Iwata accepts responsibility for Wii U struggles

"We are to blame.” That’s the message from Nintendo boss Saturo Iwata regarding the disappointing sales of the Wii U.

"We are to blame. We relaxed our [marketing] efforts, so the consumers today still cannot understand what’s so good and unique about the Wii U," Iwata told CNBC, as reported by GameSpot.

"We have been unsuccessful in coming up with one single software with which people can understand, ‘OK, this is really different’. As long as people have hands-on [experience], they can appreciate the value of the Wii U, but because there’s not software that’s simple and obvious for people as ‘Wii Sports’ for the Wii, potential consumers do not feel like trying the Wii U."

Nintendo currently forecasts global sales of 9m units for the Wii U throughout the current fiscal year – a target that means the console will significantly step up its sales rate.

In a separate interview Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed that the Wii U was let down by a weak software line-up at launched that lacked key titles – namely, no Zelda and no Wii Sports equivalent.