Nintendo denies reports of Wii U production ceasing ahead of Nintendo NX console reveal

Nintendo has refuted claims it will end production of the Wii U, denying an earlier report from a reputable Japanese publication that the Kyoto-based company is reducing its hardware portfolio ahead of the Nintendo NX reveal.

Nikkei previously reported that production of the Nintendo Wii U would be terminated due to "sluggish" sales compared to its hyper-popular predecessor, the Nintendo Wii.

While the motion-controlled Wii sold over 100m units worldwide since its launch in December 2006, by comparison the Wii U has performed well below expectation, with just over 12m sales since November 2012 marking a significant downturn in shipped units.

While Nikkei's sources maintained that companies responsible for Wii U components had halted production for the flagging console, a Nintendo spokesperson has denied the story by clarifying to Japanese website IT Media that, "this isn't an announcement from our company." The statement continues: "From the next quarter and thereafter as well, production [of the Wii U] is scheduled to continue."

The disappointing sales record of the Wii U is commonly attributed to branding missteps during the initial launch stage, as well as a lack of third-party developer support when compared to its hardware rivals in the home console market, the Xbox One and PS4.

Nintendo's next games console – the Nintendo NX – will likely be revealed to the public this year, with analysts suggesting it could take centre stage at the E3 trade show in Los Angeles set to be held between 14-16 June. In recent years Nintendo have eschewed the expected live conference format at E3 in favour of special Nintendo Direct streams.

With very few noteworthy games left to unveil, many rumours have suggested that the NX will debut alongside a re-reveal of the next Zelda adventure as an NX/Wii U cross-platform release.

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