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Wii Mini confirmed, brings cut-price gaming to Canada only

The Nintendo Wii Mini is official, bringing cut-down features for a cut-down price. Sadly, it's only available in Canada for now.

Andrew Lanxon Editor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
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Andrew Lanxon
2 min read

No sooner had Best Buy leaked it than Nintendo officially confirmed the existence of the Wii Mini. With a smaller physical size than the existing Wii console, the Mini cuts out various features to achieve a $100 (£62) asking price. It's sadly only available in Canada for now though.

One of the main features the Mini loses over its big brother is an Internet connection. That means that you won't be able to access services like YouTube or Netflix, nor will you be able to download extra games. Instead, the Wii Mini is a no-nonsense console for families to enjoy the arm-waving fun without splashing too much cash.

Oddly though, the Wii Mini will be "available exclusively in Canada during the holiday season". Bad news if you were hoping to snag Mario on the cheap this Christmas. When I asked Nintendo to clarify if it will be permanently exclusive to Canada or not, it simply stated, "No announcements have been made regarding other regions." I really can't think of any benefit of restricting it purely to Canada, but evidently Nintendo has its reasons.

Along with its smaller size, the Wii Mini also comes with a bold black and red colour. A matching red Wii-mote and Nunchuk will come as standard, but presumably you'll have to match them with other existing add-ons, most of which are white. It isn't bundled with any games, but no doubt some stores will knock up their own package deals.

If you're keen on a cut-price console but don't live in Canada, keep your eyes on CNET UK. We'll be sure to report any news of a UK launch as it happens. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on the Mini in the comments below and over on our Facebook page.