After news of the Nintendo Wii U Japanese release date leaked onto Twitter Wednesday night, there was some fear that the console wouldn't arrive until early next year. But Nintendo of America bossman Reggie Fils-Aime took the stage during the company's Wii U Preview press event and calmed those fears on Thursday, announcing that the Wii U console will launch here in North America on November 18, conveniently just days before early risers go nuts with their credit cards on Black Friday.
As seen above, Nintendo's new console will arrive in two flavors: an 8 GB Basic Set in white for $299.99 USD, and a 32 GB Deluxe Set in black for $349.99 USD. The Basic Set will contain the Wii U console, the Wii U GamePad, an AC adapter for each, an HDMI cable, and a Wii U sensor bar. The Deluxe Set throws in an extra charging cradle and stand, and a copy of the company's 1st-party exclusive, "Nintendo Land."
Nintendo said on Thursday that consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014. Wii U-banded Wii Remotes and Nunchuck controllers will also be sold although your old set will work just fine with the new console, Nintendo added.
