We’ve known for a while that Nintendo is looking to be the first of the big three console makers to hit the market with its next-generation machine, but the company only recently showed us the details of the Wii U’s launch date and pricing details.

Photo credit: Nintendo

The Wii U is seemingly intended to be something more than a plain video game console. It is supposed to support video streaming content and function as a home entertainment center. This function is bolstered by the console’s touch screen-equipped, almost tablet-like controller. This controller would support such situation-specific content like scores for sports broadcasts, TV show details and movie previews.

There have also been widespread expectations that the console would hit store shelves before the holiday season, and in simultaneous presentations in Japan, North America and Europe, Nintendo confirmed just that.

Just like the original Wii, North American consumers could expect to be the first to get the Wii U, on November 18. Europe will follow on November 30, while buyers in Japan would have to wait until December 8 to get the new Nintendo console. Two variants will initially be available: the entry-level model will come with 8GB of storage for $299.99, while the 32GB model will cost $349.99.

While Nintendo hasn’t yet confirmed the console’s lineup of launch games, it has promised that there would be 50 titles that would be released in the five months from the Wii U’s initial availability to March 2013. It has described this lineup as the “strongest for any Nintendo home platform” in its history.