Wii U Arrives in United States on November 18

Nintendo of America has announced a release date for Wii U in the United States, and it's November 18. It doesn't launch in Japan until December 8, but Nintendo launched the original Wii first outside of Japan, too.

There are two sets. The basic set includes a Wii U, Game Pad, Game Pad charging cable, AC adaptor, HDMI cable, sensor bar and 8GB of memory. The "deluxe" set also includes 32GB of memory, a Game Pad charging cable, Game Pad cradle, a copy of NintendoLand, and enrollment in a premium service on Nintendo Direct, where you earn points for each purchase and can redeem them later for other purchases.

The big question? Price. It's $299 for the basic set, and $349 for the deluxe set.

As for big game announcements, Nintendo is publishing (funding?) Bayonetta 2 with Platinum Games, Monolith Soft is making a new game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is coming to the platform, and there's a new Monster Hunter. Well, "new." Monster Hunter Ultimate (Monster Hunter Tri G U in Japan) is based on the 3DS game, and the save data will be interchangeable between the two platforms. It's available at launch in Japan, and March everywhere else.

Project P-100, also from Platinum Games, was easily one of the most exciting Wii U games at E3, and that's been renamed The Wonderful 101. Spoiler: still looks awesome. Epic Mickey 2 will also be receiving a Wii U upgrade, and Activision made the clutch announcement of Skylanders Giants. Nintendo didn't discuss the NFC features baked into the Game Pad, though, so one might expect that will still have a separate device to scan the characters in.

Nintendo broke down the hilariously large "launch window" for Wii U, as well: November 18 until the end of March. Besides New Super Mario Bros. U and NintendoLand, the company wasn't confirming release dates, but since Pikmin 3 isn't coming out until next spring in Japan, I wouldn't expect it over here this year, either.

In America, Nintendo spent the most time going over its big media initiative, Nintendo TVii. It aggregates content services--Amazon, Hulu Plus, etc.--and allows users to search, track, purchase, and play content from them on the Game Pad and the TV. There's a neat dynamic between the Game Pad and TV, too. The Game Pad takes screen captures of what's happening on TV, and allows users to comment and share on Facebook and Twitter. You also have access to your DVR through the Game Pad, though right now, that seems to mean TiVO-only devices.

Nintendo TVii launches alongside the device this year, but only in the United States and Canada.

The company also unveiled a strange interface for Nintendo TVii. Maybe it'll make more sense in our hands?

Over in Japan, there were some big announcements that should guarantee some folks on day one (like, say, 8-4). In addition to an even more deluxe package that comes with a Pro controller and a copy of Monster Hunter Ultimate, anyone who buys the premium version of the console also gains an invite to the upcoming beta for Dragon Quest X.

How much will another one of those controllers cost, I wonder.

RIP Nintendo

Wait, the standard version doesn't come with a charging cable for the gamepad? How are you supposed to charge it then?

Just realised this could parallel the 3DS. Its a better system all round, with a gimmick you can ignore.

They aren't including a game with it? WTF Nintendo? I could spend that money of the games I want coming out this year and they havent shown any decent games for that thing.

Here's the live video-feed. They're playing mini-games, if you'r into that sort of thing.

http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu

Called the $350 price point for the Deluxe version. Little surprised they didn't go with $250 for the Basic.

@Link43130 said:

How much will another one of those controllers cost, I wonder.

Only 1 works with each Wii U i think...

$349 version for me.

Words can't describe how excited i am.

I think they've overpriced it. I will still buy one because I am crazy.

Wow 300 and 350 huh? 
That is more expensive than PS3... I was not expecting that. And I thought they learned their mistakes from 3DS...

8 GB, ouchies. Not sure how far that's gonna get you....

@MattyFTM: It does come with a charger (lists AC charger for each) on the slide.

For a brand-new console, $350 sounds reasonable. I mean, the premium PS3 and Xbox 360 are still $300 so this makes sense.

@Link43130: They will be selling them separate , I believe it will be around 99.99

only 32 gbs on the "deluxe" version, how quickly is that going to fill up, or will they release bigger versions later on

if not, it will have the same problem the Wii had

@MolluskLingers said:

RIP Nintendo

And in Europe?

@MormonWarrior said:

For a brand-new console, $350 sounds reasonable. I mean, the premium PS3 and Xbox 360 are still $300 so this makes sense.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if MS and Sony would cut prices before November.

EDIT: Nintendo TViiiiiiiiiiiii. Seriously?

