If you thought Nintendo was having a rough time when it officially announced Wii U sales wouldn't meet expectations for last quarter, well, things just got even rougher.
Speaking to investors on a post-earnings conference call, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said he was "somewhat disappointed" with the new console's launch performance, adding that he's concerned about the eventual release of the company's new "Skylanders" game later this year.
"As you know, we were somewhat disappointed with the launch of the Wii U," said Kotick, according to GamesIndustry International. "And I think it's a challenging environment this year, and one of the things we are concerned about is what the install base of hardware will be like for 6-11-year-olds. But we have a lot of confidence in the franchise in the long term. I think we're delivering another great product this year. "
The Wii U version of "Skylanders Giants" is supposedly going to be the definitive version of the game, but it might not do as well as expected if the user base isn't there for the game to succeed. Of course, this transition between game systems isn't unique to the Wii U; new systems from Sony and Microsoft will also have to weather a small initial user base when they launch later this year. Kotick acknowledged that reality, but added that the current situation is even tougher because of increased competition from smartphones and newcomers to the video game scene (like Ouya or Project Shield).
"While we had a strong 2012, we recognize that 2013 is a transition year as we enter the ninth year of the current generation of console video game systems," added Kotick. "We encounter new threats from unproven business models, and we compete against new category entrants. We aren't immune to unfavorable market dynamics, but we have navigated these transitions many times before, and we are prepared to do so again."
As for the Wii U itself, publisher Ubi Soft dealt the system yet another blow on Thursday when it announced that it's delaying "Rayman Legends" and making it multiplatform. The game was previously scheduled to ship in February, but it will now ship in September alongside PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.
The move is just the latest in a string of game delays for the new system. Nintendo delayed its own first-party titles until March or later, leaving gamers with very little in the way of new software. Now their choices have shrunk even more.
