14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo might be working hard at the moment to try and increase the install base of the Wii U as it prepares for the launch of Super Smash Bros. on the home console, but the company is disappointing some long-term supporters by saying that the GameCube controller adapter will not work with any other titles it plans to launch.
The information about the potential future use of the device, which otherwise has a much smaller appeal for customers, was a phrase on the official site of the company in the United Kingdom, which said that it was supposed to be “Compatible with all games supported by the Wii U Pro Controller.”
This would have been a great way to appeal to those who are Nintendo supporters since the days of the GameCube and would have opened up a way for the company to introduce more nostalgia-focused products in the future.
Since then, Nintendo has issued an official statement to CVG which explains that “The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U is compatible with Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U specifically - it is not compatible with any other Wii U software. The adapter is also not compatible with Wii and we apologize for any confusion.”
It’s unclear whether, following the positive initial fan reaction, the company is considering extending the compatibility or if similar solutions for other titles are being evaluated.
The Wii U can still be relevant in the long term
The Wii U has not performed as well as Nintendo or analysts were expecting since it was launched, and predictions are showing that it will not see a big increase in its numbers in the coming months.
But the company does believe that Super Smash Bros. will be a sales success and that the line-up of characters and the new gameplay mechanics will show what the home console can deliver, making it a competitor for the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 in 2015.
The video game will also benefit from the introduction of the Amiibo line of figurines, which will be used in other titles and will appeal to the collectors among the fan base.
Nintendo also has big plans for the launch of the new Legend of Zelda title, which will use an open world structure and was impressive when shown during the E3 2014 show, although its mechanics have not yet been revealed.