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Release date for Wii U and pricing announced for Japan, rest of the world later today

by: John -
More On: Nintendo Wii U
So you live in Japan and you want a Wii U? Well, December 8th is the day for you. Nintendo announced two sets, a white and a black one, will be available on launch.

First up, the basic white set will be 26,260 yen or $340. It will feature 8GB of memory. The premium black set will be priced at 31,500 yen, or $405 features 32GB of memory and a few stands (yes a few), and the usual assortment of cables. 

The two launch titles confirmed so far are New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land.

And for those wondering, yes the launches are more expensive in Japan than the Xbox 360 (19,800 yen) and PlayStation 3 (24,980 yen).

Oh, you want another controller? That'll set you back 13,440 yen or $172. Yikes!

For the rest of the world, they'll get the launch date and price today and if you think that the pricing will match the Japanese costs, that's probably not going to be the case. It's not uncommon to see pricing different for other regions, but if this rumor has anything to say about it, it's still going to cost a pretty penny here in the states.

Release date and price announcements "Wii U"
 
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Minami-ku, President: Satoru Iwata) is pleased to announce that the launch in Japan on December 8, 2012, "Wii U" new game console.
 
This time, selected according to your playing style retail price of ¥ 31,500 / ¥ 30,000 (tax included) and (tax), "Wii U" is "(Wii U Premium Set) Wii U PREMIUM SET" as available "Wii U will be provided a set of two (excluding tax) / ¥ 25,000 (including tax) 26,250 yen retail price (Wii U Basic Set) "BASIC SET.
 
 
Suggested retail price 31,500 yen (tax included)
30,000 yen (excluding tax)
Suggested retail price ¥ 26,250 (tax included)
25,000 yen (excluding tax)
 
Body Wii U (kuro) one (32GB memory storage unit) Wii U body units (shiro) 1
(8GB memory storage unit)
Wii U GamePad units (kuro) 1 Wii U GamePad units (shiro) 1
Wii U GamePad
Stylus (kuro) one Wii U GamePad
Stylus (shiro) one
Wii U GamePad
One charging stand
This 1 HDMI cable
1 AC adapter body pieces Wii U
1 Wii U GamePad AC adapter (s)
Wii U GamePad
One play stand
Stand (kuro) 1 set body upright Wii U
This 1 HDMI cable
1 AC adapter body pieces Wii U
1 Wii U GamePad AC adapter (s)
※ Only "kuro" body color of the "Wii U PREMIUM SET", and only "shiro" body color of the "Wii U BASIC SET".
 
On the same day as the body release Wii U soft retail price of 5,985 yen "New Super Mario Bros. U" corresponds yen / 5,700 yen (tax included) 4,935 suggested retail price "Nintendo Land" and (excluding tax) / ¥ 4,700 (tax included) Company tax ( will be released).
In addition, the release date and price in regard outside of Japan, will be announced separately from the Company's international subsidiaries.
 
It should be noted that, from 23:00 today (September 13), entitled "Nintendo Direct Wii U Preview" in the Internet, the content (including the simultaneous release of soft body other than the above) will be released in the software from our company and software makers For, I will tell.