Euro Wii in March 2007?

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 September, 2006

Says Argos. We'll find out Friday.

Looks like Europe might be losing out yet again - Argos has updated its website with a banner advertising the "March 2007" launch of Nintendo Wii.

You can see the offending graphic at the top of its games section. Reports suggest it used to say "Winter 2006".

There is a slight glimmer of hope in this, however, as it was only last week that Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton claimed that a November 24th date/GBP 149 price report being bandied around for the European launch was "not far off".

Pessimists will of course point out that it wasn't clear whether he was referring to the date or the price.

Nintendo is holding a press conference in London at 12PM BST on Friday to announce its European plans for Wii, having given the console a November 19th US and a December 2nd Japanese date on Thursday.

We'll be out in force, as ever, with live text commentary to keep you up to date on whatever occurs. Watch out for some purple words if things go according to Argos' update.

Update Friday: And now they've changed it back to winter. WE SAW YOU.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • caligari #1 5 years ago

    !

  • Lex_Luthor #2 5 years ago

    Sid Nice sez in't forum: "An anonymous friend of mine has just got off the phone from customer support at Argos; he was on for over 50 minutes getting moved from one department to the other. He was unofficially told that the reason behind the Argos Wii release date changing to March 2007 was that Game UK has the distribution rights to 400,000 units in the 4th quarter of 2006. He was also told that Argos don’t intend stocking the Wii until the Easter period after Nintendo’s snub."

  • MilkYMoO #3 5 years ago

    Oh jaysus no.

  • Kazzahdrane #4 5 years ago

    If they do that, I'll be annoyed but would hope that we'd then get a better launch in terms of available titles. Mind you, Nintendo would be CRAZY to miss this Extra Special Xmas season where Sony have nothing decent to sell in Europe.

  • toy_brain #5 5 years ago

    Looks like the Argos graphic thingy has been changed to "Winter 2006" now.
    Edit: nope.. eh, its changed back to 2007!
    What the hell is going on with my internet browser these days?

    Oh well, I'll be annoyed if Nintendo really does go for a March 2007 launch, though I guess it means I'll be having a very cheap Xmas this year.
    But either way, if they go up against the PS3 launch (and hopefully it'll have a strong and WELL STOCKED launch in europe), even at the lower price, the Wii will most likely get absolutely anialhated.
    Sony is just a much stronger brand in Europe, by a long way.
    Edited by 2 at 14/09/06 @ 21:43

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #6 5 years ago

    Still says "March 2007" on my screen. I guess we'll find out in the morning.

  • SeesThroughAll #7 5 years ago

    Nintendo to leave Microsoft unchallenged? Please, no...

  • Sid-Nice #8 5 years ago

    Well if Sid sez that then it must be true. :)

  • Lex_Luthor #9 5 years ago

    I trust you Sid ;)

  • morriss #10 5 years ago

    I trust Sid with his life.

  • Darkbeat #11 5 years ago

    Its gonna be 2006 >:(

    Basta!

  • plok #12 5 years ago

    :-o!!!!

    No...no....noooooooo. I won't accept this. :'(

  • phl0w #13 5 years ago

    Honestly, I don't care... at all. There's so much studying and playing to be done that even March'07 is too early. Don't need any new games as long as I haven't finished all the classics of the current-gen. Heck, I haven't even played, hence finished all the last-gen games yet. This time I want to be thorough.

  • Sorb #14 5 years ago

    According to the Bergsala, the Nintendo distributor in the Nordic countries and the Baltic region the Wii will be released in Sweden in early December. That´s on IDG.se today. Although their media contact person also claims the Wii will be bundled with Zelda in the USA so who knows how much he has been drinking.

  • Psi #15 5 years ago

    fuck it ive had a drink and ill import if needed

  • deepmenace #16 5 years ago

    are game gonna force us to buy all launch titles with each console sale?

  • ekko #17 5 years ago

    I'm scared of importing due to this Connect24 business. I want it this year... please Nintendo, just once don't screw us... please...

  • richardiox #18 5 years ago

    Forced budle with Cars, Spongebob and Marvel Ultimate Alliance thus invalidating the whole price pointing.

  • ProtoformX #19 5 years ago

    It's tricky to say what Game's bundles will be like. When they released the 360 you had to buy it in set bundle deals. Hopefully they won't be too strict this time round and the Wii deals won't follow with the rest of the Nintendo deals that are being run by Game. The DS Lite deal is spectacularly crap right now.
    I think it's a bit mean of Game to attempt to secure first dibs on the console. People should be able to shop around for the things.

  • X201 #20 5 years ago

    A friend at Game has just sent me the details of their Wii bundle

    Seven games for the Vic 20
    A plastic Bonnie Langford gnome
    A crappy 3rd party Wii controller, with extension cable.
    A 24k memory card
    and an oven ready chicken

    All for the bargain price of £455 (Wii extra)
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/06 @ 22:41

  • quantumsheep #21 5 years ago

    Sold!!!

  • captain-future #22 5 years ago

    Will they give Xbox 360 the Lufthoheit over Christmas 2006???

