Nintendo has announced a slew of launch dates for the Holiday 2014 release window that includes Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and the Amiibo line of NFC figurines.
First off the bat, and confirming past speculation, the release date for Smash Bros. Wii U will be November 21 in North America. Europe and Australia will see a release on December 5 and 6 respectively. Japanese audiences will also see the game drop on December 6. In addition, Nintendo’s first foray into NFC figures will see their first wave introduced in North America on November 21 and Europe on November 28.
Rounding out the release date announcements, the North American street date for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for the Wii U will be December 5. European and Australian dates have not yet been announced, while Japan’s is still slated for Q4 2014. Surprisingly, Captain Toad will retail for $40 USD and support select Amiibo figurines.
RisnDevil
So glad to see this. I’m not 100% decided on if I’m buying Captain Toad, but heard yesterday that it might be delayed. That wouldn’t have been cool at all! And the price is even better!
As for Smash Bros, I’ll put it on my Christmas list, but not going to be heartbroken if I don’t get it. I didn’t notice: is there a bundle with the game, the adapter, and the Mario Amiibo?
Colin Crompton
North America wins the localization race again. Still its only a few weeks difference compared to the three months us Brits had to wait for Brawl.
Holly Fellmeth
Again?! You guys got Prof. Layton vs. Phoenix Wright way before us, plus there was Hyrule Warriors, Wonderful 101, and ALL of the Operation Rainfall titles. I know I’m going back a bit, but NA deserves this, I tell you! ;p
RisnDevil
Have to agree with Holly. I also think any release that is within weeks of each other is a negligible difference. That having been said, while Europe may have been neglected “back in the day,” North America is the new region to cheap out on. It’s also not just how much later we get releases, but how many more special editions and cool things you guys get too.
Colin Crompton
I would gladly trade in all the early releases/special editions just to have Shin Megami Tensei IV on my 3DS! Unfortunately, we still have to wait at least another two months.
I guess you are right though,these days NoA seems to be dropping the ball a lot lately when it comes to releases. However,back when the DS was really going strong the amount of games that skipped Europe was ridiculous, especially high quality titles like Radiant Historia.
Don’t you think its odd how the 3DS version was released in Europe and North America simultaneously. Yet the Wii U version has a two week gap.
Holly Fellmeth
That’s not the only thing I find odd: Japan isn’t getting it until December 6th. Oh well! We get it first, muahaha!
RisnDevil
You know, if you think about it, it’s really not that odd. North America has the largest potential audience: we have a much greater population than Europe and CONSOLE (non-portable) gaming has been on a MAJOR decline in Japan for years.
Colin Crompton
That probably explains why Japan was the last territory the Wii U launched in.
RisnDevil
And yet the Japanese sensibility/desire for a small, quiet, power NON-hungry machine was still a core design idea for the system…kind of shows how bass ackwards their ideology was, huh?