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Wii price cut nearing

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Wii price cut nearing

Toys R Us ad is the latest evidence that Nintendo is planning to drop the Wii’s RRP

Nintendo is remaining tight-lipped, but it’s appearing almost certain now that the platform holder is to cut the price of its Wii console at the end of the month – most likely at its Tokyo Game Show event.

The latest evidence comes in the form or a Toys R Us advertisement obtained by Kotaku. It indicates that at the end of the month the retailer is to drop the machine from $249.99 to $199.99 in North America.

The package pictured includes Wii Sports, suggesting that Nintendo won’t be following Microsoft and Sony’s lead by introducing multiple SKUs.

Similar claims emerged from US retailer Wal Mart yesterday, whilst industry leaders indicated to MCV earlier this month that a Wii price cut is needed if the machine is to maintain its sales lead over Xbox 360 and PS3.

Despite upping the price of the console in the UK earlier this year, Nintendo has seen increasing pressure put on the machine’s RRP as year-on-year sales continue to slump.

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The Wii remains the only current console to still sell for its launch RRP in most territories. Whether the upcoming price cut will simply take Wii back down to its previous price of £179.99 or offer an additional cost on top – perhaps to £149.99 – remains to be seen.

im not sure

posted by henry ford Sep 15, 2009 at 10:52 am
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henry ford

im not sure this will have the same effect as the ps3 price drop,
i mean there has been so many wiis already sold,and even if more were to be sold, the software doesnt seem to sell in large amounts

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bad move

posted by Burner Sep 15, 2009 at 3:06 pm
2
Burner

I don't think a price drop is needed. hardware still sells fairly well. Motion control is still a point of difference from Sony and Microsoft.

major retailers are just assuming that because other manufacturers have dropped their prices Nintendo should follow suit. Sales were bound to jump on 360 and PS3 price drops.

Maybe a new SKU would help with a different game added or maybe an extra controller? I do think that software will be the Wiis downfall, more quality product should prolong the machines longevity.

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