    /is near tears.

  • Dexter #23 5 years ago

    Is the chicken basted?

  • X201 #24 5 years ago

    "Is the chicken basted?"

    The chicken knew both of it's parents.
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/06 @ 22:47

  • jenguin #25 5 years ago

    "It's tricky to say what Game's bundles will be like. When they released the 360 you had to buy it in set bundle deals."

    no you didn't. Depended on the store manager. I didn't.

    J

  • Carlo #26 5 years ago

    Maybe the guy who updated the graphics is a MS/Sony fanboy, and is getting a real hard-on just seeing all this news about he little old picture...

    (It's probably right though)

  • doctor__no #27 5 years ago

    Several sites have been reporting December 1st for Europe.

    Nintendo have already announced they have 4 million ready by the end of 2006, more then enough for US, Japan and EU.

  • WhyMeeeeee #28 5 years ago

    it just shows how much the japs think us europeans are insignificant, screw them I LOVE MY XBOX360
    microsoft +1000000 kudos (worldwide release)

  • VeniVidiFlati #29 5 years ago

    My money's on Dec 1st (pretty much guaranteed), £149.99, games from Ninty £39.99, other publishers the same mostly, although some may stretch to £44.99 (a la £44.99 on Kameo on 360 at launch iirc, but most other pubs £49.99).

    Not sure about bundling WiiSports, there's arguments for and against, but I reckon based on the price (£37 more than Jap console, £17 more than US which has WiiSports bundled) it would be foolish not to.

    And I think there's going to be a fair chunk of stock available too, enough that it will be comfortably the quickest selling home console (currently 360 which did about 75-80k on the first weekend). Closer to the 100k for Wii I think.

    I really wouldn't read anything into what Argos have on their website. Still, we can all stop speculating after tomorrow...

    Edit - balls to it, I give up trying to do html. And spelling seems beyond me tonight too :(

    Oh, and Game getting exclusivity for 5 months? Sounds a bit far fetched, would be one hell of a coup for them. Pretty much completely unprecedented. Can't see it myself.
    Edited by 3 at 14/09/06 @ 23:28

  • rinoaMW #30 5 years ago

    what Lex_luthor said that Sid Nice sez sounds the most likely ;)

    Seeing as GAME got the exclusive on Lego SW 2 on the GC, it wouldn't surprise me if they snuffle up all the Wii's and Zelda on the CUBE too before christmas.

    This is pure speculation ofc :)

  • PatrickEwing #31 5 years ago

    fuck Argos, I'm not getting one from them now.

  • TakeTheVeil #32 5 years ago

    well its region free so just import it from lik-sang.com like i am

  • Darkuss #33 5 years ago

    Noooooooooooooo...........

    That is getting old....the surprising news would be if they didn't postpone it

  • urban #34 5 years ago

    toddle off to london then

  • blender #35 5 years ago

    goto offending picture on argos website

    roll mouse over picture and read caption

    2006

  • corimi #36 5 years ago

    Go to Argos website , find page with the Wii and PS3 pics and View Source.

    Image alt tag for Wii is "Nintendo Wii launching winter 2006, click here for details, this will open a new window"!!!


    ...image alt tag for PS3 is "Playstation 3 launching 17th November, click here for details, this will open a new window"

    Unless that's November 17th, 2007?

  • Iceberg #37 5 years ago

    Check it out

    [link url=http://www.argos.co.uk/wcsstore/argos/images/wii_sm.gif
    ]    http://ww w.argos.co.uk/wcsstore/argos/im...[/link]

    Launching Winter 2006...

  • L0cky #38 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ catalogId/10001/identifier/8163496.htm
    ]http://ww w.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/cat...[/link]

    Looks like they changed it back... mysterier and mysterier

  • corimi #39 5 years ago

    Think I'll spend my xmas cash on seagrass washbaskets and 15 foot high rotating cd racks from argos instead this year

  • soanso #40 5 years ago

    Mayeb Argos got confused as to what console was being put back?

    I'm a bit aprehensive about the Wii launch though. How many times int he past have Nintendo done lots of cool interesting looking things elsewhere and then snubbed europe.
    Ok. Don't answer that. We haven't got all week.

    But why have a big press event the day after you unveil the US and Jap details if you're not going to launch at the same time here.
    It'd be madness.
    The lack of a PS3 in europe means that the Wii should have been put out here asap.
    A 4 or 5 month head start and a massive price advantage as well as the software line up which by then will be bigger and more diverse than sony's would put Wii in one hell of a position.

  • Nikanoru #41 5 years ago

    It now says winter 2006, and I visited the site for the first time so it's not in my cache. So: Argos not to be taken seriously.

  • Sko #42 5 years ago

    If they (like Sid assures us) aren't planning to stock the console until March 2007 despite it coming out Winter 2006, the term 'Launching March 2007' does seem a little bit of an odd way to phrase it.

