Yup, it looks like Nintendo is dead-set on getting the same lead on Microsoft and Sony that they enjoyed with the Wii, by promising that the Wii U will be out by Christmas this year.
Usually such announcements would be met with “no way!” and “awesome!” in a confetti parade with bikini models and trick-performing tigers – but really, we expected a 2012 launch anyway.
After releasing its Q3 2012 financial predictions today, Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata told reporters in Japan that the next-gen console will hit “key markets” for the year end.
So that’s USA, Europe, Aussieland and Japan – just in time for Christmas spending!
Nintendo’s financial results weren’t all that good in the most recent quarter – and the company predicts further losses heading for Q3 – so the launch of the first truly ‘next-gen’ console will hopefully give them the boost they need.


@jaco
Yes but the wii became a casual gaming platform and did not attract real gamers. For Nintendo to be successful they cannot repeat that mistake, they need game devs to adopt their platform to so that they can plug into the revenue stream of people who regularly buy games.