Rumor: Nintendo Confirms Wii Price Cut to Retailers

[John Funk]

Rumor: Nintendo Confirms Wii Price Cut to Retailers

In a conference call with major retailers, Nintendo reportedly confirmed previous rumors that it would be slashing the Wii's price to $200 before the end of the month.

Last week, we saw what was supposedly a leaked Toys 'R' Us ad [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94692-Toys-R-Us-Ad-Foreshadows-Wii-Price-Cut-to-200] that suggested the Nintendo Wii would be following suit with its competitors with a price cut, but it was, of course, a rumor. Even if true, there wasn't anything to necessarily suggest that the cut was from Nintendo and not a retailer-only sale.

News making the rounds on the Internet, however, seems to confirm previous rumors: The Wii will be receiving a $50 price cut to $199 by the end of September. This confirmation comes from a conference call between representatives of Nintendo and major retailers - a conference call where a Nintendojo representative [http://www.nintendojo.com/infocus/view_item.php?1253311668] was in attendance.

Yes, this too is just a rumor. Hopefully, we won't have to wait for a third rumor to corroborate the first two - if true, the supposed price cut will be going into effect by the end of the week, hitting retailers nationwide on Sunday, September 27th. Either way, we'll find out if this is real or bogus soon enough.

(Via VG247 [http://www.vg247.com/2009/09/21/report-retailer-conference-call-confirms-wii-price-cut/])

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[Eri]

Stupid thing won't die. Gah.

 

[IamQ]

Stupid thing won't die. Gah.

Yes, because we are truly hurt by it's existance. Just hearing it's name rips peices of our flesh away!

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Stupid thing won't die. Gah.

Didn't realise it kidnapped your parents and stomped a mudhole in your dog mate, chill out.

Too early. I guess it's better to do it while the sales are still strong, but surely a November cut would have been smarter? I guess maybe it's because of the other two cuts.

 

[Simalacrum]

considering the number of rumours that have been going around, I would be suprised if the price didn't fall. I'm also pretty sure that UK is going to get a really crap deal in comparison to the rest of the world again as well, considering the PS3's price cut wasn't as significant as the rest of Europe in the UK and 360 prices rose by about £5 for peripherals, etc.

 

[bodyklok]

Why is it consoles are going down in price? Yet games seem to be growing more expensive?

My mind is boggled, though I'm no economist so this is probably to be expected.

 

[KDR_11k]

Too early. I guess it's better to do it while the sales are still strong, but surely a November cut would have been smarter? I guess maybe it's because of the other two cuts.

Price drops only give short, temporary boosts anyway (look at how short the PS3's boost lasted), they aren't sound business. Especially not when you don't have competition (people don't decide between a Wii and an HD console, their decision for or against a Wii is independent of their decision for or against either of the HD consoles because the games are just so radically different and neither is a substitute for the other).

 

[thiosk]

Why is it consoles are going down in price? Yet games seem to be growing more expensive?

Consoles do not make money. Every time a playstation is sold, sony loses money-- a 3 generation trend. Every time an xbox is sold, microsoft loses money-- a 2 generation trend. All nintendo platforms prior to the wii have lost money. You sell the platform at a loss to sell games at a huge profit.

I have seen it stated on this website that the Wii brings in 5 dollars per unit-- since launch. Thats the only profitable console im aware of. Couple that with cost cutting of manufacturing, they still print money with that device.

Edit:

Ahhh, here we are! ITs better for nintendo than I thought.
These are old articles-- the cost, and selling price, of all consoles has dropped since 2005, obviously.

$715 to make an Xbox (~$300 loss) http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/28/xbox-360-costs-715-to-make/

$800 to make a PS3 (~$300 loss) http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/18/playstation-3-estimated-to-cost-900-per-unit/

and a profit of about 40 bux to make a Wii, and I've read here on the escapist somewhere that after its all said and done they end up with five bucks in their pocket for every wii sold... http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/wii-autopsy-discovers-manufacturing-cost-221736.php

Nintendo can afford to cut prices even lower, and you wonder why they made so much money without selling as many games?

 

[IrrelevantTangent]

I'm still not that keen on buying a Wii sometime soon, though. There just aren't enough games on the system that really interest me, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the upcoming Dead Space Extraction aside.

Maybe when Silent Hill: Shattered Memories comes out, and more horror games for the Wii are revealed...

 

[comadorcrack]

Rumor: Nintendo Confirms Wii Price Cut to Retailers?

Lol at oxymoron.