According to Wii news website The Wiire, video game retailer GameStop will begin its pre-order program this Friday (October 13) for Nintendo's upcoming Wii console. This follows the retailer's PlayStation 3 pre-order plan, which started and finished across the U.S early yesterday because of extremely limited supplies.

The report indicates GameStop "confirmed" that consumers will be able to pre-order Wii hardware for the first time starting Friday. This will be an in-store program (at GameStop and EB locations across the country) and gamers will be asked to put down between $25 and $50 to reserve the console. That money, of course, goes towards the final purchase price of $249.99 for the bundle, which includes a copy of Wii Sports.

Nintendo has yet to specify how many Wii units will be available on launch day, although the company has repeatedly stated that 4 million Wiis will be shipped worldwide by the end of this year. A recent analyst report suggested that Nintendo may even be ahead of that production goal.

GameDaily BIZ has contacted GameStop corporate regarding the Wii pre-order situation. As of press time, our calls have not yet been returned.

[UPDATE] While attempts to get comment from GameStop corporate have not yet been successful, we did speak to several GameStop store managers in the NY area. One manager who had already heard of the Wii pre-orders on Friday story told us, "It's just rumor," and then added, "They tend to tell us [about pre-order plans] the day before."

Another manager seemed to be in a similar situation, noting that with the recent PS3 pre-orders, "We got hit with the PS3 the day before... it was crazy."

[UPDATE 2] GameStop management has confirmed to GameDaily BIZ that this Friday will indeed mark the beginning of their Nintendo Wii pre-order program. Units are expected to clock in, on average, around 50 per store, although that figure has not yet been confirmed by GameStop corporate.

[UPDATE 3] The pre-order notice is now on the GameStop website as well. The reservation fee is indeed $50, and as with the PS3 supply will be "extremely limited." Placing a pre-order does not guarantee that you will get a system, GameStop pointed out. A "limited online pre-order program" will be announced at a later date.