Wiiuheader

Nintendo news wrap-up – Wii U price drop, Zelda Wii U bundle, 2DS, and confirmed Q4 release dates

Nintendo announced quite a bit of news this morning, and much of it concerns games we’ve been waiting to hear about for this Fall. Let’s start with the Wii U news.

Wii U

  • New Suggested Retail Price – Wii U Deluxe Set
    • Starting Sept. 20, the Deluxe version of Nintendo’s Wii U system will be reduced in price by $50, to a new suggested retail price of just $299.99. The new price makes Wii U an even greater value, particularly with the strong lineup of Wii U games available and on the way for the system in 2013. These include Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, EarthBound, New Super Luigi U, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
  • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Bundle
    • A new limited-edition Wii U bundle featuring The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD launches on Sept. 20 at a suggested retail price of $299.99. The bundle includes a black Deluxe Wii U console; a GamePad controller adorned with gold lettering, a gold Hyrule crest and gold symbols from the game; a download code for the digital version of Hyrule Historia, a book that details the chronology, history and artwork of The Legend of Zelda series; and a code that can be used to download The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD from the Nintendo eShop immediately at no additional cost.
    • The digital version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will also launch on Sept. 20, while the packaged version launches Oct. 4 with distinctive gold-foil packaging, both at a suggested retail price of $49.99. GameStop is also offering an exclusive Ganondorf figurine bundled with the packaged game at a suggested retail price of $54.99.
  • Fall Release Dates
    • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD: Launches Sept. 20 (downloadable) and Oct. 4 (packaged) at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
    • Wii Party U: Launches Oct. 25 bundled with a Wii Remote Plus controller and stand at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
    • Super Mario 3D World: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $59.99.
    • Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: Launches Dec. 6 at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
    • Wii Fit U: Launches this holiday season. Further details, including launch date, pricing and bundling information, will be revealed at a later date.
    • Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games: Launches this holiday season. Further details, including launch date and pricing, will be revealed at a later date.
    • Third-party titles
      • Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (Sept. 24)
      • LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Fall)
      • Skylanders SWAP Force (Oct. 13)
      • Call of Duty: Ghosts (Nov. 5)
      • Sonic Lost World (Oct. 22)
      • Rayman Legends (Sept. 3)
      • Just Dance 2014 (Oct. 8)
      • Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Oct. 29)
      • Watch_Dogs (Nov. 19)

3DS

  • Fall Release Dates
    • The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
    • Mario Party: Island Tour: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
    • Third-party titles
      • Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (Sept. 24)
      • LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (Fall)
      • Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (Oct. 25)
      • Skylanders SWAP Force (Oct. 13)
      • Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! (Nov. 19)
      • Sonic Lost World (Oct. 22)

2DS

Last, but not least, Nintendo surprised everyone this morning with news of a new handheld console – the Nintendo 2DS. Here’s a video of the new machine:

The newest member of the Nintendo 3DS family is designed specifically for anyone looking for a more affordable entry point into the world of Nintendo hand-held video games. Nintendo 2DS will be available in Red or Blue on Oct. 12 at a suggested retail price of $129.99.

Nintendo 2DS plays the entire library of packaged and downloadable games for Nintendo 3DS only in 2D. The system features a distinctive fixed, slate-type form factor, and optional carrying cases will be available in Red or Blue at launch at a suggested retail price of $12.99. It features many of the same hardware features as Nintendo 3DS – dual screens, game-play controls and touch-screen features. The system also has backward compatibility with the existing library of more than 2,000 Nintendo DS games, as well as access to all wireless connectivity features.

And that’s if for now – more information as we get it.