With just four months before the holiday season opens, people familiar with the situation claim that the Wii U release date will fall to early December across Europe, missing the November launch window initially intended.

Key to the issue is the manufacturing of the Wii U GamePad; a complex controller that features a 6.2 inch touchscreen display, a front-facing camera, motion-sensing and Near field communication technologies, its own power supply and the promise that the device will be completely wireless.

Nintendo has declined to comment.

The platform holder is determined to release the system in the US before the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday, CVG's sources have said.

In July, an executive at a major publishing firm working closely with Nintendo told CVG that a European release had at one stage looked likely to slip into 2013, though the platform holder has since assured that the 2012 deadline will be met.

The manufacturing issues - which are quite common for new console system launches - are believed to have hampered Nintendo's plans on announcing a Wii U launch date.

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Europe to get it last? Sounds plausible, things never change.

didnt the same happen with the ps3 launch? ps3 launched in europe half a year later? might happen with the Wii U, i find it kinda weird that they dont have any of the launch details released yet

Be pretty wise to drop it before Black Friday in USA. They would get massive sales then and they better have enough stock to ride the wave.

At this point in time I can't really believe any rumors that don't come directly from Nintendo ...

I would personally expect the Wii U to launch worldwide in Q4 of 2012, and it most likely to be released on the 11th or 18th of Nobember in North America. Unlike systems like the PS3 or PS-Vita I see little reason why the Wii U would need to release with significant delays in different regions; certainly, it could release on different days seperated by a few weeks but I doubt there would be months between release dates.

I can't get too excited about the impending release date until the inevitable blowout happens.

First day for me! Hopefully no more than 250 quid

In other words the same as with the Wii

With all the time they've had to plan their release, it would be sad to see them release in 2013

No! Don't leave Europe behind like that! We want it too :(

If true, the more important thing is that there is limited manufacturing...i.e. quantity. I'd better pre-order 3 so I can sell 2. :)