Originally Posted by
WelcomeToTheNextLevel
Dreamcast and Jaguar were both the last systems from their respective companies, Dreamcast was initially successful but couldn't compete against the PS2. There is some parallel between the Wii U and the Dreamcast in that the Dreamcast was first by a year in its generation and was discontinued early on in the generation.
However, I see the Sega Saturn as being a much more accurate parallel to the Wii U. Both launched too early, were discontinued early, and had Sony as their biggest competition.
The Saturn followed up a very successful system (the Genesis) that had gotten a lead in 1991-1993 as being the "cool" system, but got a bit stale later in the generation, 1994 and later, as the more-powerful SNES overcame its flaw of a small game library and built up a large library full of triple-A titles, bringing home experiences the Genesis couldn't match.
The Wii U followed up a very successful system (the Wii) that had gotten a lead in 2006-2009 with its motion controls, but got a bit stale later in the generation, 2010 and later, as the more-powerful Xbox 360 and PS3 overcame their flaws of unreliability (for 360) and being overpriced (for the PS3), bringing home experiences the Wii couldn't match.
Seeing its system getting stale, Sega released its next system, the Saturn, before its time (May 1995), surprise launching it in one of video game history's greatest screw-ups. The system was just as powerful as the PlayStation, but in the wrong ways. Sega emphasized 2D and saw 3D as an afterthought. Never mind that the Saturn library has a higher percentage of games that hold up in 2019 (though, due to the PlayStation's immense library, a much lower number overall), the PlayStation gave the 1995-1998 market what it wanted. Nintendo cinched up the remaining niches and was still successful that generation.
Seeing its system getting stale, Nintendo released its next system, the Wii U, before its time (November 2012). At least they didn't surprise launch it, I think everyone learned their lesson. The system had capabilities the PS4 didn't have, but the market didn't want them. Nintendo emphasized motion controls (much like the Wii) and saw traditional gaming with next-generation graphics and sound as an afterthought. Never mind that the Wii U will probably have a higher percentage of games that hold up in 2036 (though, due to the PS4's immense library, a much lower number overall), the PS4 gave the 2013-2017 market what it wanted. Microsoft is playing second fiddle to Sony, but is still successful this generation.
The Saturn was discontinued in March 1998, about midway between the generation. Sega was the first out with a next generation console with the Dreamcast. A new console developer, Microsoft, also entered in at the Dreamcast's generation.
The Wii U was discontinued in January 2017. It is as yet unknown when the next generation will start, but speculation says in about a year (late 2019 / early 2020). That would put the Wii U discontinued about midway through the generation. Nintendo was the first out with a next generation console with the Switch. Will it be able to hold up to the next generation consoles? Ultimately, the price and capabilities of the competing consoles will be the best indicator.
As for the Atari Jaguar? That turd was a joke. Less than 250,000 were made. Even the CD-i topped a million! The Dreamcast at least competed with the PS2 for a short period, the Jaguar was basically dead at the PlayStation 1's September 9, 1995 launch. A few more games came out during the remainder of the year but it's entirely possible that system production ended before the end of 1995. The Atari Jaguar in 1996 was a pathetic joke. The Dreamcast in 2001 could still hold its own against PlayStation 2 in terms of game library, quality, graphics and sound.