- Primary Subject: Nintendo
- Key Update: Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé says the NES and SNES Classic consoles were created partly to help sustain Nintendo during the struggling Wii U era
- Status: Confirmed by Fils-Aimé during the NYU Game Center Lecture Series
- Last Verified: May 25, 2026
- Quick Answer: According to Reggie Fils-Aimé, the NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition were not just nostalgia products. Nintendo launched them because it needed high-volume holiday products while the Wii U struggled commercially. The retro consoles helped generate revenue, maintain consumer interest, and bridge the gap between the Wii U’s decline and the early success of the Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Editions are often remembered as nostalgic celebrations of the company's history, giving players an easy way to revisit some of gaming's most beloved titles.
However, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has now revealed that the miniature consoles were created for a far more practical reason, and that is to help Nintendo weather the difficult final years of the Wii U.
What Was Happening Inside Nintendo During the Wii U Era?
Speaking during the NYU Game Center Lecture Series, Fils-Aimé reflected on the challenges Nintendo faced throughout the Wii U era and discussed several initiatives the company pursued to keep its business healthy.
Among those efforts were changes to the Wii U hardware lineup, including the decision to discontinue the less popular 8GB model, as well as increased support for independent developers in hopes of strengthening the platform's software catalog.
Yet despite those attempts, Nintendo was battling an uphill struggle as Wii U sales continued to decline. Released in 2012, the Wii U never managed to replicate the success of its predecessor.
Consumer interest faded quickly after launch, third-party support gradually weakened, and the system struggled to maintain momentum throughout its lifespan.
As the decade progressed, Nintendo found itself searching for new revenue drivers while the Wii U struggled to maintain momentum in the market.
How Did the NES and SNES Classic Fit Into Nintendo's Plans?
According to Fils-Aimé, those circumstances prompted Nintendo to release the NES Classic in 2016 and the SNES Classic the following year, giving the company high-volume products to sell as the Wii U approached the end of its lifecycle.
The devices were not only nostalgia-driven products but also strategic releases intended to generate revenue during an uncertain period.
The NES Classic arrived at a crucial moment for Nintendo, as the Wii U's 2016 software lineup was relatively sparse and several releases struggled to generate the momentum the company had anticipated.
With the holiday season on the horizon, the NES Classic provided Nintendo with a commercially viable product capable of attracting both veteran players and a new generation of fans.
Its lineup of 30 pre-installed games and faithful recreation of the original NES helped turn it into one of the year's most in-demand gaming releases.
The SNES Classic launched in 2017 at a time when Nintendo's fortunes had already begun to improve, thanks to the successful debut of the Switch and major releases like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and later Super Mario Odyssey.
Even so, the retro console offered Nintendo another reliable holiday product and additional insurance during the early stages of the Switch's lifecycle.
While the new hybrid console was performing well, the company could not yet know with certainty whether it would become the massive success it eventually turned into.
Fils-Aimé's remarks also help explain why Nintendo chose not to continue the mini-console line despite the success of the NES and SNES Classic editions.
As the Switch gained momentum and Nintendo Switch Online grew, Nintendo gradually moved away from standalone retro consoles in favor of its main platform.
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