14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo might have already committed to launching its all-new Wii U home console during 2012, but the company will take its time before offering an actual, solid launch date for the new hardware or putting a price tag on its device.
Speaking to investors after its latest financial results were announced, Satoru Iwata, who is the leader of Nintendo, has stated, “We will showcase the final format, and discuss the details and the software lineup for this year at E3 2012.
“Please also be advised that, as we did for previous platforms that were launched in the year-end sales season, we will announce the launch date and price in each market sometime after E3.”
Iwata went on to reassure those who hold Nintendo shares that there is no danger of missing the late season launch window in the United States, Japan, Europe and Australia.
The Wii U has been unveiled during last year’s edition of E3, when the company focused on the new touch screen enabled controller and offered little information on hardware specifications and on potential games for the new platform.
The company says that Wii U will offer as much processing power as the current generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft and that all its core franchises will switch to it soon after launch.
Iwata also commented on Nintendo’s overall strategy, adding, “Nintendo’s basic strategy is to expand the gaming population. We would like as many people as possible, regardless of age, gender and game play experience, to have access to our product messages.
“From that perspective, for our digital business to grow drastically, it is imperative for us to expand the exposure of the digital download products to potential consumers.”
Despite solid sales of the 3DS, Nintendo has posted worse than expected financial results, mostly linked to slowing Wii sales and to the price cut that was required to boost sales of the new handheld.