Nintendo set to unveil Wii successor at E3 show

Rumours that Nintendo is to launch a successor to its groundbreaking Wii games console are gathering pace, with experts predicting that details will be announced at the E3 video game conference in Los Angeles in June.

The Wii first came out in 2006 and proved hugely successful, but since then technology has moved on apace. The device now faces competition from the likes of Microsoft's Xbox Kinect, which offers a similar experience except that players do not need to hold onto a controller while playing.

However, Nintendo are rumoured to be retaining the controller rather than dumping it. Indeed, it is widely assumed Nintendo will upgrade the controller by incorporating a six-inch touchscreen that will offer extra content - like the lower screen of the handheld DS console.

It is even being suggested that the controller will be fitted with extras like a camera and will effectively function as a tablet-style games player that can be used entirely independently of the rest of the unit.

The new console has apparently been given the working title 'Project Cafe' and is being earmarked for release in 2012. Games bloggers are already reporting that companies like EA and Ubisoft have been given development kits so they can create games to coincide with the console's release.

And it is claimed that the lack of big Wii titles scheduled for release this year suggests the industry knows that the Wii, as it currently exists, has a limited lifespan. Backing that up further is the belief that a price-cut is scheduled for May - indicating that Nintendo wants to offload its current stock ahead of the new launch. ·