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Nintendo drops price of Wii U Deluxe set by $50, now $299.99

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, Hot Deals, Nintendo, Wii U,

Wii U Deluxe price cut

Since no one is buying the Wii U, Nintendo is slashing the price of the Deluxe set as a form of damage control before the Xbox One and Playstation 4 launch in a couple of months. The $50 price drop brings the Wii U Deluxe set down to $299.99, making it $100 cheaper than the PS4 and $200 cheaper than the Xbox One. Of course, the problem with the Wii U is more than just the price--there aren't many fantastic games for the console, and third-party developer support has been abysmal. Until that changes, or until Nintendo finally releases some of their big AAA titles, Wii U is going to flounder in obscurity as an underpowered console with no good games to play.

Gallery: Nintendo drops price of Wii U Deluxe set by $50, now $299.99


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Nintendo 3DS XL available in black on August 11

Nintendo 3DS XL Black

Nintendo has finally announced that it will be releasing an all black Nintendo 3DS XL. The black version will hit stores on August 11th, which just so happens to be the same day that Mario & Luigi: Dream Team drops as well. If you've been holding out for black because you were too grown-up to rock the blue, red, pink, Pokemon, or Animal Crossing variants, you'll have your wish in about two weeks--and you can pre-order the black Nintendo 3DS XL now.

Gallery: Nintendo 3DS XL available in black on August 11


Nintendo delays Wii U speed update until fall

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Wii U,

Wii U SPeed update fall

You know that Wii U system update that is supposed to speed up the console by a pretty big margin this summer? Well, in yet another misstep for Nintendo's latest home console, that update will not be arriving until the fall. Specifically, Wii U owners will be waiting until sometime "between the end of September and the beginning of October." There will still be a system update, but it will be a much less significant patch that simply addresses small stability issues and the standby download feature. The speed update was first announced in January, but we guess it isn't much of a surprise that Wii U owners are stuck waiting. Again.

Read More | Nintendo

Gallery: Nintendo delays Wii U speed update until fall


Next Xbox: November launch, $499, $299 with subscription, Blu-ray

Xbox Revealed

Windows super-fan Paul Thurrott, who has a good track record for internal Microsoft rumors, is sharing information that he has heard as it pertains to the launch window and pricing of the new Xbox (which we are assuming will be called Xbox Reveal or Infinity, but is codenamed Durango.) First, the next Xbox will launch in early November 2013, and will cost $499 out of the gate. Alternatively, you'll be able to pay $299 for the console if you also pay a $10 monthly subscription fee.

If this is true, then we imagine that this is where all of the hoopla over an "always-on" console is coming from. If you choose to go the subscription route, then your Xbox will likely need to be connected to the Internet in order to make sure the subscription is active. Piggybacking on that thought, maybe if you stop paying (or if you can't get the Xbox online,) then the Xbox will simply not let you play games until you are paid up or reconnect it to Xbox Live.

Other information shared include that the new console will ship with a Blu-ray drive, and will run on a modified version of Windows 8. We will have all the news as it happens when Microsoft unveils the next Xbox on May 21.

Read More | Windows IT Pro

Gallery: Next Xbox: November launch, $499, $299 with subscription, Blu-ray


Microsoft will reveal the next Xbox on May 21

Xbox Reveal May 21

Microsoft has announced that it will reveal the next Xbox on May 21st at an event to take place at the Xbox campus in Redmond. Gamers have been patiently waiting for an announcement from Microsoft on the next Xbox (codenamed Durango,) especially after Sony announced the Playstation 4 at an event in February. The company says that the event will "mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment." Aside from inviting select press to be on hand, the event will also be broadcast as it happens on Xbox LIVE for all to see. It'll also be broadcast on SPike TV for those who are in the US or Canada.

Don't expect all the info on the next Xbox to be revealed on the 21st, though. Microsoft says that they'll wait about three weeks before announcing the full line-up of games, which it'll do at E3. There's a lot riding on the next Xbox, which follows up the current generations most successful console, the Xbox 360.

