Refreshed Wii Holiday Bundle Ships October 23

Nintendo is refreshing its Wii console in time for the holiday shopping season -- Huzzah! It's going to sport a slimmer, sleeker design and be part of a holiday bundle that includes the New Super Bros. Wii game, a special Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack CD that isn't available anywhere else, a black Wii Remote Plus controller, and black Nunchuk controller -- double huzzah! It will be stripped of its ability to play Gamecube games, and it won't come with any kind of price cut to make up for it -- triple huzza... wait, what?

Nintendo says the refreshed Wii console will no longer be compatible with Gamecube software and accessories, so take that into consideration if you're sitting on a library of dated games. We don't have an issue with Nintendo ditching backwards compatibility, though it does seem rather strange that there's no price cut to make up for it. You should also note that Nintendo designed the refreshed Wii to sit horizontal rather than vertically, so make sure there's enough room on your entertainment center.


The holiday bundle will be available starting October 23, 2011 for $150. Alternately, Nintendo said it will continue to sell the standard Wii bundle in black or white with matching Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, Mario Kart Wii game, and Wii Wheel accessory, also for $150. Isn't having a choice simply grand?