The Wii U ( ) is a video game console that was released by Nintendo on November 18, 2012, and is the successor of the Wii. The video game machine, or console, was first shown in Nintendo's press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 on June 7, 2011, and was released for sale on November 18, 2012 in North America; November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia; and December 8, 2012 in Japan. The system has been described as a part of the eighth generation of video game consoles.