Nintendo's next generation games console is almost certain to sell out immediately in the UK, with retail sources claiming that only 25,000 Wii U systems will be available on day one.
A retail source connected to the matter told CVG that the group does not have enough Wii U units to fulfill pre-orders.
The 25,000 figure they provided was then put to a distribution source working at a separate retailer, who said the number was "in line with our estimates".
However, a third source at another UK retail chain said his team was expecting the UK to receive "anything between 75,000 and 100,000 units during the launch period".
"What we don't know is whether this allocation will arrive on day one or be distributed across a number of weeks," he said.
The company expects to ship 5.5 million units to retail globally before April. Profit forecasts have been slashed and the company's president, Satoru Iwata, told investors on Wednesday that "production capacity, rather than consumer demand, that will place limits on our Wii U prospects for this calendar year".
In August, CVG learnt that manufacturing issues had limited Nintendo's supply options for Wii U on launch day.
Months later, in October, Nintendo was reported to have hit a second supply issue due to a factory fire. The company denied that the incident would impact on its Wii U production plans.
Week one sales of games consoles are largely reflective of supply constraints rather than demand. In 2005, Xbox 360 sold out during its first weekend after some 70,000 units were snatched up by eager consumers. One year later, Wii managed to break new weekend records with 105,000 units sold. PS3 broke new ground several months later, with a huge launch supply of 165,000 units all sold out in during its opening weekend.
Nintendo has confirmed a Wii U release date of November 18 in the US and a Wii U release date of November 30 in Europe. The company has set the US Wii U price at $299 for the basic model, while the UK Wii U price starts at £230.
Comments
67 comments so far...
azz72 on 25 Oct '12 said:
Gonna wait until new year to get one anyway.
AJDarkstar on 25 Oct '12 said:
Had mine preordered for a while. I hope it arrives launch day, but if not I guess it arrives when it arrives. All good things, those who wait, y'know...
Chris_Shanahan87 on 25 Oct '12 said:
Pretty smart of Nintendo, I wasn't that interested in the WIi U but the fact that I won't be able to get one kind of makes me want it
StonecoldMC on 25 Oct '12 said:
Barca Azul on 25 Oct '12 said:
Always sounded it would be short to begin with. Sounds like some are getting more than others mind!
kimoak on 25 Oct '12 said:
Pre ordered, but if I don't get it day one, no big deal. It's only a games console.
fatherofthenoo on 25 Oct '12 said:
Oh. Well no wonder all the pre-orders sold out! I do hope I get mine in time.
theholyone on 25 Oct '12 said:
Just buy a Ps3 or 360 instead. Same spec and lots more games. No brainer really
Manjushri on 25 Oct '12 said:
This always happens when new hardware is released, and all it does is make people more desperate to get it - and pushes up demand.
I think it all just a clever ploy, by the companys and outlets to sell more by using peoples greed.
*goes and pre-orders online.....*
Nod Nolan on 25 Oct '12 said:
Bodes well for the launch titles then.... ouch.
Mortal Mad Matt on 25 Oct '12 said:
OMG! I must rush out and buy one the day it comes out!
I hear about shortages at every console launch, and yet I never have a problem buying them. Very clever though.
*EDIT* Manjushri knows the score.
CrispyLog on 25 Oct '12 said:
So everyone who preordered one and gets one on release day can flog it on ebay for a good mark-up.
This is becoming a trend, why the hell haven't I started preordering a load of new consoles on release day to ebay the hell out of them? Anyone remember if the 360/PS3 had low supply and were being sold for loads on ebay or if it's just Ninty? If so I'm going to stock up on the PS4 and 720.
ricflair on 25 Oct '12 said:
360 did I think. It was certainly hard to get hold of. PS3 wasn't a problem - I nearly bought one to flog it, then changed my mind. Which p**sed me off as I would have got a free HDTV from Zavvi had I done it!
I've got my preorder in at HMV in store. I'll be f**ked if I'm doing a midnight launch again, but I'll go first thing.
moogiesboy on 25 Oct '12 said:
Speak for yourself mate. If I don't get my Wiiu day one I'm straight onto twitter with hate fuelled rage.
In fact, It makes me angry just thinking about it. Ironically; even if it does show up day 1, its being wrapped by the wife for crimbo anyway.
runadumb on 25 Oct '12 said:
I know people that pooled together and bought as many PS3's on launch as they could. Hilariously the stores couldn't even sell them so that was a huge waste of money. Remember the launch price of the PS3 with game and HDMI cable was over £500
Serves the buggers right.
