Nintendo reconfirms 2012 release for Wii U, learned 'bitter lesson' from 3DS

If today's Nintendo news has you sweating with anticipation for the Wii U, you won't have to wait much longer. The Japanese games maker promises to showcase the system in its "final format" at E3 later this year. If you want to buy the system, you'll be pleased to know that the Wii U will be on sale "in time for the year-end sales season."

While we will undoubtedly have to wait until E3 to see the system's launch library in action, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says that it will be key to launch the system with key games. He points to the 3DS, which many pointed to as a disappointing follow-up to the DS line. Nintendo blamed the lack of key launch titles as a reason for the handheld's sluggish start. "The company is aiming to firmly complete the development of the entire system and prepare sufficient software so that the Wii U will be at its best at the time of the launch," Nintendo's Satoru Iwata promised. "Needless to say, we have learned a bitter lesson from the launch of the Nintendo 3DS."

3DS sales have surged over the recent months, thanks to a price cut and the launch of two Mario games.