Nintendo today announced some new details for their upcoming Wii U and 3DS for early 2013 and sent over an updated release schedule.
The biggest upcoming Wii U release is undoubtedly LEGO City: Undercover which has been confirmed for a March 18th release date. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is scheduled for March 19th as just announced by Capcom as well. Game & Wario, The Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3 and Wii Fit U will arrive in the first half of the year.
As for the 3DS, Brain Age: Concentration Training is confirmed for February 10th, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ? Mirror of Fate for March 5th, Pok?mon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity and Luigi?s Mansion: Dark Moon are both coming on March 24th. LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins is confirmed for an April 21st release as well.
Read on for all the details and the updated schedule.
Every video game offers a different experience. But only on Nintendo systems do these experiences transform into moments of shared joy and fun. It?s the parent who pulls a game off the TV to play on the Wii U GamePad controller so the kids can watch cartoons. It?s the group of friends passing the GamePad around the room and then sharing their experiences on Miiverse. It?s the ?you gotta see this? moment when people first experience glasses-free 3D and augmented reality on a Nintendo 3DS system.
The holiday season added many new Wii U and Nintendo 3DS owners who have already begun to discover these joyful moments together. Nintendo now builds on their enthusiasm with a fun lineup of games for early 2013.
?During the holidays we saw new players respond positively to new game-play experiences using the Wii U GamePad controller and the true 3D of Nintendo 3DS,? said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America?s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. ?With such a diverse lineup of games on the horizon, people will experience a variety of ways to play, whether they?re using the GamePad to scan for criminals or seeing ghosts in 3D on the Nintendo 3DS screen.?
New on Wii U
The Wii U home console launched to great acclaim on Nov. 18 with the largest lineup of games in Nintendo history. The fun continues into 2013 with the upcoming release of LEGOCity: Undercover on March 18. In this original LEGO game, exclusive to Wii U, players assume the role of Chase McCain, a tough-as-nails police officer who is a master of disguise. The massive, open world of LEGO City lets players explore the city using numerous vehicles from the real-life play sets to pursue criminal mastermind Rex Fury. On March 19, the fan-favorite Monster Hunter series descends on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. The action RPG?s expansive, gorgeous world features more to do than ever before. Players can hunt monsters, upgrade equipment and improve skills while they take part in more than 200 challenging quests.
Game & Wario, The Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3 and Wii Fit U will arrive in the first half of the year. Additional information about launch timing for these games will be announced at a later date.
To ensure that Wii U users get the most out of their GamePad controller, Nintendo will be offering a Wii U GamePad Accessory Set to help owners protect their screens. The set will be available at stores on Feb. 4 for a suggested retail price of $12.99 and includes a Wii U GamePad screen protector that fits over the screen to protect it from scratches and dirt, an extra-large stylus for comfortable touch-screen game play and a cleaning cloth.
New on Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo 3DS hand-held system continues its momentum going into 2013. Launching on Feb. 4 is Fire Emblem Awakening, a fantasy turn-based strategy game for Nintendo 3DS. On the same day, Nintendo will release a special bundle of the Nintendo 3DS system that has Fire Emblem Awakening pre-installed on the hardware. The blue hardware features Fire Emblem artwork and a 4GB SD memory card, and will be available at a suggested retail price of $199.99. A demo of Fire Emblem Awakening will be available today in the Nintendo eShop.
Brain Age: Concentration Training for Nintendo 3DS arrives on Feb. 10 to build on the mainstream appeal of the celebrated Brain Age series with new challenges to help players concentrate as they block out distractions. A demo will also be available in the Nintendo eShop on Jan. 24. On March 24, fans of the original Luigi?s Mansion have reason to celebrate with the release of Luigi?s Mansion: Dark Moon. In this game, a timid Luigi travels through more mansions and captures more ghosts using his upgraded Poltergust 5000.Pok?mon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity also hits the Nintendo 3DS system on March 24. In addition to playing as a Pok?mon, players explore ever-changing Mystery Dungeons as they build Pok?mon Paradise and recruit more Pok?mon to their team. There is also a deep and compelling story full of unexpected twists. Pok?mon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity makes the most of the features of the Nintendo 3DS system, such as the ability to use the system?s camera to open Magnagates ? portals to new Mystery Dungeons in the real world. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ? Mirror of Fate comes to Nintendo 3DS on March 5. This sequel takes place 25 years after Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and follows the famous Belmont clan as they set out to find and destroy the ruthless Dracula. The action-filled game features multiple playable characters and combines both 2D classic side-scrolling game play with full 3D areas. On April 21, another entry in the LEGO City: Undercover series arrives on Nintendo 3DS. LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins is a prequel to the Wii U game, and follows the exploits of Chase McCain as a rookie cop.
Below is a partial list of upcoming launch dates in the United States and Canada. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.
Wii U Publisher Title Available Activision The Amazing Spider-Man? Ultimate Edition March The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct March 26 Capcom Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate March 19 D3Publisher The Croods: Prehistoric Party! March 19 Electronic Arts Need For Speed Most Wanted March 19 Nintendo LEGO? City: Undercover March 18 SEGA Aliens?: Colonial Marines Q1 Ubisoft Rayman? Legends Feb. 26 Nintendo eShop for Wii U Gaijin Games BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien Q1 Neko Puddle Q1 SEGA The Cave? Jan. 22 TECMO KOEI AMERICA Corp. Fist of the North Star?: Ken?s Rage 2 Feb. 7 Two Tribes Toki Tori 2 Q1 Zen Studios Zen Pinball 2 Q1 Wii D3Publisher The Croods: Prehistoric Party! March 19 Talking Stick Games Kids Learn Pets and Vets Bundle March 12 XSEED Games Pandora?s Tower? Spring Nintendo 3DS ATLUS (Index Digital Media, Inc.) Etrian Odyssey?IV: Legends of the Titan Feb. 26 Shin Megami Tensei?: Devil Summoner?: Soul Hackers April 16 Capcom Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate March 19 D3Publisher The Croods: Prehistoric Party! March 19 Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ? Mirror of Fate March 5 Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3D Feb. 12 Little Orbit Monster High? Skultimate Roller Maze? March 13 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. NARUTO? Powerful Shippuden March 5 Nintendo Brain Age?: Concentration Training Feb. 10 Fire Emblem Awakening Feb. 4 LEGO? City Undercover: The Chase Begins April 21 Luigi?s Mansion?: Dark Moon March 24 Pok?mon? Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity March 24 SEGA Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed? Feb. 12 Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS Agetec, Inc. Bloody Vampire Jan. 31 Witch?s Cat Jan. 31 Big John Games Coaster Creator 3D Q1 Capcom Resident Evil?: The Mercenaries 3D Q1 Disney Interactive Disney/Pixar Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue Jan. 17 Maximum Games Deer Drive Legends Jan. 17 Nicalis Ikachan Q1 Guxt Q1 Nintendo Tokyo Crash Mobs? Jan. 17 Fire Emblem Awakening DEMO Jan. 17 Brain Age?: Concentration Training DEMO Jan. 24 Renegade Kid ATV Wild Ride 3D Q1 Rising Star Games Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt 2 March 19 Shin?en Nano Assault EX Q1 Ubisoft Tom Clancy?s Ghost Recon? Shadow Wars Jan. 24 Tom Clancy?s Splinter Cell? 3D Q1 Nintendo DS D3Publisher The Croods: Prehistoric Party! March 19 Talking Stick Games Kids Learn Animals Bundle Feb. 26 Kids Learn Math and Spelling Bundle Feb. 26 Kids Learn Pets and Horse Bundle March 26