Wii U Release Date and Pricing Revealed | Gaming Illustrated

Nintendo revealed the long-awaited release date and pricing details of the upcoming Wii U console at press conference in New York today. The new system will release on Nov. 18 at a price starting at $299.

The company will release two different Wii U bundles.

The $299.99 basic set will contain the console with 8 GB of memory, a Wii U GamePad, an AC adapter for both the console and GamePad, a high-speed HDMI cable, and Wii U sensor bar. All this will come in white.

The deluxe set comes with all those plus more for $349.99. In addition to the console and GamePad, the deluxe set includes a stand for the console, a charging cradle for the GamePad, and a copy of the game Nintendo Land. The console included in the deluxe set comes with 32 GB of storage. Everything in the deluxe set will be black. Consumers who purchase the deluxe set also get enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which gives users points for downloads and rewards them with points for more downloads.

No price was announced for a separate GamePad but the Nintendo conference in Japan suggested it would be half the price of the Wii U. Wii U Pro Controllers were also not mentioned.

The Wii U will be backward compatible with almost all Wii titles and accessories. Nintendo will begin selling Wii U branded versions of the Wiimote and Nunchuck soon.

New Super Mario Bros. U and Wii Fit U are some of the first-party titles Nintendo plans to release alongside the launch of their new console. Other third-party games are expected to debut on the launch date as well.

Nintendo highlighted games such as Bayonetta 2, Transformers Prime, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on stage at the event. The intent was to show off the cool features of the GamePad and graphical capabilities of the Wii U. Black Ops 2 ran at a full 60 fps and the GamePad can be used as a map or split screen controller.

Wii U Pro Controller

Nintendo also revealed Nintendo TVii. It is a free service that enhances the TV viewing experience through the touchscreen GamePad. Nintendo TVii allows users to watch content from Netflix, Hulu, TiVo and live TV on their GamePad. This means Wii U owners will never have to miss their favorite shows, even when someone else won’t let them change the channel.

The GamePad can also be used as a companion to shows or sporting events while watching on a television. It will display relevant information such as stats during a game. Users can share their thoughts on Facebook or Twitter directly from the GamePad.

via Wii U Release Date and Pricing Revealed | Gaming Illustrated.