Wii don't want Nintendo in our stores

The UK’s second largest supermarket chain will no longer sell Wii U systems or games, dealing another massive blow for Nintendo who are desperately trying to reverse the consoles fortunes.

According to computerandvideogames.com, the retail giant, who has over 555 stores across the UK, has suspended all Wii stock – although certain products will still be available via its online site ASDA direct.

It is also understood that the company did not even stock Nintendo’s latest release Pikmin 3, the critically acclaimed release which debuted at number 2 across UK game charts.

The retail chains largest store ASDA Minworth, Birmingham told computerandvideogames.com that it has no copies of Pikmin 3 or Wii U systems in stock.

Furthermore the customer service team were not able to find any stock via their online site.

The retailer is not stocking any 3DS systems online either – despite the unit outselling the Xbox 360 and PS3 across the UK and US, while 3DS software is also outperforming the competition.

ASDA is still selling Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita units and also several hundred titles for those platforms. It is also taking pre-orders for Xbox One and PS4 systems.

In response to the news, Nintendo issued a statement to computerandvideogames.com stating: "Nintendo UK does not comment on specific business practices with individual retailers.

"However, as we have seen with Nintendo 3DS, software sells hardware, and with titles such as Wonderful 101, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Super Mario 3D World already announced for this year as well as the recently released Pikmin 3 and New Super Luigi U having reached number 2 and number 6 in this week's chart respectively, we are looking forward to the year ahead on Wii U."

The suspension of Wii U stock comes after the Walmart-owned company slashed the Wii U basic console price down from £250 to £200, and then from £200 to £150.

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata says he accepts the blame for the Wii U's sales figures, which stood at about 3.45 million by April, with Pikmin 3 sales in Japan thought to have given the system new momentum in the region.

"Because we're always trying to be unique, it takes some energies on our side to [make] people understand the real attractions about whatever we are doing," Iwata said last month.

"We have been unsuccessful in coming up with one single software with which people can understand, 'OK, this is really different," he continued.

Third party publishers have expressed a cautious approach to Nintendo's new system.

Though Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said he was "disappointed" by the Wii U's performance at launch, the publisher has committed to delivering 6 new Wii U games, including Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Ubisoft, meanwhile, has said that although its Wii U launch game ZombiU was "unprofitable", the publisher remains supportive of the system.

EA recently revealed it has no games in development for Wii U. Though it says it will restart development on Wii U games when it becomes a viable platform.

In May, CVG revealed that Nintendo is to begin a Wii U resurgence campaign towards the end of the year, spearheaded by a new 3D Mario game.

That title was later revealed at E3 as Super Mario 3D World.

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