Everyone seems to be in agreement that the Wii U's NA launch date will be November 18th... as for the price, that'd be crazy (although I wouldn't complain). I'm honestly thinking $299.99 myself. We'll see though, 11 days to go! ^_^

Well provided the newly leaked $169 ps3 slim is profitable, a $199 Wii U doesn't sound too unrealistic. Remeber that sony also use the disproportionately expensive cell processor. To me the Wii U's exterior casing also looks very cheap and it has no Hardrive. 

Ninetndo were willing to take  a hit with 3DS and think they do the same for the Wii U, nothing as ridiculous as what we saw with ps3, but the sort of hit that will see them back in profit in 12months. I'd also wager that they will balance such a cheap US price with a much higher price tag over in Japan where I think the market is already assumed to be theirs. Add to that the holiday revenue for the 3DS which was said to enter back into profitability from august.

Personally I don't think they need to launch that cheap, so I don't see it happening, I think $250 would be suprise enough.

If you can believe the 200$ price rumor what else can you believe?

I doubt Sony or MS would have scaled back their machines just because of a Wii launching in 2004.  And as far as next gen goes, Nintendo fans and casual gamers who only got the Wii will be fine with the Wii U because it seems like such a big step up from the Wii.  However, Xbox and PS fans are not going to be satisfied with HW that puts out visuals that are a small step up from the PS3 and 360.  They are going to want a real leap, so Sony and MS are going to be going after that market next gen.

@ OP

I highly doubt the Wii U is launching at only $199.  Either Nintendo is taking a decent loss or the HW isn't quite as good as has been rumored.  I think the real price range will be $249-$299, with an outside chance it will be $349.  The only way I can see a price of $199 is if they are releasing a SKU without the tablet controller, which would be pointless. 

Nintendo was losing money on the regular 3DS at $170 up until a month ago.

Sony is selling the Vita likely at cost/slight loss for $250.

You really think Nintendo is going to sell a device that has all the costs of a handheld (large 6+ inch LCD touchscreen + ion lithium battery + gyros + speakers) and the costs of a console (main console CPU/GPU/power supply/motherboard/RAM/disc drive) which is likely more powerful than a Vita + 3DS combined for $30 more?

Nintendo would have to eat a large loss to sell the hardware at that cost which would all but assure their second consecutive money losing fiscal year.

Not a chance in hell that happens. Iwata will not preside over a Nintendo that loses money for two back-to-back years.

3DS - $169.99

3DS bundled w/Mario Kart 7 - $189.99

3DS XL - $199.99

Wii U - $299.99 w/Nintendo Land bundled

Book it this holiday season. 

This sounds like one of those troll articles, probably by PR firm for MS or SONY, that get a rumour out for an unreasonable price, so that when they announce the price it'll be disappointing.

i could believe that if we would have the yen of 2007 but with such a "strong" yen atm it's really hard to believe. i mean, i can buy a new ps3 with 320gb hdd for 200€ in germany so maybe it's also possible to release a wii u without that hdd but with some better specs and a tablet controller for 200€ but the ps3 price is obviously not the rrp price here.

if it will be that price and will have the same specs as it would have with a 299 price tag i will be happy. if that means the console will have lower specs as it would have with a 299 release i hope it will be 299^^

Sal.Paradise said: lilbroex said: Sal.Paradise said: $200 with the tablet controller and making a profit? The console would be far more bare bones than even Eurogamer could've imagined And it will still kick Sony and Microsofts console in the crotch, both in this current gen and the one it will be starting. Yep! Might as well just make a cardboard box that says Nintendo on it and sell that. Forgot who said that first, must have been some wise, wise man.

Only question is, does the cardboard box play Nintendo games? Cause if not that wise, wise man is very, very dumb.

Yes. The madness ends here.

The price seems too low, considering that the 3DS XL is $200. It will probably be $250-$300.