Retailers shocked as Nintendo increases Wii price

by Stevie Smith - Mar 13 2009, 17:00

While Microsoft and Sony are continually striving to boost the appeal of their respective home videogame consoles by shaving increments off the pricing of their hardware platforms, this generation’s market leader Nintendo is evidently enjoying so much success it’s increasing UK prices rather then reducing them.

Although the trickle-down effect on high street consumer prices has yet to be established – though probably unavoidable in a negative sense – Nintendo has said it is adding almost 20 GBP to the per unit trade price of its hugely popular Wii console, an announcement that has come as something of a shock to retail outlets.

However, while initial knee-jerk assessment would suggest Nintendo’s decision is based on the huge popularity of its home console, Nintendo’s reasoning supposedly stems from the “continuing depreciation of the pound.”

“We are only – reluctantly – raising our trade price now to retailers due to unprecedented and sustained depreciation of the pound,” explained Nintendo in a GamesIndustry report.

“This is a problem brought about by extreme currency fluctuations that are a symptom of the global economic situation,” it added. “The price that [retailers] then offer to consumers is, of course, up to the retailers.”

Speaking with games industry publication MCV, a spokesperson for HMV commented that the retail giant is “still digesting this announcement” and is still in the process of evaluating a response to it.

Similarly, a representative from electronics specialist Comet said the price increase is a definite shock and “not a welcome one.” And, while not offering its customers any concrete assurances as to the safety of existing shelf prices, the chain has said it will attempt to remain competitive.

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