Reggie: NES, SNES Classics Sustained Nintendo During Wii U Decline

At the NYU Game Center Lecture Series in 2026, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé told attendees the NES and SNES Classic consoles were released to sustain Nintendo’s sales while the Wii U struggled and to bridge revenue until the Nintendo Switch gained momentum.

He described the mini systems as deliberate commercial products intended as limited, high-volume offerings to carry the company through the holiday season as it transitioned away from the Wii U and prepared for its next home console.

He added, “We did that to sustain our business,” and observed, “we needed something to sell at volume come the holiday season.” He called the launches “a series of commercial ideas” and noted the company acted “knowing full well that the Wii U was on life support.”

Fils-Aimé noted the mini consoles were one part of a broader plan to steady revenue. Other measures included discontinuing the 8GB Wii U SKU and emphasizing independent titles.

By late 2019 the combined sales of the NES and SNES Classic exceeded 10 million units, a figure Fils-Aimé cited as helping bridge the company until the Switch gained traction.

During the Wii U’s decline Nintendo used merchandise and software promotion to maintain consumer interest and holiday sales. The mini consoles and accompanying collectible products provided familiar hardware for a wide audience while the company refocused on its next-generation platform.