Both remaining choices -- a standalone white WiiU console and one bundled with Splatoon -- post disclaimers noting the systems won't be around much longer. According to Kotaku's translation: "The text reads, 近日生産終了予定 (kinjitsu seisan shuuryou yotei), which means, "Production is scheduled to end soon." After that, the announcement reads "within Japan" (日本国内 or Nihon kokunai)." Whether that means the company will still roll out WiiU consoles in other regions is also unclear.

As Eurogamer points out, ceasing "production" could mean a lot of things: The last system rolling off the assembly line, or the last one boxed up, or the last one shipped out the door. What it does mean is an official nail in the coffin for a quality game console that missed with consumers, thanks in part to Nintendo's faulty marketing. All that's left for the WiiU to do is run out the clock until the Switch is released in March 2017.