The next generation of Nintendo consoles is set to launch in all territories (United States, Europe and Japan) before the end of the year.
Nintendo has set the pace in recent years when it comes to being the first in the market with their gaming products leaving the likes of Sony and Microsoft behind.
Whether it be the Nintendo Wii that beat out the current generation of consoles, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, or the Nintendo 3DS that managed to take a majority share of the market before the PlayStation Vita was launched, Nintendo is always there first.
That trend seems set to continue as Satoru Iwata, the President of Nintendo, announced that the Nintendo Wii U would be hitting shelves at the end of the current year and hopefully in time for the Holiday Season.
The announcement was made at Nintendo’s investor meeting where the president was outlining the company’s plan for the third fiscal quarter.
There were earlier hints as to when the consumers would be able to get their hands on the console when Iwata’s US counterpart, Reggie Fils-Aime teased everyone by giving everyone a rather vague release window.
He said, “Wii U will launch sometime between E3 – which is in June – at the end of the year so essentially the second half of the year.”
The release window has now been narrowed down significantly and one can expect more details to emerge when the Electronic Entertainment Expo comes around in June. It is a near certainty that the console’s price point and launch titles will be made public then.
Also many gamers are hoping for gameplay demos of some of the more core triple AAA titles such as FIFA 12 and others, with the demos shown so far only showing off very basic elements and gameplay.
There are plenty of rumours surrounding what the Nintendo Wii U will be capable of, yet as with all rumours it is best to take each with a pinch of salt and hold on until E3 as it is then that fact is separated from fantasy and speculation.
More on the story as and when it happens.
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