REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 13, 2012 – Nintendo today revealed full details about how the new Wii U™ home console and its groundbreaking touch-screen Wii U GamePad controller can revolutionize not only video game play but also the way people find and watch TV and video content. The new HD system will offer entirely new ways for consumers to play games and enjoy their favorite programming when it launches in the Americas on Nov. 18. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.


(Editor's note: This article taken directly from Nintendo's press release; not my words!

At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favorite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one easy-to-use interface.


Additionally, Nintendo shared new information about dozens of games on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros.™ U, LEGO® City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101™, Capcom's Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate and Activision's Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario's world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo's greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Mario™, Animal Crossing™ and Donkey Kong™. As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.


"The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history," said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. "With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations."

The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI® cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.

Both configurations offer a wealth of one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences, including an online gaming community called Miiverse™ and the new Nintendo TVii application. Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and even their recorded TiVo shows – all from a single starting point.

The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry's biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS PRIME™. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin's Creed® III, ZombiU™, Rayman Legends® and Just Dance® 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect™ 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts™ Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.

"The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U," said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing's CEO. "We're excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U."

Below is a list of upcoming Wii U games that will be available on launch day or during the launch window*. (For information about third-party games, check with the individual publishers.)

505 Games
Funky Barn

2K Sports
NBA 2K13

Activision Publishing, Inc.
007™ Legends
Call of Duty®: Black Ops II
TRANSFORMERS PRIME™
Wipeout 3
Skylanders Giants™
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing

Capcom
Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate

D3Publisher
Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
Ben 10: Omniverse™
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade

Disney Interactive
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Electronic Arts
Mass Effect™ 3
Madden NFL 13
EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 13

Frozenbyte
Trine 2™: Director's Cut

Gaijin Games
Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Majesco Entertainment
Zumba® Fitness Core

Maximum Games
Jett Tailfin™

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT™ 2 Wii U Edition
TANK! TANK! TANK!™

Nintendo
Nintendo Land™
New Super Mario Bros.™ U
NINJA GAIDEN™ 3: Razor's Edge
SiNG PARTY™
LEGO® City: Undercover
Wii Fit™ U
Game & Wario™
Pikmin™ 3
The Wonderful 101™

SEGA
Aliens: Colonial Marines™
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Shin'en
Nano Assault Neo

Tecmo Koei America Corporation
WARRIORS OROCHI® 3 Hyper

THQ
Darksiders® II
Wheel of Fortune®
JEOPARDY! ®

Two Tribes
Toki Tori 2

Ubisoft
Assassin's Creed® III
Just Dance® 4
Marvel Avengers™: Battle for Earth
Rabbids® Land
Sports Connection™
Your Shape®: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU™
Rayman Legends®

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Scribblenauts™ Unlimited
Game Party Champions
Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition

* Launch window is defined as the period beginning Nov. 18, 2012, and ending March 31, 2013.

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I wish we knew the actual launch day games in addition to launch window. We can kind of put together a list from developer comments but there doesn't seem to be an official list yet. I need to plan everything in advance, darn it!

Posted by

Zero

on: 09/14/12, 02:51

@Zero I was just at GameStop, preordered the deluxe wii u and NSMBu, but they didn't have the system set up for me to preorder Darksiders 2 at all, despite the announcing it as a launch day title.

Posted by

Scrawnton

on: 09/14/12, 02:57

wow, it seems that Nintendo is actually headed down the right path this time. Did Nintendo reveal the final system specs?

Posted by

Tranquilo

on: 09/14/12, 03:00

Zero said:

I wish we knew the actual launch day games in addition to launch window. We can kind of put together a list from developer comments but there doesn't seem to be an official list yet. I need to plan everything in advance, darn it!

I'm in the same boat. I think the only games that are 100% officially confirmed are NintendoLand and NSMBU (hey, I'm getting 100% of the launch games so far!). I think devs are scrambling to get everything together to hopefully hit launch.

I just got home after a tumultuous day of car trouble. Gotta say, I'm happy with these announcements! The price is a tad high but reasonable, and I'm glad NL and NintendoTVii are included.