TOKEN on 25 Oct '12 said:
Thats ok you can buy mine on ebay £1000-£1200
HighFlyingBird on 25 Oct '12 said:
Here we go again... This happens every time a new Nintendo console is due to launch. Stock shortage fears, not enough to fulfil pre orders etc. it's never as bad as is made out and it's just scaremongering by Nintendo's PR dept trying to generate buzz. Though it does seem to work every time. It's not fair on those who have went out there way to pre order early who are then left worrying whether they'll get there console or not. Ah Nintendo, I love you and I hate you at the same time.
Serebii on 25 Oct '12 said:
Other consoles have more games than a new one? Surely you jest, sir.
They aren't the same spec. The Wii U has 4x the RAM
Nimron Tang on 25 Oct '12 said:
If you can't see through what is going on here, you must be endowed with the memory of a goldfish!
chamony on 25 Oct '12 said:
i just checked this article title.... "Wii U shortage feared across uk retail"
and thought does fear mean something different nowdays, so i checked
fear/fi(?)r/
Noun:
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Verb:
Be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening
Synonyms:
noun. dread - fright - apprehension - funk - awe - alarm
verb. be afraid - dread - apprehend - funk - be afraid of
nope im definitely not feeling any of that about the wii u launch, they'll be loads - its marketing crap, just like all of them do
on the other hand, if this will sell out this xmas, and ipads, iphones 5, furby's (and you have to have them all now!!)- s**t im going bankrupt
flyfletch on 25 Oct '12 said:
If you remember right the Wii sold out, i remember trying to get one and had to go to about 5 different stores till eventually got one, worst part is it wasnt even for me (a female commanded it).....ah well..
Point is it could easily happen again, so there could be some merit in what they are saying. On the other hand i have ordered mine from Zavvi and if i dont get it day one after being on pre order for months ill be looking for blood!
Daddy_Karl on 25 Oct '12 said:
Of course there'll be shortages. I've too much experience of Nintendo launches to know that it's routine for them. To be fair to them, it's worked so far - sell out on day one (or pre-orders), hold stock back for a few months to manufacture enough to flood market whilst drip feeding stock to create demand, then 6 months later supply...
Nintendo must have an eBay account.
Megatrons_Fury on 25 Oct '12 said:
Its the same old Nintendo.
For sure you wont get one for the first weekend if you didnt pre-order as they are deliberately spacing out stock deliveries for the first month or so but come january these things will be everywhere even at your local petrol station.
Im almost certain people that pre-ordered by the end of september will be fully taken care of easily before xmas, the rest who expect to just pick one up off the shelf in december or have only just now pre-ordered are going to have to sweat it out i guess.
Good luck
brownboy90 on 25 Oct '12 said:
I'm cool pre ordered mine.
Just need a HDTV now.
sbisset on 25 Oct '12 said:
Dafuq talk about scare mongering. 25000 retail units, thats the report from ONE stockist, not for the entire country. I'd expect HMV and department stores (debenhams/john lewis) to potentially have that kind of figure to distribute to all their stores. Game should have significantly more.
If this was to be believed, UK get only 25000-50000, Germany reportedly only getting 50000. Wtf? I know they had issues with the fire but still, less than 100000 consoles to fill orders for 2 countries with a combined population of over 150 million people, just doesnt add up.
I just hope they actually fulfil online preorders at the major sites.
Balladeer on 25 Oct '12 said:
I've pre-ordered mine too, but I've heard stuff about companies claiming they have more consoles than they really do...
ricflair on 25 Oct '12 said:
Yeah, when I contacted Zavvi just before I was about to preorder, they said they didn't know how many units they'd be getting and that they were just taking preorders, they didn't have an allocation they were filling, so preorders weren't guarenteed for release day.
At least that's what the girl on the phone told me. But to be honest, Zavvi are bloody useless and don't know their arses from their elbows, it's no wonder they're cheap.
dookiephonic on 25 Oct '12 said:
You right it doesn't add up, I mean whats the population of the country got to do with anything, I don't imagine too many terminally ill people, homeless people or infants etc would be that bothered about the WiiU. And since we all seem to like pulling numbers out of our backsides India has a population of 1.2 billion good luck stocking them up
yep I can talk crap too 
Balladeer on 25 Oct '12 said:
I'm in the same boat. It's nerve-wracking stuff.
flyfletch on 25 Oct '12 said:
I have an e-mail here from Zavvi where im promised that it will arrive on the day of release. I asked this question via email so i had a record of it. Ill be using it to beat them with if they even try it lol
delmariachi on 25 Oct '12 said:
Glad I preordered my Saturn...
