Wii U release date and price revealed

The Wii U has been given a Japanese launch date of December 8th.

Two SKUs will be available at launch – a Basic set that will retail for 26,250 (210) and a Premium set for 31,500 (250).

The former SKU, which is white, will have 8GB of internal memory and the latter, which will be black, has 32GB. The more expensive SKU also includes stands and docks. Both include an HDMI cable.

Nintendo also confirmed that the console will have 1GB of system memory and 1GB of game memory.

The new machine is said to be 20 times more powerful than the Wii and will support all existing Wii peripherals out of the box. 1080p visuals are supported.

The cost of accessories has come as somewhat of a surprise – individual Game Pads will retail for 13,440, which equates to over 100.

Also unveiled is a Nintendo Network Premium loyalty programme, that gives back 10 per cent on all digital purchases. This service is believed to be free and will be included in the Premium SKU.

The European launch details will be revealed this afternoon at 3pm UK time.

Two questions remain the biggest – the RRP and the date.

The Japanese prices suggest that the console will retail at the higher end of expectation, with the Basic perhaps coming in at 219.99-249.99 and the Premium closer to 300.

And what of the date? With the machine arriving so late in Japan Nintendo is left wither with the prospect of a global launch or – horror of horrors – pushing the European launch into the New Year.

UPDATED: Here’s a infographic highlithing the difference between the Basic and Premium bundles.