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 09/14/12, 03:30

Stepping back and looking at it as a whole, this is a pretty damn strong first few months. Depending on how some of these multiplats stack up to the 360/PS3 versions, I could see myself buying 8-10 games from this list for Wii U.

Posted by

TheBigG753

on: 09/14/12, 03:31

Yeah, I too want to know what games will be there on launch day. In any case, I'm excited for this baby!

It's really interesting that Nintendo is publishing Ninja Gaiden 3! So the Team Ninja relationship must be pretty good after the Other M project. Also, has Epic Mickey 2 officially moved over from Wii to Wii U? I doubt the Wii version will still release.

Posted by

roykoopa64

on: 09/14/12, 04:06

@roykoopa64 The Epic Mickey 2 press release says that Wii is still the lead platform by Junction Point, the 360 and PS3 ports are being done by another studio and the Wii U by yet another studio, so all signs point to it still releasing on Wii.

Posted by

rebonack

on: 09/14/12, 04:09

@rebonack

Oh, good to know, I missed that, thanks!

Posted by

roykoopa64

on: 09/14/12, 04:13

Mario IS launch right? Kotaku seems(ed) to think it wasn't confirmed for launch day...

Black Ops 2 releasing a week later will help it lose a few sales though, I'm sure. They shoulda released on the 11th I think.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/14/12, 05:06

Edited:

09/14/12, 05:07

@carlosrox

It is. Absolute Proof Here

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 09/14/12, 05:25

Awesome, thanks. I knew it had to be, but Kotaku scared me a bit.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/14/12, 05:59

SiNG is gonna sell, like, TwO copies.

Posted by

Anand

on: 09/14/12, 06:00

@carlosrox

To know I'll be playing mario, zombiu, and nintendoland at launch makes this possibly one of the best launches for me ever.

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 09/14/12, 13:59

Meanwhile, the games I was most excited for, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, and Lego City Undercover, none of them will make launch day. Only Lego is predicted to even be in the launch window. I'm torn because the deluxe package seems like a good deal, and I'm worried it won't be available later, but I have very little reason to get a Wii U before mid 2013, and as much fun as they say it is, I don't see NintendoLand holding my interest for 6 months. Don't get me wrong, it's a great launch line-up, but not much there I feel I must play.

Posted by

VickiL

on: 09/15/12, 05:14

Pikmin 3, Lego City, and The Wonderful 101 are all confirmed to arrived before April 2013, aka in the Launch Window.

So while none are likely launch day, they are all certainly launch window (in america).

Source

Unless you're not in america...

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 09/15/12, 05:36

@DrFinkelstein
That reminds me. Is Zombi U CONFIRMED Launch Day? And how about Rayman and Batman?

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/15/12, 05:47

Edited:

09/15/12, 05:48

As far as I know,

NintendoLand
New Super Mario Bros. U
Darksiders 2

...are the only games so far that've been confirmed for US launch. I think third-parties are playing it close to the chest and wanted to see what Nintendo would confirm for launch day.

As for the European launch...



FIFA 13
Mass Effect 3
New Super Mario Bros. U
NintendoLand
Rayman Legends
ZombiU

Trine 2 (downloadable)
Nano Assault Neo (downloadable)
Toki Tori 2 (downloadable)

That's all for November 30th, so it's a little hard to say if they'll hit the US on Nov 18th, particularly with Ubi being located in Europe. I do hope Rayman comes out for launch though.

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 09/15/12, 06:19

Edited:

09/15/12, 21:21

Thanks. Well if we don't get those launch DAY I guess we'll get them by the 30th? Tad disappointing actually, I really want Zombi U on day one.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/15/12, 06:20

Well, we're sure to hear of more games at launch soon, but it looks like a lot of devs aren't ready to confirm it yet. ZombiU and/or Rayman both have pretty good chances of being there day 1, but if not, they should definitely be 2012 releases.

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 09/15/12, 06:27

@TriforceBun
Most definitely. Zombi U is releasing on the 30th in Europe for their launch.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 09/15/12, 10:23