Launch News, Launch Features

System memory and a bundled game matter, clearly

The Wii U Premium Pack was by far the people's favourite in the UK over its launch weekend, proving to be the superior of the bundle bunch. The Premium 32GB bundle reportedly accounted for 60% of the Wii U's sales this past weekend, while the ZombiU package sold at 30%. That just leaves the Basic 8GB...

Hey America, now it's our turn!

Wii U launched what feels like years ago - Sunday 18th November in North America, to be precise. After literally days of waiting (days can seem like months when it comes to new Nintendo hardware) Europe is finally getting the shiny new system, and we're going to share the experience with you just as we did with the US...

Dedicated fans show their appreciation for Nintendo

Last week we reported that HMV's flagship store on Oxford Street would be hosting the UK's Wii U midnight launch, with the first 100 in the line getting a free copy of New Super Mario Bros. U. Some more prizes and goody bags will be given away on the night too to mark the occasion. It comes as no...

Free games for the first 100

With one week before its release in Europe, details have now emerged of the UK's Wii U launch event — it's set for HMV's flagship London store on Oxford Street. As you'd expect it'll be a midnight launch, and various incentives and activities are planned to keep eager Wii U early-adopters warm. The doors will...

The final, final list

With the European launch of Wii U getting ever closer — quiet, North Americans — Nintendo of Europe has now issued its definitive list of packaged retails games that'll be there on day one. We already knew about all — or at least most — of these, but it's nevertheless nice to see a confirmed line-up for what games...

Remember the guy who gets all the Nintendo consoles first?

Serial queue-starter Isaiah Triforce Johnson has made a bit of a name for himself as the first person to buy just about every piece of Nintendo hardware in recent history. He was the first to purchase Wii and the first to get his hands on 3DS in North America. Now, he has already begun to...

Wallets at the ready

Nintendo's Wii U "Launch window" is defined as the period beginning when the console is released, and ends on March 31, 2013. We've trawled through the information we have to provide you with the following details of confirmed launch day and launch period games; where necessary we've indicated a specific region. Nintendo itself...

No mascot on day one

In recent weeks we've been looking at console launches, as preparation for the pre-launch hype for Wii U that's set to begin at E3 2012. So far we've explored console launches in general but also the launch of Wii, a system that notably arrived without a Mario title but has nevertheless achieved major sales success. In some...

Has "several proposals"

The 3DS had a lacklustre line-up of games. You know it, we know it and Nintendo knows it. The real question is how the company will avoid a similar situation with Wii U when it launches later this year. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told investors that it has plans in place but that it pledges to create...

Big titles were AWOL

The 3DS launched without a Mario or Zelda game, and it's fair to say the machine's sales so far haven't been stunning. Satoru Iwata was recently asked about this matter during a shareholder Q&A, and acknowledged the machine's software line-up wasn't impressive. If we had have launched the Nintendo 3DS after we had prepared more software by which the users felt "I want..

Reggie Fils-Aime explains why the 3DS and DS launches shouldn't be compared with each other

The 3DS has launched in all major territories now and the launch period sales figures have been undoubtedly impressive. Japan was the debut region for the 3DS and a reported 374,764 consoles were sold during its launch weekend with another 209,623 units shifted in the following week. Its debut week saw more..

Launch games confirmed too

Oh Australia: in all the excitement about the 3DS European and North American launches, with their special guests and exciting giveaways, somehow you got forgotten about. Don't worry though: we still love you, so here's the 3DS launch events you could be attending next Wednesday night. The official event kicks off next Wednesday night at Melbourne's EB Games store on..

Or Hadouken, if you prefer

We told you about the official UK 3DS midnight launch the other day, with your chance to step up on stage and battle other players, but Nintendo has just revealed one of the opponents is none other than Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition producer Yoshinori Ono. Ono will attend to sign copies of the game at the official UK launch at HMV Oxford Street, as well as challenge..

Food, fun and freebies

It's less than one week until you can get your very own Nintendo 3DS, but if the concept of waiting even a few more hours is enough to turn your guts to jelly you might want to turn up to the Best Buy in New York's Union Square this Saturday night to attend the console's official launch party. Nintendo promises music and giveaways, as well as the real reason anyone goes to..

The ears of Toronto and Vancouver are burning

Ahead of its North American launch on 27th March, Canadian gamers can experience the 3DS at one of two venues as part of Nintendo's official 3DS launch event. On Saturday, 26th March from 6:00pm to 12:00am; Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia will be hosting the special occasion where gamers can spend some quality time with the handheld..

All gone?

Saturday saw the Japanese release of the Nintendo 3DS, and predictably the console sold extremely well, with newspaper Nikkei (via Andriasang) reporting the initial shipment of 400,000 units of the machine have all sold out across the country. Shop shelves shouldn't be bare for too long though, with Nintendo promising to deliver a total of 1.5 million consoles for Japan before the end of..

Go on, give 'em a scowl

Today's the day: Nintendo's new handheld, the 3DS, is officially available to buy for the first time in Japan, for ¥25,000 (around $305 / £190 / €220). Kotaku reports the majority of Tokyo stores sold out of their stocks all-but immediately, and has put together a short video below showing some of the sights of the first truly new Nintendo hardware launch since Wii's..

To be revealed a lot sooner than the Japanese launch

Seven weeks prior to the upcoming Japanese launch of the 3DS, Nintendo was in a position where it officially revealed the launch titles that will be released in conjunction with the console. Whilst Nintendo of Europe isn't quite ready to announce what titles will be available on 25th March, the company is confident the final line-up will be..

Will it be enough?

When Nintendo of Japan's Satoru Iwata recently sat down with the Wall Street Journal, he let it be known that Nintendo would have four million 3DS systems available to consumers worldwide through the end of the fiscal year on March 31. Of these four million units, 1.5 million will be allocated to Japan with the remaining 2.5 million systems left over for distribution throughout..