Actually, unlike Microsoft and Sony, all Nintendo has to do is sell the system and they've already made a profit, even on launch day.
So why did they start losing money during the Wii generation, when they even made a profit with the Gamecube?
A Nintendo executive admitted that they need to sell multiple games per system to break even on the Wii U.
Also, the Wii U is selling worse than the Gamecube. Which sold worse than the N64. Which sold worse than the SNES. Which sold worse than the NES. Nintendo's home console sales have been in terminal decline since the 80s.
The Wii was just a fad, the singing billy bass of consoles. Its playerbase won't buy a Wii U, they won't even buy a PS4 or an Xbone. They'll buy a tablet and play angry birds or whatever.
Nintendo's home console has no market. The hardcore gamers are on Xbone/PS/PC, the casuals are on tablets and phones, they've basically got Zelda and Mario fans.