Nintendo's Wii U is on its way out.

The Mario imprint launched its duel-screen tablet/console system back in 2012, and as of Tuesday, it looks as if the gaming giant is winding down production for the Wii's offspring.

Nintendo has yet to confirm the rumors, but according to Japan's tech insider Nikkei, the company has already stopped supplying certain accessories. The Wii U never quite took off like its incredibly popular predecessor, and it will soon be replaced by a potential 2017 consol.

Unlike another systems at the time, the Wii U featured a handheld controller with an embedded touch screen. Designed to either stand on its own or work in tandem with the classic television set up, the tablet-esque hybrid gave gamers a fresh breath of versatility. Unfortunately, the system undersold the original Wii by nearly 90 million units.

The duel nature of the consol, however, appears to be something Nintendo is willing to build upon with its next release. Set to drop in 2016 and 2017, the two-piece NX system is expected to have a portable component in addition to the traditional home consol (2017), according to IGN.

Nintendo is also currently edging its way into the world of mobile gaming. Although initial speculation panned the company's upcoming Miitomi app as merely another social app, the release has soared to the top of the charts following its late March release in Japan. Set to hit US phones by the end of the month, Miitomi is just the tip of the iceberg for Nintendo's foray into the mobile world.

Are you sad to see the Wii U era come to an end, or are you hoping the NX will be everything you've been waiting for since the original Wii? Sound off in the poll below!

Tags: nintendo tech technology