Revolution worldwide launch off the cards?

Wii News | PAL gamers could still have to wait.

Microsoft may have tried one, and Sony looks determined to follow suit in November, but a simultaneous worldwide launch of Nintendo's Revolution looks less likely than ever, after comments made by company head Satoru Iwata. Chatting to Bloomberg at the Game Developer's Conference last week, Iwata said, "We don't think it is necessary to do the simultaneous worldwide launch simply because others are doing this."

It's hardly official confirmation of course, but, coming from the mouth of the Nintendo president, it's arguably the next best thing. A staggered Revolution launch would hardly be surprising either, given the rather botched Xbox 360 global launch and Nintendo's tendency to prioritise NTSC regions.

The company has yet to announce a solid release date, though has already stated that it plans to launch Revolution in 2006. Just not in all territories, by the look of it.

Related Content

Revolution's Virtual Console gets expanded as Sega and Hudson sign up
24 Mar, 2006 Fancy a bit of Mega Drive?

Revolution price revealed?
31 Dec, 2005 So how much will it be?

Revolution leaks are fake
03 Aug, 2005 'First' Revolution shots revealed as hoaxes by cunning internet types.

17 Comments

mrcivic

5 years ago

Its like Nintendo hates doing what the other 2 companies are doing. Sony/MS go high-def, they don't. Sony went with CD's, Nintendo didn't. MS/Sony went online with Xbox/PS2, Nintendo didn't. Now both companies try a worldwide launch and Nintendo doesn't want to. Typical.

NismoR34

5 years ago

While I agree with you for the most part Civ, don't forget that the NES was online.

All I hope for is that Nintendo stick to that 'within 14 weeks' launch period that they have suggested before. As long as they can stick to that then I won't really mind when it is released here.

Emuaust

5 years ago

I though Id post this info here,

I run an independent game store and have found out in the last couple
of days that Nintendo Australia are deleting stock left right and center
eg, Gamecube controllers all except Wavebirds are now removed
from there official stock sheets, also I recieved an email stating that
games like Mario Kart DD, Mario Baseball and even the top selling
Mario Kart DS are all being deleted once there remaining stock has
been shifted, this is why I point this out to you all, why would they be
clearing so much stock if the rev is so far away? might not be right
but is food for thought.

If anyone wants the proper list of items being deleted then ask
as im happy to help out

Jeremy

5 years ago

Different for the sake of being different is just being stupid.

LeonJ

5 years ago

Emuaust wrote

I recieved an email stating that
games like Mario Kart DD, Mario Baseball and even the top selling
Mario Kart DS are all being deleted once there remaining stock has
been shifted, this is why I point this out to you all, why would they be
clearing so much stock if the rev is so far away? might not be right
but is food for thought.

Closer to the mark is Nintendo Australia is going under???

Stupid Nintendo Australia. Anyway, no surprises there really, I guess we'll have to wait till bloody March next year. Well, I guess Nintendo is worried about storages to, they can't even keep up with the DS production...

Does suck though, I wanted a Revolution this year

Spanca

5 years ago

I stopped getting pissed off at Nintendo Australia about 4 years ago. I bought and Xbox and stopped caring

k1dcharm

5 years ago

I have a feeling that Revolution will release in August in Japan, November in US & March 07 in Europe/Australia

thebigm

5 years ago

Why are people reading it as we aren't doing a worldwide launch when it simply states "We don't think it is necessary to do the simultaneous worldwide launch simply because others are doing this"

I read that more along the lines of, we will do our 14 week launch, but not because of Sony or Microsoft.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

^ or maybe they're simply telling the truth and not claiming a worldwide release, like the MS version of "worldwide release".

but then, MS IS american, home to "World Series" Baseball... amazing how America always seems to win that one...

admeister

5 years ago

I was really hoping for the Rev to come out this year..really. Even if it was in November.. Still, BigM has a point, that's what I thought when I read that, there may still be hope! Otherwise it will be a big let down for me..

Games Professor

5 years ago

Nintendo, nintendo...Determined to be different. By focusing on NTSC regions they are further distancing themselves from the world market and making yet another bad move in the console war which is beginning to consume their once great company. I am of the firm believe that if nothing special happens in this next generation for Nintendo, then the company may just become a niche in the future, rather than a key player in the video games industry as we know it.

VOOK

5 years ago

I know many will agree with me here Nintendo Australia need the Revolution this year, not just Nintendo Australia but Nintendo Worldwide, despite what many people think the Revolution will launch in Australia for Xmas, it may not be the same time as the rest of the world but it will be pretty damn close.

Some people are expecting September for Japan, Thanks Giving November for the US and early december here and I agree, Nintendo Australia while the DS has been successful and brought in the dough with Nintendogs (as evidence to them running a Connection Tour) one stream of solid income is'nt enough, the GBA is dieing and while some are going to the DS some are going to the PSP, so Im pretty sure the 800k worth of GBA owners wont go directly over to the DS.

Quote

I run an independent game store and have found out in the last couple
of days that Nintendo Australia are deleting stock left right and center
eg, Gamecube controllers all except Wavebirds are now removed
from there official stock sheets, also I recieved an email stating that
games like Mario Kart DD, Mario Baseball and even the top selling
Mario Kart DS are all being deleted once there remaining stock has
been shifted, this is why I point this out to you all, why would they be
clearing so much stock if the rev is so far away? might not be right
but is food for thought.

While I can understand older games being deleted, Mario Kart DS does concern me but also allays my fears because I know that Nintendo alway dumped products after a certain time, due to the way Nintendo Australia is set up and the size of their business retaining inventory is expense, and yeh another reason is the upcoming Revolutio, DS Lites etc.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

ZNMS

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

I stopped getting pissed off at Nintendo Australia about four years ago. I bought an Xbox and stopped caring.

Same here. Though, I'm still pissed off.

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

"I know many will agree with me here Nintendo Australia need the Revolution this year, not just Nintendo Australia but Nintendo Worldwide"

I'm afraid I'd have to disagree there. I mean, let's face facts: Australia, in the grand scale of things, is small. With a population of just over 20 million, it can't hope to compare with Europe (725 million), the US (295 million) or Japan (128 million). As far as PAL regions go, there could certainly be a case made that Nintendo is neglecting Europe - I've read more than one report in the past year or so suggesting that Europe could be the second biggest market for videogames by 2010, and that's something Nintendo should consider IMO.

It's an unfortunate fact certainly, and it's probably not what people on this site want to read, but the truth is this: "Nintendo Worldwide" doesn't need to see the Rev in Australia in 2006.

VOOK

5 years ago

I think you confused what I said a bit or I came across wrong, I meant that Nintendo Australia (as in the company) need the Revolution to come out so continue cash flow. The DS can't support them by itself, and the GBA market share is dropping and the Cube is flat lined here, it ain’t dead but it ain’t going no where.

So yeah Nintendo Worldwide doesn’t need Australia to have the Revolution, the amount of people buying one in Australia would be significantly smaller then say in Japan however Nintendo "Worldwide" (as a collective whole) needs the Revolution in 2006, whether Australia is included or not.