Nintendo has announced that the Wii U will be hitting retailers on November 18th. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.
“The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations.”
Nintendo shared information about some of the games that are on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, LEGO City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101, Capcom’s Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario’s world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo’s greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mario, Animal Crossing and Donkey Kong.
As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.
The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry’s biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and TRANSFORMERS PRIME. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin’s Creed III, ZombiU, Rayman Legends and Just Dance 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.
“The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U,” said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing’s CEO. “We’re excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U.”
The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.
At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and interact with their favorite video entertainment. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one interface.
Here's the full list of games, listed by publisher, that will be hitting for the Wii U during its launch window (November 18, 2012 - March 31, 2013):
505 Games Funky Barn
2K Sports NBA 2K13
Activision Publishing, Inc. 007 Legends
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
TRANSFORMERS PRIME
Wipeout 3
Skylanders Giants
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
Capcom Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
D3Publisher Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
Ben 10: Omniverse
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
Disney Interactive Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Electronic Arts Mass Effect 3
Madden NFL 13
EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 13
Frozenbyte Trine 2: Director's Cut
Gaijin Games Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Majesco Entertainment Zumba Fitness Core
Maximum Games Jett Tailfin
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2 Wii U Edition
TANK! TANK! TANK!
Nintendo Nintendo Land
New Super Mario Bros. U
NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor's Edge
SiNG PARTY
LEGO City: Undercover
Wii Fit U
Game & Wario
Pikmin 3
The Wonderful 101
SEGA Aliens: Colonial Marines
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Shin'en Nano Assault Neo
Tecmo Koei America Corporation WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Hyper
THQ Darksiders II
Wheel of Fortune
JEOPARDY!
Two Tribes Toki Tori 2
Ubisoft Assassin's Creed III
Just Dance 4
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Rabbids Land
Sports Connection
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU
Rayman Legends
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scribblenauts Unlimited
Game Party Champions
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition