While Wii U owners in North America will have to wait until December for Nintendo TVii, and Europeans will have to wait until sometime in 2013, Japan will be getting the new Nintendo TVii service at launch. Nintendo TVii is a new service exclusive to the Wii U, and allows users to watch TV, stream movies and other content, control their DVRs, and more.
The Wii U launches in Japan on December 8 and will be priced a bit higher than in North America and Europe. The Basic model will retail for about $335, while the Deluxe model will cost just over $400. Unlike in other territories, Japanese gamers will be able to purchase an extra GamePad, which will cost $170.
The Japanese version of Nintendo TVii will be powered by IPG, and users will be able to purchase a 100-yen ($1.25 USD) “unlock” to change channels. This is likely a “parental protection” thing just like Nintendo charged 50 cents when the Wii U is used by a minor.
