Production of the Wii U could stop by March 2018.

Nintendo's Wii U

Nintendo's Wii U

The Nintendo console could cease to be made inside less than two years' time, or a year after the highly-anticipated NX console reaches stores, according to Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima.

Nintendo has a history of keeping some of their consoles in production even after they've launched a new product, but sales of the Wii U have led to suggestions they will not do that in this instance.

The speculation comes shortly after the technology giant confirmed its new NX console will be released in March 2017.

Nintendo confirmed the news in its quarterly financial statement, telling shareholders that the NX console will feature a "brand-new concept".

A statement from the firm read: "For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed 'NX' with a brand-new concept. NX will be launched in March 2017 globally."

Nintendo has been tight-lipped about specific details of the console, but the Wall Street Journal claimed last year that the NX would be a hybrid of a home console and a mobile games console.

The newspaper said the NX "would likely include both a console and at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use".