Wii U to cost $250, out on 11 November, leak suggests
A supplier's internal listing could point to a November release date for the Wii U, as well as bundle prices.
Glad tidings for Nintendo fans, as a listing on a retailer's internal site points to the Wii U console going on sale in November, and costing $250 (about £160).
The leak comes via media distribution bods Video Product Distributors, our sister site CNET News reports, with mysteriously named Wii U bundles listed on the company's intranet system.
"WIIU SYSTEM - GM - 11/11/12 $249.99" reads one listing, while "WIIU SYSTEM W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $299.99," and "WIIU SYSTEM 349 W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $349.99" are also detailed.
Video Product Distributors may not have the most exciting name, but it's a company that works with the likes of Amazon to supply tech.
What exactly those bundles could consist of is anyone's guess, but every date is the same -- 11 November. That would match my expectations of when we'll see the Wii U hitting shop shelves, as Nintendo will want to give kids plenty of time to harangue their parents in the run-up to Christmas. The exact UK launch date could well be different, however.
The pricing feels roughly on the money as well, though don't expect the cost of the console in the UK to precisely tally with the exchange rate -- if it costs $250 in the US, then £200-250 would be a safe bet for the British price tag after VAT has been added.
The increasingly pricey bundles could refer to boxed editions of Nintendo's tablet-controlled console that come with extra goodies, like launch games or a second controller.
Nintendo has a major bash planned on 13 September, when it'll likely reveal the pricing and release date of its newest toy. I've been hands-on with the Wii U already, so be sure to check out the video below to get a glimpse at what to expect.
With a controller that's as quirky as the Wii Remote but as complex as an Xbox 360 game pad, Nintendo wants developers to get creative and craft gaming experiences that couldn't exist on any other console, and will appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers.
There's always the chance that game makers won't want to bother creating titles for Nintendo's quirky machine, however -- read my thoughts on why the Wii U could spell trouble for the house of Mario.
How much would you pay for the Wii U? Do you think it will succeed or fail? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.