In what is becoming standard practice for Nintendo, demand for its upcoming Wii Fit release in the U.K. looks set to outstrip the company’s ability to supply the product.
GamesIndustry has reported that some U.K. retailers have stopped taking pre-orders for the game, including major online dealers Play.com, Amazon.co.uk, Game.co.uk, Shopto.net and Zavvi.co.uk. All five sellers are now refusing to accept pre-orders, with Play.com and Zavvi saying the game is already out of stock while Amazon is offering customers the chance to sign up for notification when replenishment stock becomes available.
In response, Nintendo U.K. issued a statement suggesting that stock is still available at some retailers, and that customers should “shop around” in order to ensure they get a copy of the game. “All retailers in the U.K. and Ireland have been aware of their Wii Fit allocations for launch since early March and as such we would see any stopping of pre-orders a sensible precaution on their part to ensure all current orders are met,” the company said. “Many retailers are still accepting pre-orders and we would advise people to shop around to secure their copy.” Nintendo added that it was doing everything it could to ensure as much product as possible was coming into the U.K. and Ireland on a continuing basis in order to minimize potential disappointment.
Nintendo’s Wii Fit is set for release in Europe on April 25, followed by a North American release on May 19. The game was released in Japan on December 1, 2007, and had sold over 1.4 million units through mid-February. For more information about the Next Big Thing from Nintendo, go to WiiFit.com.
