Report: Wii Mini Console Launching in December
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Due to arrive in under two weeks.
Nintendo is planning to release a smaller, redesigned Wii next month according to a leaked retailer report.
The report was made available to NintendoWorldReport and is apparently part of the internal release schedule of "a major retailer" that the site currently won't disclose. As a result, take the rumour with a healthy pinch of salt until we hear otherwise from Nintendo.
The listing reads:
Introducing the Wii Mini! Coming Dec 7 2012! WII MINI CONSOLE Compact Nintendo Wii Console Comes with Sensor Bar, Nunchuk and Wii Remote Plus with Jacket.
The Wii received a redesign just last year which saw the GameCube controller ports removed and the console itself slightly downsized. Given this, and the fact that the Wii U only launches in Europe on Friday, it seems slightly suspect that Nintendo would want to launch another console the following week.
We reached out to Nintendo for comment but were told the company doesn't comment on rumour and speculation.
Comments
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The Wii Mini Looks Glorious
Brian Ashcraft
Earlier tonight, a teeny-tiny image of the Wii Mini's box appeared online. Here's a better look at the console itself. And hot damn, it's lovely looking.
Smaller than the regular console, the Wii Mini has a red casing and a rough, matte finish with a Wii logo dead in the middle. It appears to be a top-loading console, because there are two buttons (one is a power button) in the corners.
Priced at US$99.99 and out December 7, the Wii Mini also comes with a red Wii Remote Plus and a Nunchuk.
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Wii Mini lacks Wi-Fi, GameCube support
November 27, 2012 5:52AM PST
Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor
$99 hardware revision cannot connect to Internet at all or play previous generation games; hits retail December 7 exclusively in Canada.
[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, Nintendo confirmed the Wii Mini as a Canada-exclusive to be sold through the holiday season. No mention was made of a release in other territories. A landing page at the company's website confirms the earlier reports. The Wii Mini cannot connect to the Internet or play GameCube games.
The original story follows below.
The evidence for the Wii Mini continues to mount. Though Nintendo has not officially announced the hardware revision, Best Buy Canada has posted images of the device, and now Future Shop has provided even more details. A post to the retailer's blog corroborates earlier reports that the Wii Mini will be available December 7, but also reveals a price: $99. The current MSRP for the Wii is $130.
The lower price tag does not come without functionality setbacks. The Wii Mini does not include Wi-Fi support, and according to the retailer, will not be able to connect to the Internet at all or make use of online features in games. Additionally, the Wii Mini does not have GameCube functionality. The system is not compatible with GameCube discs, with controller ports and memory slots stripped from the system.
As for the system itself, the Wii Mini will sport a red case with a black matte finish on its top. It will come bundled with a red Wii Remote Plus and matching Nunchuck controllers. The Wii Mini is, as its name suggests, smaller than the original Wii, and requires the unit to be laid flat. The original Wii allowed users to either position the system horizontally or vertically.
The Wii Mini's power-on button is positioned at the system's bottom left corner, with an Open button on the right. This suggests the Wii Mini will be a top-loading system, similar to the GameCube.
A Nintendo representative was not immediately available for comment.
If the report is true, it would mark the second Wii redesign, following last year's Europe-only "Wii Family Edition" bundle. This console did not feature GameCube controller ports.
Last week, Nintendo director of product marketing Bill Trinen said the Wii remains a viable platform because of its large install base. He also suggested Nintendo could spur hardware sales by making the system available "at the right price."
"I think there's also the potential for a lot of people who still haven't purchased Wii, believe it or not, who might be interested at the right price," Trinen said at the time. "So we'll probably be looking at it more from that standpoint."
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This is in your region Sion, you not gonna cop?
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That actually looks pretty slick. I woulda made it red white for Canada colors though
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funkdocdamc wrote: »This is in your region Sion, you not gonna cop?
Nah.
I'll get a regular one for my little bros & cousins this Christmas tho. I'll get one for myself when they drop a Metroid, Smash, Zelda, or Kirby game.
It's a Wii, not a Wii U. Those games are already available. This is the "slim" for Nintendo.
