More information has become available regarding the timing of the “Wii 2” as the recently-confirmed follow-up console has been unofficially known ever since the first speculative ideas began to circulate among the gaming community.
Specifically, past reports that the hardware release timing would depend on the inability of developers to continuously surprise with the Wii as we currently know it would determine the point at which the next console would become viable for release have now been fulfilled as noted by Satoru Iwata during Nintendo’s Osaka fiscal press briefing.
“It became difficult for developers to surprise customers with the current Wii,” Iwata confirmed as a primary reason for the release timing, adding that “We will offer something new for home game systems.” That being said, it should be noted that 3D gaming may or may not part of those plans like they are with Sony (or even within the Big N itself compared to the recently-released 3DS) as the current installed base of 3D-capable HDTV units would be a major factor thereof, according to Iwata.
Iwata also stated that the absence of the so-called “Wii 2” (or alternatively “Project Café”) from the company’s fiscal 2012 sales projections (which terminate on March 31) was completely intentional due to current release scheduling plans, which he noted will be after April 2012 at the earliest. That said, early versions of the hardware will be made available for preview during E3, complete with the first playable games and tech demos alongside official specifications (of which some have already been unofficially confirmed).
Source: Andriasang
