Nintendo is ending sales in Japan of its Wii U home console "soon", although it will not say exactly when, and similar announcements are expected in other regions.
The Wii U, which went on sale from late 2012, is being replaced by its gaming system Switch, which is set to go on sale globally in March 2017.
The Japanese video game manufacturer behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises has already shipped Wii U machines for US sales through March, company spokesman Kenichiro Matsuura said on Friday.
Kyoto-based Nintendo has scored success with the remake of its 1980s FamiCom machine, called NES Classic Edition, which goes on sale on Friday in the US.
Japanese have been snatching it up since it went on sale on Thursday.
Much smaller than the original machine, it comes packed with popular 30 game software titles such as Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Brothers.
Another recent hit the company has scored is Pokemon Go, an augmented reality game that can be played on smartphones.
Nintendo's earnings have suffered from lagging sales of the Wii U, as well as its 3DS handheld.
After years of scoffing at the threat from smartphones, Nintendo did an about-face in 2015 and entered that sector.
Pokemon Go is the first big success for Nintendo since that decision, underlining the company's potential.
