Can the Wii-U save Nintendo?

At long last, the legendary gaming company reveals pricing and a release date for its next-generation console — but smashing success is hardly a sure bet

Wii U
(Image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

More than a year after the Wii U was first announced, Nintendo has finally revealed pricing, hardware specs, and launch titles for its next-generation console. On Nov. 18, gaming fans will finally be able to get their hands on the next-generation system, at a price of $299. The Wii U boasts a touchscreen controller, which is packed with buttons, motion sensors, and its own screen (which allows the controller to become a portable gaming system when you're on the go). And through a new feature called Nintendo TVii, the Wii U will transform into a media center that can handle live television, DVR, and streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu. A lot is riding on the big Wii U launch, with Nintendo reporting its worst year ever following the flop of the handheld 3DS. When the original Wii launched six years ago, it was a huge and surprising success. Can the Wii U help get the house of Super Mario back on track?

The Wii U might be too expensive: At $300 for the basic 8GB model, and $350 for the premium 32GB model, the Wii U might be too pricey for cash-strapped consumers, says Sebastian Anthony at ExtremeTech. The normal Wii costs just $100, the low-end Xbox 360 is $150, and Sony's PlayStation 3 is $200. The Wii U "certainly has better specs than the other consoles, but they're not that much better."

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