why someone would play its games, instead of hype-building CGI.
Apparently, Nintendo's decision was the right one, as its Wii U console seems to have noticed a surge after the gaming trade show, according to a research conducted by GamesIndustry and IHS.
According to the report, Nintendo's praised presentation, along with the release of the acclaimed and highly anticipated Mario Kart 8, has breathed new life into the Wii U, which has seen an increase in sales all around the world in the last month and a half.
In fact, the two companies' survey shows that consumer interest in the Wii U went up following E3, with nearly 150 percent more people planning on purchasing Nintendo's console now than they did before the corporation's digital event took place.
The survey encompassed all three next-gen consoles, and the results pertaining to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are nowhere near as dramatic. Granted, the other two were already doing much better than the Wii U, which could account for the moderate raise in consumer interest.
Another noteworthy detail is the fact that there are as many people interested in the Wii U now as there are in the Xbox One, which means that the battle for second place might turn out to be a little more challenging than initially surmised.
Although Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime's statement that the Wii U is actually part of the next-gen console war, and not only that, but it's the second favorite, was met with derision by many, he might actually have been on to something.
Nintendo has always positioned itself as a more kid-friendly and casual alternative to the other consoles, which battled for increasingly more realistic experiences. Gamers that are tired of more realistic, gritty and grim titles, that come laden with social commentary and dramatic moments, will always be able to find games that are all about having fun and not taking oneself too seriously on the Wii U.