Official: Nintendo drops Wii price to $199.99

by Stevie Smith - Sep 24 2009, 15:15

Much as Sony Computer Entertainment before it, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has finally moved to end months of pricing speculation by officially confirming a $50 USD cut for its best-selling Wii home console, which will come into effect from September 27.

Announced by Nintendo of America (NoA) ahead of the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, the price drop ends almost three years of fixed-price retail availability at $249.99 USD, bringing the motion-sensing Nintendo Wii to a more pocket-friendly $199.99 USD.

The tempting new price point is believed to be Nintendo’s strategic response to declining Wii sales while it also strives to hold off aggressive hardware price reductions recently made by market rivals Microsoft and Sony for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

“Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers,” commented Nintendo of America’s Cammie Dunaway regarding the price cut.

“This more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience,” she added.

Although the price cut has been confirmed for both the United States and Japan (where it will drop from 25,000 to 20,000 yen), persistent rumours suggest prospective buyers in the UK will receive a tweaked hardware bundle as opposed to a cost reduction – which may annoy rather than appease.

Specifically, UK gaming publication Eurogamer has cited a “trusted retail source” in a report that claims Nintendo will look to lure British consumers with a 199.99 GBP Wii Sports Resort hardware package bundled with Wii Sports Resort, the original Wii Sports, Wii MotionPlus, a Wii Remote, and a Nunchuk controller. 

Although unconfirmed by Nintendo at this time, the Wii Sports Resort bundle is expected to hit retail this coming October 05.

Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter.

Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group.

Around the Web