Wii launch details in Europe and Australia revealed

At a press conference in London, Nintendo has officially announced that the Wii will launch in Europe on December 8 at a price of €249 and £179 in the UK. The official pricing is not quite in line with Nintendo's original claim that the UK price would be similar to the US price -- Europeans will pay the equivalent of $315, with the UK price being priced at the equivalent of $336. Australians hoping to pick up a Wii will have to pay slightly less than Europe when the console hits on December 7 at a price of $399AUS, or approximately $299US. The European console bundle will include a white Wii console, one Wii remote, one Nunchuck, Wii Sports, and games will be priced between €49 and €59 or between £34 and £39 in the UK -- which works out at around $62 to $73.

Read - Eurogamer's coverage
Read - IGN's coverage

[Herman @ Sep 15th 2006 9:11AM]

Europe is F'ed in the A as usual.

[Arnette @ Sep 15th 2006 9:11AM]

Stuck in the UK and hosed by Nintendo. Thanks Reggie.

[brian @ Sep 15th 2006 9:12AM]

an interesting story, especially since the games are region-free
who wants to bet that most europers and UKers will be buying games in the USA? i know i would

[James @ Sep 15th 2006 9:15AM]

Does anyone not piss off the UK gamers?

[Nicholas Schaulsohn @ Sep 15th 2006 9:16AM]

"an interesting story, especially since the games are region-free
who wants to bet that most europers and UKers will be buying games in the USA? i know i would"

And pay for international shipping?

lol

[fod @ Sep 15th 2006 9:20AM]

what you;'re all forgeting is that UK prices are always VAT inclusive, and the US prices are not.

walk into a store in the US and you will pay $250 + state tax, which is usually 16%.

of course, you can get around that easily in the US by ordering online, but that's not possible in the UK.

so we're not getting that bad a deal :)

[Jason @ Sep 15th 2006 9:25AM]

I have a non-european comment. Does anyone have speculation about what the 2 "coming soon" bubbles are on the wii.com site?

[Arnette @ Sep 15th 2006 9:25AM]

"walk into a store in the US and you will pay $250 + state tax, which is usually 16%"

In Texas it's just under 8%. I dunno where YOU'RE shopping, but no matter how you slice it, the Wii is going to be at a premium price in the UK. The 360 is only 20 pounds more!

[Kev @ Sep 15th 2006 9:35AM]

Aren't we getting the Nunchuk thrown in while the US are not (apparently it's $20 extra (plus tax) for this in the US) so there's a little more equality there. Doesn't look too bad a deal to me

[ChrisD @ Sep 15th 2006 9:38AM]

Guessing that the £179.99 includes VAT at 17.5%.

so to compare with the US price (which wont include any sales tax) it's approx £153 ~ $289 - still more but not as bad as $336!

I'm sure jersey.tesco, play etc will have the usual discounts on 'full' price games.

[fod @ Sep 15th 2006 9:38AM]

sorry, i got my values wrong :)

whatever though, UK VAT is at 17.5%. so figure that into your calculations :)

[jezym108 @ Sep 15th 2006 9:39AM]

does anyone know when the black wii will be released ?

[Szu @ Sep 15th 2006 9:40AM]

Actually, the Xbox 360 core is about 20 euros more. But unless you get the premium version, the 360 isn't worth it.

[flipper @ Sep 15th 2006 9:40AM]

Ours includes VAT, even so it's still a little over. But have you ever heard of a games console that wasn't more expensive over here (even including VAT)?

[doob @ Sep 15th 2006 9:42AM]

@Herman & Arnette

Yeah, a whole 6 days later than Japan, that's really fucking terrible [/sarcasm]

[bobjim @ Sep 15th 2006 9:42AM]

No, the US get a nunchuck thrown in too. You'd think Nintendo would give Europe a little something extra (another remote maybe? or what about the concert demo?), especially considering the amount we're paying.

[Nick @ Sep 15th 2006 9:44AM]

£180 is too expensive for something that many people were looking to buy as a second console.

[ping_pong @ Sep 15th 2006 10:00AM]

i dont want the white one

i only want the black one does anyone know when nintendo are going to bring that out, it better be soon

[... @ Sep 15th 2006 10:19AM]

damn, that is about 2x what I was expecting it to cost. Why are they charging soo much? It doesn't have the insane processing power like the 360/ps3... No next gen disk drives... Seems like they could manufacture it for well under $200...

[semi @ Sep 15th 2006 10:20AM]

gotta get me self one of these babies...180..sweet!

