According to a series of tweets by @serkantoto this afternoon, a recent Nikkei report has indicated that Nintendo will cease production of Wii U hardware within 2016:
1) The Nikkei just reports Nintendo will stop producing Wii U within 2016. It doesn't say they will necessarily start selling NX in 2016.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
2) Acc. to the paper, some Wii U accessories are already not being produced anymore. Nintendo plans to deplete inventory this year. //end
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
Just to clarify: The Nikkei doesn't rule out that Nintendo will sell NX this year. They are also confirming it will be unveiled though.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
Unsurprisingly, he reports that some accessories have already been out of production. Confirmation of the NX being revealed within 2016 is also reported, which some have speculated could be as early as April 27 — based on @serkantoto’s mention last week.
Nintendo just scheduled the Fiscal Year Earnings Release for April 27. https://t.co/28i2wlniwn
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) March 15, 2016
With the NX on the horizon, the only question is when Nintendo will show their cards. With a window between late April and E3 in mid-June, the inevitable is — if anything — soon.