Remember the Wii Mini, released in Canada late last year? With a top-loading disc-drive, no online connectivity of any kind, SD slot or even support for component cables. It's the basic Wii with much stripped out to allow an even lower retailer price than the standard last-gen model, no doubt targeting those on exceptionally tight budgets, or just keen hardware collectors.
As we speculated at the time, it seemed unlikely that Nintendo would go to the trouble of developing and manufacturing a new form factor just to release in one country, and today it looks as if Europe is next on the agenda. Various regional sites, including nintendo.co.uk, have a "Wii mini" button when the Wii menu is highlighted; at the time of writing the link only goes to an error screen. It seems that, rather like the brief availability of Scribblenauts Unlimited on the European Wii U eShop, someone has somewhat jumped the gun.
Of course, until officially announced this merely classifies as a rumour, as the menu may be an innocent mistake. While Wii Mini's arrival in Europe isn't necessarily a surprise, as a console it still is — even at a cheap price equivalent to that in Canada it'll only be a little more affordable than the standard full-fat model, and as the image attached shows it's not even particularly "mini" in comparison to the already diminutive Wii.
Don't forget that you can check out our Wii Mini hardware review of an imported system. So, assuming this is true, what do you think of its arrival, and how cheap will it need to be in order to be a more attractive offer than a standard Wii?
[source twitter.com, via nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 63
it looks about the same size as the normal wii (on that picture)
Europe: Why are you bringing the Wii Mini here, Nintendo?
Nintendo:
If it was Mini-er I might have gotten one.
Imagine if instead of this they released the Gamecube Micro which is the size of the mini disc. Now that would be a collectors item.
...What was James's job at NoE again? :3
gamecube micro please! that would be awesome, better yet a gamecube DS, im still mad that i cant play wind waker on a handheld yet.
No surprise. It's only a matter of time.
Probably will end up in Europe and other regions eventually, I don't see the point only releasing it in Canada.
If this sells more then the Wii U in Europe, I'm gonna cry...
Have Nintendo sold their 100 million Wii consoles yet?
Releases in Canada, then skips over U.S. and Japan and goes to Europe? Uh...
oh man imagine a gamecube that small i'd get one
For those who are just getting into gaming and don't want to spend too much money on it perhaps? Other than that I have no idea who would buy this (besides collectors).
@ouroborous
Ouroborous we don't need a new handheld system to play wind waker, the 3DS is already more powerful than the Wii, its just up to Nintendo to remaster some GameCube games for the 3DS.
Clearly Canada was just a prototype region.
I guess they found success in the model?
Perhaps we may find it in the US market by summer.
I might get the Wii mini (if it comes to the US) for traveling or to leave it at my grand parents house, since its so inexpensive.
cool! ive been lusting after one; if only to complete the set
I'm surprised this one never came to Australia, this would be the perfect game system for the ones in the middle of the Outback that don't have internet anyways.
@Galactus That would be sweet! they should still do that
Lack of component cable support kills this thing in my mind. I'm the sort of person who bought the expensive and rare Japanese component cable for the GameCube, and I use an old CRT television for anything N64 or older. I just can't stand it when my games look like crap.
@EarthboundBenjy
You can just simply order component cables for your wii off on Amazon.
what a great way to boost Wii U sales!!!! NIntendo if you want to sell Wii U dont sell this people will just get confussed
Is Nintendo joking with us? Where are the loving games? We dont what that poop..we want GAMESSSSSSSS
I live in canada so i bought one and put it away. I don t think they made to many so maybe some day it will be collectors item or maybe not ether way im glad to have it.
@True_Hero Ha!!
Pointless!
Nintendo would be better off spending any money they would be pouring into this waste of space into getting the Wii U selling.
I'm sure Nintendo know what they are doing, but I can't avoid to fear that the release of a "new wii" after the WiiU one will confuse even more the "generic audience" that even still wonder what differences there are between the WiiU and the Wii...
On the bright side, Nintendo's collectors in Europe are surely drooling now XD
As a Canadian, I think Europe is just getting all the systems we didn't want lol Seriously, if you want a GOOD Wii, buy one now, cause if the Wii Mini does go over there, you won't want it, trust me, it's a horrible remake.
It's not Mini, Mini must be short for Minus. The Wii Minus Online, SD Cards Slots, and Gamecube Functionality is coming to Europe.
I see it as a perfect fit for Latin Anerican countries or yes, like the outback in Australia - like someone mentioned - everywhere where resources are rare and Internet connections are not existent or too unreliable. ..I don't understand the release in Europe though..
I wonder only why, but maybe we then also get the Kirby collection. It's no use releasing console when there are no games being released.
can anyone explain the logic behind releasing this
Yeah this thing is pointless. A used regular wii would be cheaper and better
This thing confuses me to no end.
The Europeans don´t like garbage systems, i hope that ugly thing never comes to all America.
Tbh, Why??
Shouldn't Nintendo pretty much abandon tne Wii altogether?
Yes I know not every can afford to buy a WiiU, but while they keep supporting the Wii with Virtua console games and downloads and new iterations of hardware, even cheaper, albeit stripped down excisting Wii owners are hardly going to be in a rush to upgrade as all they see is the support for the Wii console, and will likely hold on for a eventual price drop, or to see what the rivals are offering, which Sony has already done.