[Scoobydoo @ Sep 15th 2006 10:22AM]

Thanks Reggie? Considering Reggie is the USA President and COO I really don't think he's to blame for inflated prices in Europe.

[djsyndrome @ Sep 15th 2006 10:26AM]

"You'd think Nintendo would give Europe a little something extra"

You got the black DS months before we did. That didn't make you happy enough? :P

[Jeff @ Sep 15th 2006 10:28AM]

"walk into a store in the US and you will pay $250 + state tax, which is usually 16%."

Huh?

Admittedly we do pay tax extra, but nowhere in the US is sales tax anywhere close to 16%.

Various New York area counties have some of the highest sales taxes in the nation at around 8.65%.

In most areas, sales tax is ~5%. Some states (well, one or two) have no sales tax at all.

[Jason @ Sep 15th 2006 10:30AM]

@ Arnette

Sales/Use Tax (a combination of state, county and city taxes) vary greatly by area. I thought 8.65% where I live sucked, I'm used to 4.5% where I lived back east. I feel bad you are stuck with 16%.

However, there's no reason to try and make Europeans and Brits feel better, it's cheaper for Americans, yay!

[ash @ Sep 15th 2006 10:50AM]

it's a case of playing the waiting game. people who rush out and get the first ones hitting the pre-order shelves will be stung by the price, personally i will just wait til the price drops!

so approx prices;
UK £179 Dec 8th
US £153 Nov 19th
Aus £160 Dec 7th
Jpn £113 Dec 2nd

so if someone in the uk bought a Japanese console, paid £20 shipping (that's the shipping for a PS2 from Japan) and got done for import duty, they'd still save about a fiver!

[Gilbert @ Sep 15th 2006 10:53AM]

Who the hell pays 16% sales tax? Are you talking about the fact that you're actually getting double-taxed by the gov't in that you're paying sales tax using post-tax dollars?

Anyway, fact of the matter is that the UK gets, as #1 so eloquently put it, F'ed in the A. Period.

There goes any chance of me expatriating.

[Mainframe @ Sep 15th 2006 11:04AM]

wooot. dec 7 it is for us aussies then

399 aud is exactly how much i thought it would be actually, so im pretty pleased.
im not even really into games but the wii looks like fun, and i did like mario and the like back when i was younger (oh now that im 22 its all downhill :P )

sccchhplendid.

[pounds @ Sep 15th 2006 11:17AM]

wow ... ok i feel better about my US pricing. Sorry euros ... want some KY with your Wii?

Why is it you guys always get raped on pricing?

[Revels @ Sep 15th 2006 11:24AM]

No alarms and no surprises. It'll join the rest of my imported 'tronics.

[Tomek. @ Sep 15th 2006 11:27AM]

Posted at 9:16AM on Sep 15th 2006 by Nicholas Schaulsohn
'And pay for international shipping?
lol'

LOL,why not? with s&h cost its still cheaper than in most of European countries.
All my games for psp/ds are from videogameplus/ebay us.
For example:
29.05.2006 i have bought (on ebay.us) new&sealed daxter game for only $32+$10(ship via GPM) ,when here in Poland rp for this game = plz 179-189 (~$60,€47,L32)
--
videogameplus
Look@ the prices :)

[Revels @ Sep 15th 2006 11:49AM]

I use videogamesplus a lot for my games, even with shipping from Canada it ends up being 5 to 15* pounds cheaper than buying off the high street

(*sale games)

[Andy Briggs @ Sep 15th 2006 11:58AM]

Disgraceful. They are concentrating too much on their own profits, and less about their aims and beliefs - to bring an affordable console into everyone's lives. It's £20 than a Xbox360 Core over here, so that can't really be true. HD really isn't that great a difference for me, but I am seriously considering the 360 now as the games are actually CHEAPER than the release prices of Wii games over here, and I'll have Halo and Gears of War. How much has Nintendo let us down collectively? - far too much, on practically every detail. How much has Nintendo let down UK and Europe - they've abandoned us.

[Matt @ Sep 15th 2006 12:17PM]

I wouldn't be suprised if the Wii beats PS3 sales at this price.

Seriously, PS3 isn't that much better

[Aaron @ Sep 15th 2006 12:20PM]

Yeah, what's up with this? I thought the US price was too high, but then everyone else gets screwed even worse. I'm guessing it'll quickly go down. You know, sell a few high-priced units at launch due to all the buzz, then drop the price just in time for Christmas. Makes sense... I just hope they do it. I was very much looking forward to getting one on launch day, but... After games and a second controller and what not, I'm not so sure.

