Nintendo's retro lifeline: NES and SNES Classics steered the company through the Wii U slump
Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime says Nintendo released the NES Classic Edition in 2016 and the SNES Classic Edition in 2017 as small, high-volume legacy devices to sustain the business during the Wii U’s decline, a strategic move to boost holiday sales amid the console’s struggles.