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Nintendo Wii U gets December 8th release date for Japan: 26,260 yen for basic set, 31,500 yen for premium

The Nintendo Wii U arrives on Japanese shores on December 8th starting at 26,260 yen (around $340), Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced this morning via Nintendo Direct's video stream. A presentation later today in New York City starring Nintendo of America prez Reggie Fils-Aime will reveal pricing and release dates for the rest of the world, but you'd be right in guessing it won't be too far from the Japanese launch.

A basic set (only in white) and premium set (only in black) were revealed, with the darker option adding more storage; 32GB, up from 8GB on the cheaper bundle. The Premium set (priced at 31,500 yen, or about $405) consists of the console, GamePad, a charging stand, play stand, and yet another stand for the Wii U itself. Those GamePads will also be available standalone for 13,440 yen, which could see American gamers paying around $173 for the luxury of a spare.

The Wii U pro controllers are priced at 5,040 yen ($65) each, while the Wiimote will continue to be priced at 3,800 yen (around $50), now in a range of colors. Likewise, the nunchucks will come in three color palettes. The GamePad charging stand will also be available to buy separately -- setting you back around 1,870 yen -- around $25. Naturally, there's going to be some international variance in these prices so we'll be updating once we get those global prices cemented.

We've been given a little more detail on the technical specifics too, with the Wii U packing 1GB of its own ("main") memory alongside 1GB for running games. Two titles, New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land will both debut alongside the console -- we're expecting to hear even more software details later today.

Ben Gilbert contributed to this post.

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Release date and price announcements "Wii U"

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Minami-ku, President: Satoru Iwata) is pleased to announce that the launch in Japan on December 8, 2012, "Wii U" new game console.

This time, selected according to your playing style retail price of ¥ 31,500 / ¥ 30,000 (tax included) and (tax), "Wii U" is "(Wii U Premium Set) Wii U PREMIUM SET" as available "Wii U will be provided a set of two (excluding tax) / ¥ 25,000 (including tax) 26,250 yen retail price (Wii U Basic Set) "BASIC SET.


Suggested retail price 31,500 yen (tax included)
30,000 yen (excluding tax)
Suggested retail price ¥ 26,250 (tax included)
25,000 yen (excluding tax)

Body Wii U (kuro) one (32GB memory storage unit) Wii U body units (shiro) 1
(8GB memory storage unit)
Wii U GamePad units (kuro) 1 Wii U GamePad units (shiro) 1
Wii U GamePad
Stylus (kuro) one Wii U GamePad
Stylus (shiro) one
Wii U GamePad
One charging stand
This 1 HDMI cable
1 AC adapter body pieces Wii U
1 Wii U GamePad AC adapter (s)
Wii U GamePad
One play stand
Stand (kuro) 1 set body upright Wii U
This 1 HDMI cable
1 AC adapter body pieces Wii U
1 Wii U GamePad AC adapter (s)
※ Only "kuro" body color of the "Wii U PREMIUM SET", and only "shiro" body color of the "Wii U BASIC SET".

On the same day as the body release Wii U soft retail price of 5,985 yen "New Super Mario Bros. U" corresponds yen / 5,700 yen (tax included) 4,935 suggested retail price "Nintendo Land" and (excluding tax) / ¥ 4,700 (tax included) Company tax ( will be released).
In addition, the release date and price in regard outside of Japan, will be announced separately from the Company's international subsidiaries.

It should be noted that, from 23:00 today (September 13), entitled "Nintendo Direct Wii U Preview" in the Internet, the content (including the simultaneous release of soft body other than the above) will be released in the software from our company and software makers For, I will tell.