Nintendo is gearing up for the EGX gaming convention in Birmingham, England, with a new Wii U bundle reveal plus a somewhat surprising game announcement. Mario Kart 8 is being packed in with the console while Pikmin 4 is close to being done, according to Shigeru Miyamoto; but is it for the Wii U or Nintendo NX?
The new Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle launches this week. It includes a pre-installed version of Mario Kart 8 along with download codes for both DLC pack. The new bundle will start at $299.99, which signals Nintendo is still not ready to reduce the price of the slow-selling console just yet.
The Wii U has maintained the $300 price point since launch with no cheaper option available except for limited time sales and store promotion. Nintendo was able to make the Deluxe Edition of the console the standard version but has not been able to bring the price down due to the cost of the Wii U GamePad. The tablet-like controller is reportedly expensive to the manufacturer, and Nintendo studiously avoids selling its consoles at a loss.
A new #WiiU configuration that includes #MK8 & Nintendo Land is now in stores at a suggested retail price of $299.99. pic.twitter.com/JQJ5eNVnfa
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 8, 2015
In brighter news, Pikmin 4 is currently in development, but it is unclear for what platform. It also appears Nintendo began work on the latest edition in the franchise not long after Pikmin 3 launched in August 2013.
“It’s actually very close to completion,” Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto told Eurogamer . “ Pikmin teams are always working on the next one.”
A follow-up with Nintendo confirmed Miyamoto’s statement but did not announce what platform it would be available on.
“We can confirm that Pikmin 4 is in development but that is all we can confirm at present,” the company said in a statement to Eurogamer .
The quick return of Pikmin is somewhat surprising as there was a nine-year gap between the release of Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3 . However, Nintendo is gearing up for the launch of is new Nintendo NX platform.
Details on the Nintendo NX platform aren’t expected to arrive until 2016 and no release date has been announced. However, suppliers are reportedly getting ready for production, as previously reported by the Inquisitr . Pikmin 4 would potentially bolster a launch line-up that is thought to include the next Legend of Zelda title and possible Dragon Quest XI .
It’s all conjecture at this point, but that is all we have as we wait for the E3 2016 for Nintendo to make the formal announcement.
What do you think of the new Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle and confirmation that Pikmin 4 is coming? Sound off in the comments below.
[Images via Nintendo ]