As expected, Nintendo finally revealed the details on Wii U we’ve been anticipating for months: a price and release date. The new system launches on November 18 in the United States in two distinct versions. The Basic set includes a white system and will be priced at $300, while the Deluxe set containing a black system will come in at $350. We also now have a clear impression of what to expect in terms of software in the console’s first few months of availability. With that knowledge in hand, it seems as if Nintendo is gearing the system to a more casual audience, but if that’s the case, it could be that these prices are a bit too high.
Part of the Wii’s resounding success was its $250 price and the free copy of Wii Sports all systems came with. The cost of tax and an extra controller aside, you were getting a complete experience for only $250, a price that gave it an edge over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to go along with its more approachable nature. It was improbable Nintendo (or any game console manufacturer) would be able to recreate the degree of success the Wii enjoyed; this price only makes it more difficult to begin to approach those heights with Wii U.
