Nintendo first unveiled the Nintendo Wii U last summer at E3 2011 although it’s safe to say it’s difficult to qualify the presentation as an “unveiling.” The actual design of the console wasn’t officially showcased and there were no details on pricing or a release date. This E3, we got hands-on with a variety of launch titles but Nintendo was still hesitant on revealing the key details that consumers demand.
Today in New York, Nintendo is opening the doors and confirming all of the details the industry has been waiting patiently for. Read on for the Wii U release date, pricing and contents of the two Nintendo Wii U sets hitting retail this fall.
The Wii U unsurprisingly will ship in the two colors we’ve seen the device demo’d in: white and black. The white is for the Basic Set ($299.99) and for the black Deluxe Set, it’s $349.99. These will be available for North America in 66 days as Reggie Fils-Aime puts it, on Sunday, November 18, 2012. (Japan Wii U pricing and release date was revealed last night). Let’s see what you get with each:
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Each package ships with only one GamePad controller (and no pro controller) input although we know from E3 2012 that the console does support two (however, it slows the frame rate). Also note that there are no Wii accessories included and that’s very intentional since the Wii U is compatible with most Wii accessories and games. As Nintendo proudly explains, they’ve sold over 100 million Wii remotes in North America and over 60 million Nunchuks, meaning the market is already full of them.
For consumers who do want or need new Wii Remotes or Nunchuks, Wii U branded ones will be available, sold separately.
So, we now know for sure when and for how much. Are you going to pick up either set?
Source: Nintendo Direct
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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.
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Wow those prices are outrageous. I’m not going to pay an extra $300 to have it be HD and to have “cool” controller. The Wii should’ve been this quality 5 years ago. After all this, Nintendo is still behind.
“I’m not going to pay an extra $300 to have it be HD”
This isn’t an HD Wii!!!! It is more powerful than a PS3 and 360.
If the Wii had been this “quality” as you put it, it would have sunk and destroyed every other console!
In what way are Nintendo behind, the Wii-U can graphically match the other consoles and is chocked full of brand new innovations. That’s not behind, that’s ahead.
And the price isn’t that bad either. It is well below the expected prices of the 720 or PS4.
They are ahead in this generation, yes, but the next generation is likely to begin next year or the next, in which the Wii U will be obsolete. They are behind because they are only just now releasing a console that can compete with PS3 and 360 seven years after this generation started.
And also, you said “It is well below the expected prices of the 720 or PS4.” Maybe you missed the latest pricing rumor of the 720, stating that it would have a low price point, hovering around the $300 price mark. $299 isn’t a horrible price, but it’s not worth buying just yet as there are only a handful of exclusives worth buying. On a side note, I have a friend that works at a local video game retail shop, and all the time, people come in asking when they’re getting the new Wii controllers. Nintendo isn’t marketing the Wii U very well, because people still think it’s just a peripheral, not an actual console.
It’s pretty much an HD Wii. Oooh, twice the game RAM. The PS4 and Xbox 720 will blow that number out of the water. Every other piece of Wii U’s hardware will also be obliterated by the PS4 and Xbox 720.
How is the Wii U chock-full of innovations? I can think of one: the GamePad. That’s it. Nobody cares about Miiverse.
….if they were to blow it out of the water/obliterate it then the price would go up a good amount….and besides i care about miiverse…..you just seem to want this thing to die…
I don’t care if next-gen consoles are $500. If it means performance comparable to a gaming PC, I’m all for it. I just don’t think the Wii U is a justifiable purchase.
you are a moron if you think consoles will ever have performance comparable to pc’s. in relation to performance the ps4 and 720 will be outdated the very next day after they come out bc pc’s will already have moved up in the world in performance.
By the time we get to the 720 and PS4, the line between PC and Console gaming will be kinda blurred. We’re getting to the point where graphics are becoming more similar, and people are starting to care less about graphics. Now, it’s more about innovation, which the Wii U does not have. No one seems to realize this, but the same tablet-to-tv gameplay can be played on an iPad and Apple TV.
@ gaygamer22
Next-gen consoles will definitely be comparable to PCs. Obviously not top of the line gaming PCs, but lower end ones, maybe $1000-1500.
@ UnbuildTheGame
That line is becoming more blurry with every new console generation. Features keep being added to consoles that PCs have. Current-gen consoles allow you to play games, watch movies, listen to music, buy games digitally, chat with friends, and surf the Web. However, they aren’t as convenient or efficient as a PC for most of those things. But this will change with the PS4 and Xbox 720.
and again you display your ignorance. i can build you a pc thatll run BF3 on high (maybe on ultra) for 800 bucks. just gotta know where to look. god i hate that $1k expensive myth
How was I being ignorant? I didn’t say that to play games with high settings you have to have a $1000 build. I said that next-gen consoles (excluding the Wii U) will be comparable to $1000 PCs.
I agree with the post below. This would have been great at this price 6 years ago. Why am I going to pay $300 for this when next fall I could pay probably $350-400 and get PS4 or Xbox 720? Back to the hole with Nintendo. Sad for the former (and briefly resurrected) pioneers of the industry
I’ll pick up the black SKU. For an extra $50 you get four times the memory and a copy of Nintendoland, which isn’t too bad at all.
you really thin ps4 is gonna be that cheap lmao. the ps3 was 600 at launch and sony screwed that up do to a lack of consoles. my gamestop got a total of 4 ps3s at launch and didnt get more for a month
sorry reply meant for andy. on a phone >.<
haha no worries. I was a little confused there for a second. xD
lol you think when they launch consoles they have plenty enough for everybody? nope these 3 companys dont have enough to ship. sony was never the cheapest. nintendo have always had consoles at cheap prices.