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

They aren't including a game with it? WTF Nintendo? I could spend that money of the games I want coming out this year and they havent shown any decent games for that thing.

The Premium package comes with Nintendoland. You know, that game no one wants?

I can sense Alex cringe at some of the forced humor on display at the event. It's as if a thousand Nevarro's suddenly cried out in terror.

November 30th in Europe, no price announced by Nintendo (check with retailers apparently)

Not bad for a brand new console considering the next PS & 360 will probably be pushing $500. There's no question they'll be over $500 in Australia. Hell, The WiiU will probably be $500 here.

Man I kind of bought the 3DS for myself and my brother because I felt sorry for Nintendo but I just can't do it anymore. So long Nintendo, looking forward to seeing your games on the next Playstation and Xbox.

I would have guessed that on price. Think the cost of games will stay the same though? I can see games with WiiU tablet controls going for an extra $5 on top of normal cost.

I was hoping that they might explain why I should buy this and what makes it better than the current generation of consoles.

Only reason I'm considering picking one up is because I'm leaving my Wii with my parents, and this is supposed to carry over all your purchased Wii digital content. But without any games that I give a rat's ass about at launch, I can probably hold off til next year.

Reggie, I'm not pleasantly surprised at all...

That is too much money, you could get a PS3/360 with a handful of great games for that price

Nintendo TV....ii? They just couldn't help yourselves, could they?

People are confused about the price but I'm more confused about the entire system as a whole.

"Dad" loves how sassy Ellen is.

@familyphotoshoot:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

@Link43130 said:

How much will another one of those controllers cost, I wonder.

Only 1 works with each Wii U i think...

Two can work, but it's also an expensive peripheral and would likely inflate the price of a bundle significantly.

@CrossTheAtlantic:

The $300 is meant to not be bought, you get so much more for $350. I think they just wanted to say hey look we were able to price it at $300.

8GB and 32GB? How can you claim, "yeah we're into people downloading games", and yet offer so little space. Think in terms of xbla/psn games. That's 3 dlc games on the standard model, (remember when companies list the HDD space the device usually takes up some space for the OS), and 12 on the premium one. That's not even including patches, DLC for retail games and DLC games. Lets not forget that Nintendo claims to be offering all retail games as day 1 digital buys. WTF. Six years ago when Sony released their PS3's the cheapest SKU had 20GB. That was six years ago. Microsoft and Sony both offer models starting at more than 100GB for less than the price if the Wii-U. That pathetic HDD space is a big middle finger to small game makers.

Goddamnit Nintendo...

Not outrageous. Show me the games and I'll show you the money.

I DONT NEED YOUR CANDY!

Watching this only makes me anxious to see what Microsoft and Sony will do in the next year.

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

They aren't including a game with it? WTF Nintendo? I could spend that money of the games I want coming out this year and they havent shown any decent games for that thing.

Did they include a game with 360/PS3? No, why does Nintendo have to? Because Wii did?

What about the price of the pro controller? That's the only thing I'm interested in.

As I said in the Japanese launch news post (probably more appropriate here,) for 350, they'll have to have some really awesome games at launch to sell me on it before. 250 was more what I was looking to pay. (Not even considering getting the 300 dollar unit, 8GB is just... man. Not like 32 is good, but at least it'll have some room for a few digital games.)

I still cannot understand the purpose of the Wii U. The premise of the pad and just HD graphics are not very good selling points to me. I am just hoping that Nintendo is not shooting themselves in the foot when Microsoft and Sony will announce a next generation console. Or the mythical "Steam Box" comes into reality to push these three to a next generation platform.

I grew up with Nintendo; had fun times in my childhood and only wish them the best. Sadly, I will be saving up my money this go around for a new Gaming PC.

I won't be surprised if this is Nintendo's last console. I just don't see this thing doing anything but failing miserably (unfortunately).

@MattyFTM said:

Wait, the standard version doesn't come with a charging cable for the gamepad? How are you supposed to charge it then?

Apparently the 3DS XL doesn't come with it's own charging cable either, right? I guess selling half of what you need is Nintendo's new cost cutting strategy...

@Hailinel said:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

@Link43130 said:

How much will another one of those controllers cost, I wonder.

Only 1 works with each Wii U i think...

Two can work, but it's also an expensive peripheral and would likely inflate the price of a bundle significantly.

They're saying two can work, but we've seen nothing in terms of two-pad games. I can't help but wonder how much bandwidth that thing's chewing up.