TRENDING NOW: The Wii U price and launch date

Nintendo has this morning confirmed a December 8th launch for the Wii U in Japan.

More interesting, though, is the price. The console will come in two flavours – a Basic set that will retail for 26,250 (210) and a Premium set for 31,500 (250). Additional Gamepads will cost just under 110 a piece.

We’ll find out for certain what this means for Europe at Nintendo’s second event, taking place at 3pm UK time. But in the mean time here’s a selection of tweets that paint a very mixed response:

https://twitter.com/mjroche/status/246151731405258753https://twitter.com/kmurphy91/status/246167688777445376https://twitter.com/si_lumb/status/246165309428494336

If you think the Wii U pricing is bad, BOY HOWDY you're not gonna like E3 next year!

— Sean Bell (@CaptainToss) September 13, 2012

https://twitter.com/patlike/status/246153051956719616

Size of memory storage on Wii U clearly highlights Nintendo's online strategy.

— Stuart Turner (@OnlyOneT) September 13, 2012

@BenParfitt £250 doesn't do it for me. £180 plus £70 on games, sure. But not £250 then games on top of that. I'll just go Wonderbook 4 Xmas.

— Wesley Copeland (@Wesley_Copeland) September 13, 2012

https://twitter.com/almostgames/status/246161271664287744https://twitter.com/AGBear/status/246160930461859840

@BenParfitt pretty worrying that it's out in Japan so late in the year – I fear a Q1 2013 release for Europe/US

— Kai (@Kai159) September 13, 2012

@BenParfitt Also, Nintendo will regret it if they don't manage to release it in UK&US in time for Christmas.

— Brian Ashford (@BrianBloodaxe) September 13, 2012

https://twitter.com/misterbrilliant/status/246172273357254658