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Wii U launch details special: everything you need to know

Wii U has been dated and priced for each region, and has received a slew of new game announcements, trailers, screenshots and more. Find out everything you need to know about Nintendo's next console right here.

Nintendo revealed the answers to the gaming public's biggest Wii U questions during a string of Nintendo Direct web casts yesterday, and the internet went a little Wii U daft to say the least. There was a lot of information to take in, but your friendly neighbourhood VG247 has compiled the essentials here in one place to make things easy.

Let's begin shall we?

Wii U release dates & pricing

  • Europe - Wii U will launch on 30th November with both premium and basic bundles, and prices have been spotted online ranging between £210-£280.
  • America - Wii U will launch Stateside on November 18th and will launch at around $349 for the premium edition and at a $299 price point for standard, which Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime has since stated is a 'really strong' price.
  • Japan - Wii U will hit Japanese retailers on December 8th at ¥26,250 for the basic bundle and ¥31,500 for the premium pack. It's odd to see the Japanese giant launching new hardware in its own territory last.

Wii U console bundles: what's in the box?

  • Basic bundle - Wii U basic bundle includes a white console with 8GB of memory, white Game Pad, AC adapter and HDMI cable. Pretty standard stuff really.
  • Premium bundle - Wii U premium comes with a black console with 32 GB of memory, black Game Pad, AC adapter, HDMI cable, a console stand, a Game Pad dock, and a Nintendo Network Premium subscription that lasts until December 2014.

That's Nice. What does Nintendo Network Premium actually do?

Good question eager one. Nintendo Network Premium offers 10% off software purchases and rewards players with points for buying games. The subscription bundled in the Wii U premium console pack lasts through to December 2014

OK, I now know when I can get Wii U, but what can it actually do?

Luckily for you Nintendo has revealed some hardware specs, but is yet to reveal the CPU and GPU data. Hopefully this will do for now:

Internal memory: Basic - 8GB internal flash, Premium - 32GB internal flash.
Wii U game discs: 25GB in size.
Power: Bundled AC adapter - uses 75 watts of power when playing, 45 watts in power save mode.
Dimensions: 46 mm x 172 mm x 268.5 mm in the horizontal position.
TV Display: HDMI up to 1080p
System memory: 1GB
Game memory: 1GB

Wii U launch games by region

  • Europe

Day one titles:
FIFA 13
Mass Effect 3: Special Edition
Nano Assault Neo
New Super Mario Bros. U
Nintendo Land
Rayman Legends
Trine 2: Director's Cut
Toki Tori 2
Zombi U.
Launch window titles (before March 31st 2013):
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Assassin's Creed 3
Batman Arkham City: Armoured Edition
Darksiders 2
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Tw
Game & Wario
Game Party Champions
Just Dance 4
LEGO City Undercover
Madden 13
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
NBA 2K13
Ninja Gaiden: Razor's Edge
Rabbids Land
Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Scribblenauts Unlimited
SING Party, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sports Connection
Tank! Tank! Tank!
Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
Warriors Orochi 3 HYPER
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013.

  • America

Note: Launch day and launch window games are yet to be separated

Funky Barn
NBA 2K13
007 Legends
Black Ops 2
Transformers Prime
Skylanders Giants
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
Ben 10: Omniverse
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Mass Effect 3
Madden 13
FIFA 13
Trine 2: Director’s Cut
Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Zumba Fitness Core
Jett Tailfin
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition
Tank1 Tank! Tank!
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
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Nano Assault Neo
Warrior Orochi 3 HYPER
Darksiders 2
Wheel of Fortune
JEOPARDY!
Toki Tori 2
Assassin’s Creed III
Just Dance 4
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Rabbids Land
Sports Connection
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
Zombi U
Rayman Legends
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Game Party Champions
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition.

  • Japan

Day one games:
New Super Mario Bros. U
NintendoLand
Game & Wario
Wii Fit U

Launch window releases:
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
Warriors Orochi 3: Hyper
Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
Zombi U
Assassin’s Creed III
Rayman Legends
Batman: Arkham City – Armored Edition
Mass Effect 3
FIFA 13
Monster Hunter 3G HD Version
The Wonderful 101
Bayonetta 2
Dragon Quest X

Awesome. Where can I see all of these wonderful games in action?

My you're keen. Luckily for you we're creating a huge list of every Wii U launch window trailer right here. You can watch them all right here:

This is Nintendo we're talking about here...peripherals?

Yeah you're right, Nintendo loves peripherals. Here's a gallery of just some of the extra tat you can buy at launch:

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About the Author
Dave Cook avatar

Dave Cook

Contributor

Dave worked on VG247 for an extended period manging much of the site's news output. As well as his experience in games media, he writes for comics, and now specializes in books about gaming history.
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