The Wii has now arrived in Europe ahead of its launch on December 8, Nintendo says there has been an unprecedented number of pre-orders and that demand for the system will be exceptional.

Nintendo Europes Marketing Director says “”We’re launching a great product and we knew that demand would be high. Obviously, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that everyone who wants one gets one.”” Nintendo looks to have as much trouble keeping the Wii in stock in Europe as it has in the US.

Full Press release inside

November 29 2006 A huge shipment of Nintendo’s new system, Wii, has now arrived in Europe ahead of launch on December 8 and with an unprecedented number of pre-orders having been taken, it is likely that there will be exceptional demand for the system when it goes on sale in Europe.

Nintendo is doing their utmost to replenish stocks and ensure that as many people as possible who want to experience Wii, can do so in time for Christmas. But the message for shoppers is clear to play with Wii, or just to get your hands on one, you need to get moving!

“”We’re launching a great product and we knew that demand would be high. Nintendo’s expansion of the gaming market is paying dividends and Wii really is the ‘must have’ item for Christmas. Obviously, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that everyone who wants one, gets one.””
– Laurent Fischer, Marketing Director, Nintendo of Europe

Nintendo is shipping an exceptionally large number of consoles – 4 million globally by the end of 2006 – the largest ever for a Nintendo console launch. Wii launched in the US on November 19 and sold over 600,000 consoles in just one week. Thats a rate of nearly one per second continuously since the launch date. The European and Japanese launches follow close behind Europe on December 8 and Japan on December 2.

The intuitive, motion sensitive control of Wii means that a much wider audience than traditional ‘gamers’ are interested in the console hence the surge in demand as Nintendo continues to broaden the video games market. Across Europe this year, Nintendo has reached an installed base of 7 million with the handheld, touch-screen Nintendo DS console success which Wii aims to replicate in the home.