Nintendo Wii U to Launch in US, Europe Starting in November, Will Work as DVR

Nintendo said Thursday that its new Wii U game console will go on sale starting in November in the U.S. and Europe, and will also work as a home entertainment center, connecting with video streaming services.

In simultaneous online presentations in Japan, North America and Europe, the company confirmed that the console will be launched in time for the crucial holiday season. The console will come in a basic version with 8GB of internal memory that will cost US$299.99, and one with 32GB of memory for $349.99.

The company demonstrated how the game console, which comes with a single game controller equipped with its own touchscreen, will also serve as an entertainment center, allowing users to stream video content from Hulu, Amazon and Netflix to their TV sets. The touchpad will show additional content, such as box scores and statistics for sports broadcasts, a timeline of key moments for TV shows, and previews for movie services.

The console will launch in the U.S. on Nov. 18, then in Europe on Nov. 30. Those regions will get the console before Japan -- earlier Thursday, Nintendo said the Wii U will go on sale in its home country on Dec. 8.

In the U.S. broadcast, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime stressed that the console will have a full complement of games early in its launch. The lack of games available for Nintendo's 3DS handheld launch last year was a major reason that device stumbled after it went on sale, forcing the game company to slash prices.

"It's still a little too early to guarantee exactly which games will be here for you on launch day itself and which will come shortly thereafter," he said. "But I can assure you that this launch library, beginning on day one, will be the strongest for any Nintendo home platform in our history."

:story: PC World