[Sowdi @ Sep 15th 2006 12:33PM]

According to conversion rates, after taking of the 17.5% tax in europe, us europeans will be spending $277.34. Personally I think it would still be cheaper to import the console as most websites do ship free when you pay over a certain amount. Even after adding import tax it would still be cheaper.

The XBox 360 (not the core version) seems a little bit more worth it especially when Too Human comes out (whenever that is). Is the Wii too expensive? No. Is it over priced? Yes. But in the end I'll own it just because Nintendo tends to make some fantastic games.

[Steve @ Sep 15th 2006 12:33PM]

Two things: 1) Engadget, please please please if you're going to convert UK prices to US take the VAT @ 17.5% off BEFORE you do the converstion. That way you get a true comparison between the two and stops the figures from looking so ridiculous.

2) @ Andy Briggs: No, the Wii is NOT £20 less than a 360 as the 360 core REQUIRES you to purchase at least one memory card and a game before being able to play, while the Wii is ready to go out of the box. That makes it, what, £70 at least? More if you actually want to play in Hi-Def as the core pack doesn't include the component cable as far as I know. As for release prices of the Wii games I'm almost certain that the current £49.99 listed by all the on-line stores were placeholders and will be replaced closer to launch with the £34 - £39 range that Nintendo announced today for first party titles. As for abondoning the UK... what utter rubbish. The price is far considering a) it's still the cheapest of the next gen consoles by a LONG way (yes, it's next gen, the R&D spend just went into the controller not the graphics) and b) it's a brand new console that will be experiencing high demand and, even at this price, will probably be in short supply. Don't forget the ONLY reason the PS3 and 360 are sold at a loss is that the demand for these consoles even at the production cost would be too low for either company to justify the investment.

Basically Nintendo delivered exactly what they promised, if they didn't live up to expectations created by wild speculation that's not their fault. They're making solid business decisions and still delivering a cheap next-gen console that promises a different experience from the rest of the market. If you don't want to pay the price they're asking then simply wait until it drops at some point after launch. That way you'll have a wider range of games to choose from, extra time to evaluate the console from real world users, possibly a choice of colours and a chance to compare it to the PS3 as well.

Me? I'll be adding one to the 360 if I can get a pre-order in early enough. It's a fair price, the package is a good one and the costs sound about right. The extra controller IS expensive but I don't have a need for one right away so that can wait for another day. Between Zelda, Gears of War and Guitar Hero 2 this is looking like a very good christmas.

[Dave @ Sep 15th 2006 12:41PM]

Andy, you are a retard. Nintendo's goal is to make a PROFIT by selling a console at the most profitable price. They aren't in the industry of welfare and there is nothing disgraceful about running an honest business. If the 360 sounds like a better deal to you, then get a 360 and please shut up about it.

I like how the Europeans say they are getting screwed by Nintendo when it is more likely they are getting screwed by their own government's taxes, tariffs, and regulations. Don't blame your shitty government on Nintendo.

[sinjinn @ Sep 15th 2006 12:58PM]

way too expensive to buy for us in the UK, but it really is an intresting console.
You cant really compare the Xbox360 core pack to the wii though. You have to factor in all the hidden costs. You cant go online with the 360 without the hard drive ...whereas You dont need one with the wii plus the wii online is free.
so.. premium pack + xbox LIVE = maybe 300 pounds compared to the wii's 180 pounds.
if the wiimote works this is gonna be nintendos comeback console for sure.

[Andy Briggs @ Sep 15th 2006 1:42PM]

Yeah, sorry about that guys. Just a knee jerk reaction. Thanks for the info on the 360...that really does make me think. Probably the Wii is the leader for me, truly I can believe it now! I still stand by my comments saying it isnt so affordable. Think about it. I guess it's produced in Japan and China. Okay, so cheaper over there. But even still, adding the tax (and I think, Wii sports - correct me on that, but I think the Japs don't get in their package and cheaper price) and shipping costs I don't believe the eventual price should be QUITE so high. Hell, I'll still be buying it, don't get me wrong, but an extra £10+ would really be a great enticement and would really give Nintendo the foundations to get the strangle-hold on the market. I suppose in their ultimate wisdom, it was the best thing for the company, and all credit to them looking after #1. The price of the games I hope will come down in time as developing costs come down from the developers learning the new control system. I hoped (and prayed?) that the prices would be £35.99 RRP rather than £39.99, but I suppose it isn't a raise like for Xbox360 and PS3. On reflection, it's actually quite resonably priced, and a good alternative system to the HD (practically pointless HD) consoles, and I suppose Halo and Gears of War will always be a draw, yet Nintendo will always deliver for the innovative and 'intelligent' people. I apologise again, and I hope I haven't caused too much offence, and that this will be my redemption (it's like I'm pleading to a judge!).
Thanks, and all the best guys,
Andy

[Alex D @ Sep 15th 2006 2:24PM]

YAY! We're getting Screwed again!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

No, seriously, we europeans are ALWAYS getting screwed over everything (consoles, PCs, videogames, even GAS (1.28€+ a liter here in france as i speak) for no real reason (S&H costs are no way near covering the price difference). When you guys in the US pay 100$, we pay 100€ (and the exchange rate hovers around 1.25$-->1€)

thanks for having wasted the last 12 seconds of your life reading this

[Yixian @ Sep 15th 2006 2:29PM]

lol, I had decided not to buy when I thought it was gonna be £150 and released on November 19th like in the US.

£180 on December 7th?

I'll get a higher specced MacBook instead mate.

gj Nintendo, you actually managed to turn the greatest come-back in gaming history into a PR disaster only slightly less catastrophic than Sony's.

Fucking morons.

[Soonerpet @ Sep 15th 2006 2:40PM]

"walk into a store in the US and you will pay $250 + state tax, which is usually 16%"

Wow where do you live? it's only 7.25% tax here in OK. That's just crazy. If you're correct, you're being screwed.

[mike @ Sep 15th 2006 2:48PM]

Why does everyone want the black Wii? It's just going to be much bigger than the white one.

[Revels @ Sep 15th 2006 3:01PM]

"gj Nintendo, you actually managed to turn the greatest come-back in gaming history into a PR disaster only slightly less catastrophic than Sony's.

Fucking morons."

Overreact much?

[Tomek. @ Sep 15th 2006 4:34PM]

Guys,check i.g.n. article: 'Wii Titles Region-Encoded' , wow now it sucks...

[Steve @ Sep 15th 2006 4:37PM]

@Andy

Fair play mate, sorry if I came down a bit hard but after you've read the "it's only £20 less than a 360" bit what seems like a hundred times in an hour it gets very difficult not to vent when you get to #101. I hope you don't mind me adding a couple of bits to your hopes/questions...

About the £10+ giving Nintendo a stranglehold on the market, that really only works IF they can supply enough consoles to maintain that stranglehold. Far better from a business point of view to sell out all the consoles you can produce in the first x months, at a higher profit margin, then drop the price once the console is available in serious bulk (not to mention the PS3 is out) and the initial demand from hardcore gamers has died down.

Nope, Japan doesn't get Wii Sports which accounts for some of the difference. There's also (I thnk) localisation costs for Europe which push the price up a little bit and if it is being produced in the far east I suspect shipping costs per unit are higher too. I'd also love to know if the percentage that goes to the retailer changes between the UK and US for equivalent outlets (Game and EB for instance).

Hopefully if the on-line stores follow the usual pattern game costs will be more like £30 than £40 (or less). Also, and if I get my pre-order confirmed I'm planning on following my own advice here, remember the Wii plays Gamecube games too. Considering second hand titles go for about 10p these days and that so few have played some of these titles there's a great back catalogue available for the machine from the start...

[Matt Thomas @ Sep 15th 2006 6:02PM]

"walk into a store in the US and you will pay $250 + state tax, which is usually 16%."

Um... average state sales tax in the United States around 6% (and in Delaware there is no sales tax).

[Nuno @ Sep 16th 2006 2:53AM]

(I live in Portugal (europe), our contry is not one of the richiest countrys in europe, actually it is in the poorest list.
I consider myself as belonging to the middle class, not rich or poor. )

I agree that it sucks to be the last ones to receive the console. But except for consoles, we get most of the comon products at the same time.
(We get all of those exotic cars and nokia products first :P )

The price of the system, why do you think that 250 euros is expensive? An xbox 360 costs 400€ a ps3 will cost 600€, so 250 seems a nice price for me...
49- 59 € for a game seems a good price for me...

[Fraser Smith @ Sep 16th 2006 5:18AM]

It's OK, we're used to being ripped of in the UK. With many companies, it seems to be with a straight $1=£1 exchange rate.

[Birki69 @ Sep 16th 2006 6:03AM]

@Jason: i'd say that one of the things will be the announced instant messenging capability

till yesterday i wanted a wii, but now i'm just angry with nintendo, i wanted (thought it would come down to) wii + wiimote + nunchuk + DVD capability for 200€ but nintendo had other intentions, so i wont buy until prices drop to at least 200€ and DVD playback becomes available (i'm looking your way, firmware hackers)