Cogglesz on 25 Oct '12 said:
The famous Eric Cartman Theme park technique in action here, i want one too!
gurpal2 on 25 Oct '12 said:
is this not the same console where most of the games are on the other 2 consoles. Note really next gen is it. imho i think this will be a failure but hey what do i know right.
Mortal Mad Matt on 25 Oct '12 said:
Yep.
People want what they can't have. Of course, Nintendo know exactly what they're doing whereas Cartman's just a selfish asshole.
alan666 on 25 Oct '12 said:
Well i have mine pre-ordered at GAME & i will be going to my local store to pick it up first thing, as they are opening early
Bambis Dad on 25 Oct '12 said:
The Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, F Zero, Pikmin, Starfox, Battalion Wars, Pokemon, etc will be exclusives, that coincidentally are generally regarded as the best examples in their respective fields. So to answer your first point, no.
In regards to your second point neither is the 360 truely a next gen machine, it does nothing its predecessor couldn't do it just does it better.
As for the last point it may well fail, but how badly it fails will depend on which yard stick you choose to use.
MD1500 on 25 Oct '12 said:
I can see this happening. Remember, the marketing hasn't even happened yet.
The black versions have been sold out on Amazon UK ever since that commercial aired.
slatters on 25 Oct '12 said:
It's as if we never left 2006.
Kezwar on 25 Oct '12 said:
PR should not be reported as news.
Kezwar on 25 Oct '12 said:
Of course the 360 was a next-gen machine. To claim it isn't is ridiculous.
Skullet on 26 Oct '12 said:
This article is weak even by CVG standards, since none of the information being given is sensitive then why are all of your sources unnamed? This gives the impression that your sources are either made up or suspect. It's dumb articles like this that create false demand and result in parents having to pay stupid prices for stuff at Xmas.
If there was really such a desperate shortage of Wii U hardware in the UK then all of the pre order stock would be sold out and it isn't, people would be falling over themselves to get even the white basic pack, and yet pretty much every site I visit still has pre order stock, how can that be if the UK is going to get such a small stock allocation? Why not write an article reassuring people that there is still plenty of basic Wii U bundles and offering alternatives, rather than writing articles that use office rumours as "sources" in a bid to create false demand or fuel fanboyism.
HelloLadies on 26 Oct '12 said:
None of those titles interest me anymore. I think ill just sit back with my PS3 and PC and watch the Nintendo show unfold.
Welsh Jester on 26 Oct '12 said:
Well the good thing so far is Devs have confirmed the Wii U is more powerful than 360/ps3 by some games having better graphics like Fifa 13.. i'm just hoping they can enhance them a bit more so it's not too far behind next gen.
Balladeer on 26 Oct '12 said:
^ It really saddens me that this is what some people care most about.
richomack360 on 26 Oct '12 said:
..sigh, the classic "stock shortage" debacle nearly every launch console goes through to drum up interest....
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...................parp............zzzzzzzzzzzz
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
Other than its historical placement as current generation machine, therefore not next, can you think of a feature it has that the original Xbox couldn't have done? You are correct to say was next generation, but I wanted to play with gurpal.
apalmer28 on 26 Oct '12 said:
Good gravy, Nintendo always do this, undersupply.
It helps create a market fervor of desire that is the marketing teams collective wet dream.
People will always want what they can't have, and instead of waiting to see what it is like will want to compete to be one of the (supposedly) precious few who succeed in getting one for Xmas.
For what it's worth, my advice is get a 360 or PS3, proven hardware with huge games array that are alot cheaper. Only ZombiU looks interesting really, but the whole added touchscreen thing is a real gimmick.
2 things have put me right off it.
1. the Tocuhscreen itself is pressure sensitive like the DS, not electro-magnetic like the ipad/iphone. This difference means it can only pick up one touch at a time, so it's a single finger press everytime, rather then mutli-sensitive allowing two ro more touches to register.
2. I read an interview in GamesTM magazine with the developers of Metro2033 / Metro Last Light, who were asked why they are not developing their game for WiiU. The simple response was "It has a horrible, slow processor". Ubisoft & co might be extolling the virtues of it from a business perspective but a small dev team is more likely to speak the truth i say.
Case closed for me!
illage2 on 26 Oct '12 said:
Hey you might even have your picture put on CvG
apalmer28 on 26 Oct '12 said:
Wii U has a slow processor, which will seriously hold it back in the long term.
It does make up for it with a good graphics chip, but really it will only be able to do so much for the future. If Xbox 720 & PS4 come out next year they will make Wii U look liek the Wii to 360 & PS3, and there's no way it will be able to keep up. It's a VERY SHORT LIFESPAN console.
http://www.videogamer.com/wiiu/tekken_tag_tournament_2/news/wii_u_cpu_speed_is_kind_of_low_says_tekken_producer.html
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/wii-u-developer-reports-struggles-with-slow-cpu/
http://paritynews.com/hardware/item/357-ibm-wii-u-has-a-power-based-cpu-and-not-power-7
Of course ANYTHING on the internet regarding the Wii U should be taken with a very large pinch of salt!
