The Wii U release date and price were revealed yesterday, with the system going on sale in North America on November 18 in $299 and $349 configurations. That makes the Wii U at least $50 more expensive than the original Wii was at launch, but Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime says that it still offers good value for money.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Fils-Aime said, "We want to make sure we give the consumer a lot for what they pay’and when you look at that basic model you get the innovation in the GamePad, and all of the gaming options that presents." He continued, "You get Miiverse in terms of a gaming community, you get Nintendo TVii, you get video chat’all of that is included in the base proposition. We think $299 is a really strong value, and it’s a value that’s going to be strong for a long time.’
Fils-Aime also addressed the issue of a future price cut, after the 3DS was slashed mere months after its launch last year. "We don't believe in pricing a product and then having to reduce the price some short time later," he said. "When we had to do that for 3DS, it was a very painful proposition for us...what we did with the Wii at $249 and leaving it there for, I think, about three and a half years is very much consistent with our pricing philosophy."
For more on the Wii U, watch our conference reactions video below.
