Wii U to launch November 18 in North America, has expandable memory

Wii U will arrive at North American retail in November in two different skus, Nintendo has announced.

The release date for the console was revealed as part of Nintendo's New York City event this morning, hosted by NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime.

It will release in two SKUs:

• Basic set: A white Wii U console with 8GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI cable for $299.99.
• Deluxe Set: All components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table for $349.99.

Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014 and more on this will be announced "soon" said Fils-Aime.

The memory in Wii U is also expandable, according to Engadget.

"You can plug in a full-on three terabyte hard drive if you want. I'll love you as a digital consumer," Fils-Aime told the tech blog. "The reason we did it that way is that the cost of that type of storage memory is plummeting.

"What we didn't want to do is tie a profit model to something that's gonna rapidly decline over time. We'll let the consumer buy as much as they want, as cheaply as they want."

Nintendo simultaneously held a streaming Nintendo Direct conference for Europe, where the release date for the console was announced as November 30.

In Japan, the console will release on December 8, which was announced via a Nintendo Direct conference hosted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

Another presentation in Japan this morning, focused on the software releasing for the console.

Specs for the system can be found through here.

GameStop is now taking pre-orders for the console, and if you trade-in select hardware, you can save up to $140 on the price. PowerUp Rewards members will save an additional $10.

Here's the savings break down:

• $90 when you trade any Original model Xbox 360, PS Vita or 3DS system
• $115 when you trade any Original model PS3 or Slim model Xbox 360 system
• $140 when you trade any Slim model PS3
• $50 when you trade any Wii system

Wii U will land at North American retail on November 18.

You can watch a repeat of the live stream through Nintendo's website.