Sonic Solutions announced in a press release that its CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator application will bring "high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version" of Wii, expected to hit store shelves in late 2007.
"To be involved in Nintendo's ground-breaking gaming console is extremely gratifying and a testament to the efficiency, flexibility and dependability of Sonic's technology," said Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic's Advanced Technology Group. "Game consoles represent a fresh market and platform where we can introduce a new audience of potentially millions to the quality of our brand and the power of our digital media applications."
In addition to CD and DVD playback, fully-licensed versions of the CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator allow for advanced media management functions like DVD recording and DVD authoring. It has not yet been determined if these advanced features will make it to Wii.
Nintendo has previously confirmed that the new, DVD-enabled Wii will be available in Japan. It is currently unknown if future consoles will have DVD playback technology in other regions.
The Sonic Solutions press release can be found here.
The Wiire will bring you more on this story as it develops.
Update: Nintendo confirmed to The Wiire that the CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator software will be implemented into future Wii units for America as well as Japan, though the DVD-enhanced machines are expected to cost an unspecified amount more than the regular Wii console currently priced at $249.99 (or 25,000 Yen).
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