The Wii U will go up against the Sony Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Below is everything we know about the release date which is somewhat up in the air. The price is also an area where there are a lot of conflicting figures.
We’ve also rounded up all the games that will be on the Wii U and the entire specification list so you can get an idea of what the console will offer and how good it will be.
Nintendo Wii U release date
To add to the confusion Blockbuster has the console available for pre-order with October listed as the release date. Update Nintendo has announced that the European release date for the Wii U is 30 November. The US will be getting it on 18 November and Japan on 8 December.
Nintendo Wii U price
Shopto.net has the Wii U available for pre-order at £279.85 quoting the RRP as £279.99. Conversely, the site has a note saying that all the information on the page, including the price, is subject to change. It also says its usual pre-order price promise does not apply. Update There is also a ZombieU Pack which, according to Game.co.uk will cost £349.
Nintendo Wii U models
Nintendo Wii U Basic Pack – White The Basic Pack for the Wii U comes with a white console with 8GB of internal storage and a Wii U GamePad. Nintendo Wii U Premium Pack – Black The Premium Pack for the Wii U comes with a black console with 32GB of internal storage, a Wii U GamePad, NintendoLand game and 3 months subscription to Nintendo Network Premium. Nintendo Wii U ZombieU Pack The ZombieU Pack is effectively the same as the Premium Pack but you get an additional Black Pro Controller and a copy of ZombieU.
Nintendo Wii U games
The following games have been confirmed for the Wii U: Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros U, Pikmin 3, Wii Fit U, Wii U Panorama View, SiNG, LEGO City: Undercover, Project P-100, Game & Wario, Aliens: Colonial Marines, NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor’s Edge, Darksiders II, Assassin’s Creed III, Batman Arkham City Armored Edition, Mass Effect 3, Rayman Legends, Scribblenauts Unlimited, TANK! TANK! TANK! , Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and ZombiU.
Nintendo Wii U specs
Size Approximately 1.8in high, 10.5in deep and 6.8in long. Weight Approximately 1.5 kg. Processor IBM Power-based multi-core processor. Graphics AMD Radeon-based High Definition GPU. Storage Wii U uses an internal flash memory. It also supports SD memory cards and external USB storage. Media Wii U and Wii optical discs. Networking The Wii U can access the Internet via wireless (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) connection. The console features four USB 2.0 connectors – two in the front and two in the rear – that support Wii LAN Adapters.
Wii U GamePad The Wii U GamePad controller removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. It incorporates a 6.2in, 16:9 aspect ratio LCD touch screen, as well as traditional button controls and two analog sticks. Inputs include a +Control Pad, L/R sticks, L/R stick buttons, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons, ZL/ZR buttons, Power button, Home button, -/Select button, +/Start button, and TV Control button. The GamePad also includes motion control (powered by an accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor), a front-facing camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, rumble features, a sensor bar, an included stylus and support for Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs approximately 500g. Other Controllers The Wii U console is capable of supporting two Wii U GamePad controllers, up to four Wii Remote (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers or Wii U Pro Controllers. It will also support Wii accessories such as the Nunchuk, Classic Controller and Wii Balance Board.
Video Output The Wii U supports up to 1080p video output with 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i options. Compatible cables include HDMI, Wii D-Terminal, Wii Component Video, Wii RGB, Wii S-Video Stereo AV and Wii AV. Wii Compatibility Nintendo has said that nearly all Wii software and accessories can be used with Wii U. Audio Output The Wii U uses six-channel PCM linear output via HDMI connector, or analog output via the AV Multi Out connector. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