    Maybe their switch back to Winter 2006 implies Ninty found out and gave them slapped dannies. :)

  • Gl3n #43 5 years ago

    _fucked_off_

  • nicehobo #44 5 years ago

    im pretty sure nintendo isnt so tackless that they would hold a press conference to announce that they are not releasing the wii in europe especially when that press conference i in europe i mean with the DS we didnt find out it was coming out in march till around jan / february. it just seems pointless to me. if they were going to hold it back they would just have released a press release today amongst all the wii news and hope it gets lost

  • rare_uk #45 5 years ago

    Please don't let this be true!!! I've not received an email from the either.

    Hey! Maybe they'll give it to us first, as USA get their's before Japan and maybe they think "what the hell! Let's release in Europe first"

    Yeah right!!
    Edited by 3 at 15/09/06 @ 07:30

  • Tonka #46 5 years ago

    Why does mine say Winter 2006?
    Even after a cache clear?

  • #47 5 years ago

    They've changed it, mine now says winter after saying march yesterday.

  • morriss #48 5 years ago

    It says that on page one Mappy me ol' mate. Icberg revealed all earlier.

  • The_Foo_Fighter #49 5 years ago

    Come on, though - who's really going to buy from Argos? They always charge full whack and I for one don't wish to risk having to mingle with sovereign ring-buying chavs and in that 'shop.'

  • nakke #50 5 years ago

    NO!!! NO. NO! No.

    Well, Nintendo will never fail us, as they didn't with the DS either, right?

  • zozart #51 5 years ago

    Mine says Winter 2006 too.

  • doctor_nick #52 5 years ago

    I'm with The_Foo_Fighter - don't spend too long browsing around the 'laminated book of dreams' emporium or your eyes'll bleed.

    Perhaps we can just wait a few hours and find out for sure - at least it's Friday now :-)

  • #53 5 years ago

    stop following me around morriss, unless you are a rather fit bird with t3h large boobies. If so, my number is 1-880-I-WANT-IT ;)

  • captainrentboy #54 5 years ago

    I work in Game and any of you out there that take those 'forced' bundles we're occasionally accused of doing (I think it's actually diffferent in every region as we've never had to force bundles on folk)need your head examined.The company can't force anything on you,one mild threat to ring head office/customer services is all it usually takes,especially if you've pre ordered one,you pre ordered just a console,Thats it!

  • morriss #55 5 years ago

    But you're the only person I know round here!! :(

  • #56 5 years ago

    In that case come on round for a nice cup of tea and a sit down (google it for the best biccie reviews in the world!).

  • morriss #57 5 years ago

    :)

  • dk_rare #58 5 years ago

    But just like, today, they said they hope for a worldwide shipment by xmas? or sum shit like that

  • Dizzy #59 5 years ago

    What?

    Nooooooo!!!!!

    Oh well...

    /strokes 360

  • Carpathian #60 5 years ago

    Metro newspaper saying £115 and "before Christmas" this morning !

    Shoddy guess, bungled price conversion assumption or startling back-of-the-net ?

    I guess we'll see !
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/06 @ 08:56

  • chronom4n #61 5 years ago

    why do people want to believe Argos when it comes to gaming news this important?

  • penhalion #62 5 years ago

    Isn't the uk date December 19th then?

  • spongebob #63 5 years ago

    If Wii doesn't launch before Christmas 2006 at least one thing is official:
    Europeans get screwed once again.

  • ralphwolfenstein #64 5 years ago

    two pages of comments because a non-specialist retailer can't manage its online merchandising?

    muppets, the lot of you

  • rinoaMW #65 5 years ago

    I bet Argos have never had so many hits before ;)

  • dredd97 #66 5 years ago

    nintendo wii

    i predict a december 15th launch date 2006 at a price of £179.99 including one controller and the ninty sports game, and some nintendo market points..

    however...

    with 4 million consoles being made available between november and end of december, and with the US getting the lions share of the hardware I'll not be surprised if it was dropped till march 2007, because 'USA is ninty's critical market' and they have a history of shafting us poor europeans, so the status quo will probably remain


  • Caimbeul #67 5 years ago

    "My money's on Dec 1st (pretty much guaranteed), £149.99, games from Ninty £39.99, other publishers the same mostly, although some may stretch to £44.99 (a la £44.99 on Kameo on 360 at launch iirc, but most other pubs £49.99).

    Not sure about bundling WiiSports, there's arguments for and against, but I reckon based on the price (£37 more than Jap console, £17 more than US which has WiiSports bundled) it would be foolish not to."

    Nintendo would be mad to do this given the development costs are no more than that of the gamecube and it would be the opposite of their getting everyone involved in gaming philosophy by pricing them all out. X360 games dont warrant £50 a shot. £20 - £40 should be the pricing range. C'mon Nintendo, dont fcuk us all over!

  • Caimbeul #68 5 years ago

    "Metro newspaper saying £115 and "before Christmas" this morning ! "

    I'd buy two at that price! One for bedroom fishing with zelda and one for the living room! lol

  • Redeye #69 5 years ago

    Argos - talking bollocks since 1983. Or something.


  • the_dudefather #70 5 years ago

    i remember getting a super cheap Gamecube back in't day from Argos with eternal darkness

    still my favorite gamecube game along with resident evil 4