FishyGinger on 26 Oct '12 said:
A nintendo article with no stealth in it? We aren't in Kansas anymore are we...
HelloLadies on 26 Oct '12 said:
Hes probably to busy vying for first place in line with this guy.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=143409
Kezwar on 26 Oct '12 said:
It made things look prettier. By your logic no console in history, bar perhaps the Dreamcast, was ever a 'next-gen' machine. Hardly makes sense does it?
sbisset on 26 Oct '12 said:
Your xenophobic, idiosyncratic remarks only go to prove my point further. My post at least showed an understanding of demographics. If 2 of the worlds "super-powers" with a combined populace exceeding that of the entire USA only receive 100,000 units, then similarly USA cannot receive more than 100,000 units on launch. So thats already 3 countries accounted for, whom the idea of expendable income is actually a reality, the idea of a new gaming console as "opulent" would be laughable, its just another gadget to add to the piles of them. I could understand Botswana receiving a limited stock, but isolating sales over the busiest retail time of the year for a failing company (monetarily), simply makes no sense. If these numbers are to be believed then there cant be more than 1m consoles produced this side of christmas.
Solm on 26 Oct '12 said:
Every new console release has the same problems, nothing to see here move on people....
robbo1337 on 26 Oct '12 said:
A repeat of Christmas 2007 over on eBay then? You've got to give Apple credit for ensuring supply lines keep product flowing into the hands of consumers. Nintendo take note
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
How did it make them look prettier than the original Xbox when both were capable of HD display? I'm not trolling but when people like gurpal say the Wii U isn't a next gen machine I find it very frustrating. By the nature of the timing of its release it is another generation, just as the 360 is current gen and last gen as I facetiously implied. I am interested why you'd say the dreamcast would qualify?
Kezwar on 26 Oct '12 said:
The original Xbox did not support HD graphics and the Dreamcast was the first console I can recall that supported online play, something the previous generation of consoles could not. I think the Dreamcast would qualify as a 'next-gen' machine by your baffling logic.
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
Okay there were very few Xbox games that supported HD output but they did.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ ... #section_1
There were also a handful of PS2 games that would run in HD.
Kezwar on 26 Oct '12 said:
Fair enough, I was not aware of that. Regardless, there was still a significant step up in graphics from the the original Xbox to the 360, which is the point I was trying to make.
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
And I agree with you. But gurpal said the Wii U is not a next gen machine, despite the fact it is.
Kezwar on 26 Oct '12 said:
I can understand why people are saying it is not. Of course in its truest sense it is most definitely a next-gen machine, but it doesn't appear to have the grunt that you would expect from a 'true' next-gen machine. Yes there is a significant step up in graphics from the Wii, but is there a significant leap up from the PS3 or 360? It doesn't look that way. Personally I consider it a 'sort of' next gen machine.
Take note, I have pre-ordered one despite this opinion.
jeffery6803 on 26 Oct '12 said:
I defend Nintendo most of the time; however on this one occasion i blame them totally. This shortage of manufacturers to produce Wii U's is not their fault, but putting region locks on consoles is their fault and this stops buyers from being able to shop elsewhere for a console unless they want to be tied to a foreign system to get games.
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
That is no different to PSN. Can't say if XBLA works the same way.
rhyfel on 26 Oct '12 said:
i remember ebay when the wii came out, there where idiots actually buying them for 4 and 5 times there value, the same thing will happen with the wii u too, i think its real underhanded to buy a few and flog them at ridiculous inflated prices but more fool the idiots who buy them, so i have a dozen on pre order and il take a grand apiece lol.
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
I don't recall who it was but someone here said their mates tried the same thing with the PS3 but it all went awry for them.
Sangor on 26 Oct '12 said:
It's totally different to PSN, the point he's trying to make is about Wii U retail games being region locked. Besides PSN is not what you would call region locked anyway, it's very easy to make a US account and points cards are available on ebay.
You buy a US game and it won't work on your Pal Wii U, but buy a US retail or PSN game and they will both work fine on a Pal PS3.
Bambis Dad on 26 Oct '12 said:
I get that, do you all think I'm slim pickings? Nintendo do this to honour their licensing agreements. Sony and Microsoft allow work arounds because their main focus is not games but domination. Sony pushed hard for region free Blu rays as it allowed for them to exploit games licensing.