Xbox 360 success bad news for the Wii

Friday 19 November

The shape of the Wii's downfall?

The Nintendo Wii has been baffling pundits for years now by continuing to outsell the more technically advanced Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 thanks to its emphasis on wholesome family fun, and of course its interactive, motion-sensing gaming system.

But clouds are starting to gather for Nintendo’s little console that could. Earlier this week it was confirmed that there were no plans to update the console in the next year, which prompted questions over whether the Wii has the stamina to hold off its rivals now that all three can offer motion-controlled gaming.

And it seems the answer has come in quicker than expected, and looks to be a fairly resounding ‘no’.

According to research firm NPD, the Xbox 360 is set to wrestle the Wii’s crown away via some quickfire Kinect combos to claim the title of best-selling console in the US for 2010. No specific numbers were mentioned, but it’s safe to say Kinect’s launch has breathed the kind of life into the Xbox 360’s sales that the Wii now desperately seems to need.

Not only that, but for the month of October, the top four selling games in the US were also Xbox 360 titles, suggesting plenty of momentum to carry Microsoft’s console into the new year.

Could the Wii’s limited tech credentials finally be catching up with it, or does it have the legs to keep punching above its weight for another 12 months? Let us know your thoughts below…