Read More | Major Nelson

Gallery: Microsoft will reveal the next Xbox on May 21


Xbox 360 gets custom design marking 10 years of Xbox Live

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,

Custom 10 year xbox live xbox 360 console

Microsoft has put together another custom-designed Xbox 360 console, this one celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Xbox Live. As you can see in the image above, it's a dark gray console with green and orange accents, and an "X" design papered all over the hardware. It's a great looking device to our eyes. It was announced on Twitter by Major Nelson, who confirmed that the company is giving these out to a number of Xbox Live members who've stuck around since the beginning.

Click to continue reading Xbox 360 gets custom design marking 10 years of Xbox Live

Gallery: Xbox 360 gets custom design marking 10 years of Xbox Live


Nintendo Wii U launching November 18th in the US, $299 basic set, $349 deluxe set

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Hardware, Nintendo, Wii U,

Wii U Launch Deluxe

Are you ready to usher in the arrive of the next-generation consoles? Nintendo is, and it has announced this morning that the Wii U will launch in the US on Sunday, November 18th. There will be two configurations of Wii U available: a $299 white base model that packs in 8GB of storage, and a $349 Deluxe black bundle that has 32GB of storage and the Nintendo Land game.

Both versions include the Wii U console, a WiiPad, sensor bar, AC adapters, and HDMI cable. If you opt for the Deluxe set, you'll also get a play stand, charging stand, and console stand.

The current Wii remotes and nunchuks are fully compatible with the Wii U console. Who's planning on picking one up at launch?

Gallery: Nintendo Wii U launching November 18th in the US, $299 basic set, $349 deluxe set


Xbox 360 Halo 4 Limited Edition console bundle now available for pre-order

Halo 4 Xbox 360 limited edition pre-order

Remember that Halo 4 Limited Edition Xbox 360 console we told you about the other day? Yep, it's real, and it's now availabe for pre-order. The console will sell for $399.99, and will be released on November 6, 2012. You get the Xbox 360 console that decked out in Halo 4 artwork, along with two wireless controllers with artwork as well. The green LEDs are swapped out for blue, and the console has custom sounds from the Halo world. The actual Halo 4 game is also included. Pre-order it now at Amazon.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Halo 4 Limited Edition console bundle now available for pre-order


Nintendo 3DS gets major price drop, $169 on August 12th

Nintendo 3DS price cut

The Nintendo 3DS has not been selling as well as Nintendo had originally hoped, which is a definite change from their previous handheld console releases. It could be that the advertising just can't get across the experience of playing 3D games like holding it in your hands can, but it could very well be attributed to the fact that Nintendo is charging $249 for the console. Well, if it was the price that was holding you back, Nintendo hopes to remove that barrier with a major price cut on the 3DS. On August 12, the price for a new 3DS will go from $249 down to $169. That's a deep price cut, and brings the price much closer in line with the Nintendo DSi. Users who paid $250 will be granted 20 free virtual console games that won't be released to the public--10 NES games and 10 Game Boy Advance titles. That's nice and all, but I'd bet those people aren't thinking that's enough.

Read More | Nintendo 3DS on Amazon

Gallery: Nintendo 3DS gets major price drop, $169 on August 12th


Here’s what the Wii U console looks like

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: E3, Hardware, Nintendo, Wii U,

Nintendo Wii U console

While Nintendo focused their E3 2011 Wii U efforts on the tablet-style controller for the new platform, many gamers wondered why they were to quiet about the console itself. In fact, many wondered if the Wii U controller was the console, and if it was just a new accessory for the current Wii system. Nintendo cleared it up later during E3, but all the press photos they released focused on the exciting controller. We're guessing they simply thought that the controller was the big deal (which it is,) and that no one would care about the actual console when it's over a year away from launching (although they were wrong there.) Above is an image of the Wii U console. Not much to see, but at least we can see that it is certainly not a Wii. Oh, and yes, it does 1080p.

Gallery: Here’s what the Wii U console looks like


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