Wii to Launch Around Thanksgiving in North America

By James Temperton 31.05.2006 64

According to an industry source speaking to Cubed3, the Nintendo Wii is set to launch in the "Thanksgiving period in the USA" (Thanksgiving falls on November 23rd this year), with Japanese and European launches set to be "in the same timeframe". With Nintendo trying for a worldwide launch of their new system, this would probably lead to the system coming out marginally before in Japan and "a few weeks later in Europe".

Our source tells us that the Wii will be on sale in the USA "well in time for Thanksgiving and well in time for Christmas in Europe". Details on the Japanese launch were not so clear, but our source did suggest that it would fall very close, if not before the American launch of the system.

So, we're looking at an early November release for the system. This falls quite nicely in line with a recent announcement by Nintendo where they gave dates for their DS, GameCube and GBA titles for later this year. All titles stopped before November. With this information in hand, we pushed our source a bit further to see if they had an idea of a more exact date. Today, we were provided with the following information...

"So, at the moment Nintendo are aiming to launch the Wii on November 6th"

Our source emphasised that this date is correct at present, but pointed out: "Nintendo aren't going to have an exact date in mind until they are sure they can meet the deadlines". Take it as a guide then if you will, but "they are very keen to be ready in time".

Obviously this shouldn't be taken as gospel and we're not about to shout from rooftops that we have the final Wii launch date, but we are confident that the information we have is correct; we wouldn't share it with you if it wasn't. Hopefully Nintendo will clear up all confusion very soon by confirming the launch details of the Wii. We'll have more for you as and when it happens.

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Comments

*please don't slashdot us please don't slashdot us*

Great exclusive James.

( Edited 11.10.2012 12:21 by Guest )

Excellent stuff - sounds like a very good date to launch the console. Hopefully the lineup will be strong for the machine to lead us to a good end of year performance.

If we get Slasdot I will be fucking pissed.

( Edited 11.10.2012 12:21 by Guest )

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

It certainly seems to make sense. It would give the system a nice run-up to Thanksgiving in the USA and loads of time for Christmas here in the UK/Europe. Certainly looks like good news to me, here's hoping it is true :-D

( Edited 11.10.2012 12:21 by Guest )

Trying to think of a witty signature after 'Hacker-gate'...

Agreed, great stuff, though - not too long to wait now then if true. Smilie

( Edited 11.10.2012 12:21 by Guest )


Cubed3 Staff [ Retro Editor :: Previews Editor ]

Would be a nice date...gives it 8 weeks leading up to Christmas to pull out some monster sales!

fenno2001 said:
Would be a nice date...gives it 8 weeks leading up to Christmas to pull out some monster sales!

Exactly! And with the rumoured price point, a lot of parents will probably consider Nintendo as the strong option for their Xmas pressies!

What Nintendo need for their launch is a lot of in-store presence - demos - hands on and TV advertising! Spread the Wii word!

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

Yayzh!! Smilie That's awesome, it seems they're aiming to get it out there before the PS3, hm?

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery

Very cool! Smilie

Sounds like perfect timing to me, just before PS3 too. Now announce it officially and let us pre-order. Smilie

There is a question mark on Nintendo's Finnish website with tomorrow's date on it - perhaps it has something to do with launch date information...

There is a question mark on Nintendo's Finnish website with tomorrow's date on it - perhaps it has something to do with launch date information...

  • Nintendo Finland

    Oh yeah, so there is...how odd. Wonder what it could be for? We'll find out soon no doubt.

  • Trying to think of a witty signature after 'Hacker-gate'...

    Nov 17 and after should be avoided at all costs by Nintendo.

    MIS's Wii launch schedule Smilie

    early Sept 2006 - Japan/world debut
    late sept 2006 - US/Americas
    mid oct 2006 - EU/UK

    All well before PS3 arrives - problem solved!

    You know I was thinking 'Prepare to be slashdot'D' and then I saw Hazuki's post Smilie

    Anyway, AWESOME!!!

    Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

    I'm New on here but i need to KNOW the offical launch date soon. i'm going crazy over here.

    Damn my mate for gettin me hooked on the Wii!!

    Wii r da REVOULTION

    Great work C3!! Im with the rest of you....this is a good date for the US launch as long as the euro launch isnt too long after...Smilie

    IANC said:
    Dude yuor totally awesome. And i won't be killing you anytime soon.

    Well that would squash rumours about a october release

    What do you guys mean when you say "please don't slashdot us"?

    Well last time C3 got linked to from Slashdot it died within minutes... DIED I TELLS YA!!

    Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

    Well I dont know about slash dot but I seen that you guys are on digg and if you make it to the front you will have some major traffic going trough you. But Cool the lanch date seems like a good time and um let me think I hope they have the price soon.

    Megadanxzero said:
    Well last time C3 got linked to from Slashdot it died within minutes... DIED I TELLS YA!!

    Ah, I understand. Probably from the spike in bandwidth, no?

    Hurrah! So we have about six months wait now. Smilie

    Tom Barry [ Reviewer - Editor - Resident Sim-Racer @ Cubed3.com ] 

    hey, if Nintendo are gonna do instore demos (well, not if but when..), how will they stop dirty scals from stealing the Wiimote if its wireless? If they attached some sort of cable or wiire, would the general idea of motion sensing and freedom go out of the wiindow?

    *Speculation, not pessimism*

    Ah, I understand. Probably from the spike in bandwidth, no?

    Server just couldn't handle the spike in traffic.

    Mason said:
    Sounds like perfect timing to me, just before PS3 too. Now announce it officially and let us pre-order. SmilieThere is a question mark on Nintendos Finnish website with tomorrows date on it - perhaps it has something to do with launch date information...

    I was told earlier today that we should expect a major announcement tomorrow, also something from Zoonami at long last. True? Who knows... Smilie

    Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

    UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

    I really hope those rumours of Zoonami doing some massive spy game for next gen. Nintendo turn out to be true.

    Hopefully tomorrow is the day that Nintendo make the announcement and clear this all up, it'd be nice to know when to expect the Wii...or whatever other secrets they have in store...

    Trying to think of a witty signature after 'Hacker-gate'...

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