The Wii U is a "tremendously powerful system", Nintendo of America's president Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed, before questioning "the role" of competitive platforms.

"We're about to launch a tremendously powerful system," Reggie told IGN.

"A system that pushes out great graphics, a system that has an opportunity to do a lot of things.

"I think in the end, the consumer choice is going to be... Once I buy my Wii U, that satisfies my Nintendo cravings and my cravings for all of these other great multi-platform franchises, then what is the role of a competitive platform? It's going to have to live on the backs of some sort of unique proposition, or unique content.

"And to me that's the million-dollar question. Of our potential competitors down the road, who's going to have that compelling content that's going to say, hey, now I need to branch out and pick up this additional system? I think it's for them to answer."

The technical capabilities of the Wii U still haven't been formally addressed by Nintendo, with a spec sheet released earlier this week failing to deliver specific information on the hardware's GPU, memory or processing power.

The console is rumoured to be on par with current generation HD systems and significantly less powerful than Xbox 720/PS4.

Back in March, however, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford said that "the Wii U version [of upcoming shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines] has so much more to offer", adding that "no other platform can do what the Wii U can do".

Earlier today, UK retailer ShopTo pinned a £279 price on Wii U.

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