With all the backward compatabilty the WiiU has, which is a one-up on the ps4, Nintendo need to be giving as much 'encouragment' to move Wii owners across to WiiU.
They really shouldn't have called it Wii Mini, since it's not mini at all.
I guess they figure everyone will move on to Wii U, it did good enough in Canada, Nintendo Network is bound to dropped within a couple years, give someone a home project(put the Wii into the Wii mini case), and just because.
I'd say those are pretty good reasons.
What the Wii mini can't display 480p?!!!
No GameCube support.
No Wifi, so no online gaming.
No Nintendo Network, so no virtual console.
No SD Card slot.
I might not get this after all.
I might get one if it comes to the US. My Wii is getting long in the tooth and showing signs of fatigue (had it since Christmas 2006) and there are still Wii games I wouldn't mind playing (Operation Rainfall Trilogy, Skyward Sword, Donkey Kong Country Returns, et ceterea). Also, I like the red and black color scheme (would go great with my black Wii Remote).
The regular is just a "mini" bit more expensive.
You must be crazy to buy this thing.
Aside from looking rad, and costing way less for Nintendo to produce, this product is superfluous.
The Wii isn't much without the virtual console.
It's a cute system, shame about the wifi, but it still plays all the great disc-based Wii games, and there's at least two dozen great titles out there, probably more!
Hardly surprising that it's on it's way. It's not like any major hardware companies make products just for Canada. That said, they did the various "colour" bundles last year and new Wiis sell for as little as £50 (the most expensive, blue, bundle with Mario Kart will set you back £99) and secondhand for £10-£30 (I looked at flogging mine when I bought a Wii U and quickly realised it just wasn't worth it). The surprising thing then, is that they made this at all. Where's the market for it?
It's aesthetically pleasing, sure, but there really is no point in releasing them here. As cornishlee's just said, there's no market for it.
It's funny how it says it's a Wii mini but in reality it's only a tiny amount smaller than the standard Wii, yet it loses the GC controls, online connectivity, SD slot and quite a few other things too.
They might want to change the colour scheme from Canadian Mounted to British Bobby
I feel sorry for the kid who gets this as a present.
Why oh why oh why?!
Nintendo need to stop wasting their time with the Wii. The console died 3 years ago! They should be concentrating all efforts on the struggling WiiU imo.
Also why did they call this the Wii Mini when in fact it is about the same size as the original Wii? 'Wii Ugly' would have been a better fit!
Crazy mofo's...
considering that it's apparently the exact same size as a regular wii, i dont really see any point to this item other than its lower price, which had better be significantly lower considering that they removed some very nice features in order to make this version. not a fan of the color scheme either, it certainly looks cheap and fragile compared to the honestly still slick look of the original white wii.
but then, Nintendo NEVER does ANYTHING because it makes sense.... oh why am i even bothering to wonder...
to be honest this isn't really needed after all this doesn't connect to the internet and doesn't play gamecube games and with a version of the Wii out already that can connect to the internet and the fact the WiiU basically has a Wii in it too why would anyone buy this?
plus how can they call it a "Mini" when it's almost the same sixe as the old one?
The normal Wii costs used between 70 and 100 Euro. So this one has to be under 70 Euro. To be honest, since it lacks some features and isn't really smaller I wouldn't pay more than 50 for it.
This was obsolete before it even arrived in Canada. D.O.A! The Wii wasn't exactly a monster under the tele and u can buy em for 30 quid second hand. Now they release this pants with no backwards compatibility AND NO ONLINE???!!! Another Completely baffling decision. If this was the prototype for the original Wii 6 years ago it would've been considered unacceptable and binned. You dont see Sony releasing their new, sleek, blue, thin PS3 without online functionality!!
Doesnt look mini at all :/
Would have gotten better imagery if it was some sort of limited/special edition instead of the mini for low budget people, because people loves limited edition things
@ouroborous You mean this?
Jesus christ....why?! Why does this product even exist?!
They should advertise this as the only electronic media device built in the last 5 years NOT capable of streaming Netflix. Then maybe some NF haters will buy it.
They need to call this the "Wii Offline Disc Game Player" so people know it won't do Netflix or Hulu Plus or Amazon video or Wiiware or Virtual console and it only plays Wii disc based games that don't connect online. They should give this system to you free if you buy a copy of Skyward Sword.
@EvisceratorX:
Tell me that bootleg exists. Please. The wait for a portable Smash Bros. (even now that one is actually coming, thankfully...) gets more unbearable every day.
@GiftedGimp That's wrong to say! The Wii's awesome and it's good that it's updated with new stuff for the millions of people around the world who have it and love it, like I do. Also, even with encouragement, not everyone can afford or be tempted to pay the high price for a Wii U and it's games, so frankly I would encourage a price drop like for the 3DS, which may be the reason I have one. Just stating a shared opinion.~
It's pretty useless,but I probably would buy it because in the future it may become something of a collector's item or something.
It's a collector's item. Other than that it is useless.
I actually bought one yesturday and I have to say I like this system better than the original wii in looks, because it's a top loader. plus it comes with a red nunchuk and remote, that's always awesome, right?
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