This "2007 Wii" model will not feature any increase in horsepower, but will come with DVD playback functionality built-in. The new model will only be available in Japan.

The Wii, on the other hand, just sits around, playing games and selling millions of units every minute or so. Can't Nintendo throw us a bone and maybe give us some DVD playback? How about music CDs?

“DVD players are now sold so cheaply and the penetration rate is so high that we did not think it was worth including and raising the price of Wii,” sez Nintendo. Maybe they're right.

This is a bit of an odd announcement. Not even a week before Wii hits stores, Nintendo says that a version of the console that features DVD movie playback will launch in late 2007. Says GameDaily ...

Since the Wii was released I have had a burning question in my mind, why can't it play DVDs or CDs? It's a feature that seems so simple and basic that we almost take it for granted. The Xbox 360 ...

Nintendo’s logic for dropping DVD playback functionality was that low-cost standalone players are widely available—though apparently not in Japan?