…..same here…..that seems to be the ideal choice…..plus you get those points for every digital purchase…
What about Europe, as in the UK what will the price be in the UK?
It hasn’t been announced but I read that Nintendo don’t set prices in the UK, but industry experts are putting the white bundle at £229.99, with the black version at £279.99.
Why would anyone buy this? The memory on these consoles are horrible!
The Wii U will support external storage — in fact, it’s pretty much expected that users will do it. And since external hard-drives and memory are pretty cheap these days, its not too bad.
Price
Performance-wise, the complaints are legit BUT the specs are higher than the current gen consoles and priced [relatively] low. Remember, that tablet controller runs about $100 (I THINK). I doubt the power of the Wii U will be fully tapped during launch, not that it is much more powerful anyways. Taking into consideration the price of the controller, you could easily shave off maybe $80 bucks for the base console. I’d expect a $300 price tag but that controller probably adds a hefty amount to that.
Remember, PS3 is 6 years old, 360 is 7 years old.
PS3 160GB – $250
Xbox 360 250GB – $300
Xbox 360 4GB – $200
Wii U 8GB – $300
Wii U 16GB – $350
PS4 & Xbox 720 – Considering the price of current gen consoles, the Wii U, and rumored specs, I’m betting somewhere upwards of $450 or even $500 each.
Seeing as how an Xbox 360 runs $300 with 7 year old hardware, the Wii U doesn’t seem TOO bad, at least IMO. The Wii U is superior in every way except for hard drive.
Very good points. Considering this is brand new (and exciting) hardware, it isn’t much more than one of the current gen consoles.
And the memory isn’t a big issue to most people. I’ve used 4.5gb of my 250gb 360 Hard drive. I think I’ll be fine with what the Wii-U is offereing.
What, do you only have one game? If you’re a hardcore gamer, then you should’ve used way more than 4.5GB by now.
Yeah I can understand it’s hard to fill a 360 hard drive, what with the zero exclusive titles…LOL
All kidding aside, look at these “bundles”? Neither comes bundled with a PRO controller, an extra GamePad, or external memory. So I guess you have to add the cost of those to your Wii U purchase price.
@ ATG Then your nicely formatted comment become a bit more busy and the distance between a Wii U price and other current gen systems becomes way more apparent.
Wii U – no thanks.
Wow, 8 GB for $299, and “current-gen” graphics, that is ridiculous. The PS3 is 160GB and has a blu-ray player. Nintendo must be trolling everyone right? Looks like we’re going to have another 3DS Price Drop on our hands.
What games are gonna be launched with the Wii U?
@Boogoo
Confirmed launch titles
Mii and U
Nintendo Land
Wii, Mii, U, Us
It’s A Mii, Mario
Checkers
and this is worthwhile……………..how?
If wii U seems pricey its probably because of the slow economy. Everything seems more expensive now. So the price is actually pretty decent.
im only going to buy one when i hear what they plan on doing with the next metroid game. other than that Ninty can go f**k themselves.
I really don’t even know what to say lol.
I have plenty of externals laying around so that’s not an issue. My gripe would have to be no pro controller. Lol I was hoping for one bundled with the console. Seeing its Nintendo, this is what I expected lol
When Nintendo makes a console that is VR and perfect motion sensing at the same time is when I’ll start buying their games, but until then, I will stick with controllers.
Using a Mocap suit to track movements and wearing headsets for VR, how much do you think that would cost? I wouldn’t care, that would be awesome.
During the Oculus Rift’s Kickstar campaign, you could’ve donated $300 and got a Rift developers’ kit. So I’d say VR headsets won’t cost much more than that. But the price of mocap technology in a home setting would likely be through the roof.
So neither bundle comes with 2 Gamepads and neither bundle comes with a “Pro” controller?
LOL
So how much do those cost? $350 becomes $500 so very easily.
$350 for a 32gb console? I… They… that… No. Just no. This console is supposed to rival PS3/360′s main consoles. These barely compare to a 360 arcade. Come on, Nintendo! This is supposed to last 7+ years! by the time 2020 rolls around, single games will likely be pushing 32GB downloadable by then. Think more than 2 years ahead! This kind of planning is why your consoles keep falling behind 3 years in.
Buying this around Easter next year for sure.
Thank you Nintendo for not having this cost $600 or $400 like some other companies we know.
Always keeping their customers in mind
You must not be getting a game, a PRO controller (or two), and an external HD if you think this Wii U won’t cost you $500 to start.
LOL $500 is still better than a $400 or $600 launch price. Add extra controllers and a game and those prices will look even uglier.
Regardless of what anyone says this is a good deal. I love how people are saying its only capable of current gen graphics like they forgot the Zelda DEMO looked far better than anything on PS3 and Xbox360. Nintendo also has a history of showing off amazing looking graphics demos and the real games looking far better in the future.
hi there game companies will start enforcing a 150 mb/s read write speed mandatory wich will end slow storage speed 10,000 rpm voloci-raptor hard mandatory for future gamming or realy fast solid state drives
Wow guys if ur gonna hate on the wii u just do it somewhere else like come on wii wasn’t hd so it could keep prices low and at the time there wasnt that many HD t.v’s (wii u > xbox 360 ps3)-graphically of course
The 32gb internal on wii U is ssd flash memory so pointless comparing it to 360 hard drive storage amounts…
And the fact you can attach 2TB externals to each usb port rocks in my opinion.
Anyone get a Wii u for xmas?