14 DAY TRIAL // Video game hardware maker and publisher Nintendo has stated that it will be launching the new Wii U home console on markets like United States, Europe, Australia and Japan before the end of 2012, although it has not said that the new device will be out at the same time on all these territories.
Satoru Iwata, who is the leader of Nintendo, has told the Japanese press that the Wii successor will not slip into 2013 on any of the major gaming markets, but he also mentioned that the launch should not be expected to come earlier than April.
Given that Nintendo is planning to re-introduce the Wii U to gamers at the E3 2012 event in Los Angeles, in early June, Japan will probably get the device at some point during the summer while Europe and North America might follow in early autumn while Australia gets it with a delay of a few weeks.
Nintendo is keen to launch the new console at the perfect time to attract new players and keep them interested during the very important Christmas shopping season.
The Wii U has been unveiled at the E3 2011 event, but the company has not revealed all information linked to the actual hardware specifications or the video games that will be available on launch.
The presentation focused on the new controller for the Wii U, which includes a touch screen, and some gamers were less than impressed by what they saw, many believing that Nintendo was introducing just a new controller rather than a whole new gaming device.
At the moment development kits for the Wii U are in the hands of a number of video game developers and although they are under strict orders not to reveal the hardware specifications, which might still change, reports are saying that the computing power offered will be at least equal to that of the current PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.