Ubisoft CEO Chimes in on Wii U Hardware Pricing

[MikeWehner]

Ubisoft CEO Chimes in on Wii U Hardware Pricing

Is $299 too expensive for gamers to handle?

We've known about the Wii U's pricing for a while now, and while many gamers have weighed in - either positively or negatively - and moved on, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot isn't quite over it yet. Speaking with GamesIndustry International, Guillemot was rather vocal about his displeasure that the console will launch at $299.

"I always prefer lower pricing, so I can't say I'm happy," Guillemot says. "I'm never happy when the machines are expensive. What we have to do there is remember that compared to an iPad, it's cheap. With what it brings [to gaming] it's cheap. But I hope they'll be able to drop their price in time."

As the first home console of the eighth generation, the Wii U will stand alone as the most expensive system this shopping season. Whether Nintendo's new box offers a good value proposition for gamers is up for debate, but given that both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launched at significantly higher price points, it's interesting that the Ubisoft boss is displeased with the Wii U's asking price.

The argument, of course, is that many see the Wii U as simply "catching up" to what the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have been offering for years, but the same pricing argument could probably be levied against several other companies, including Ubisoft.

For example, Ubisoft has re-released Rayman 2 for four consecutive generations now. The most recent re-release arrived for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, a full decade after the original, for a whopping $39.99. So if we're talking about an "old" product - or been-there-done-that technology - being priced too high, perspective means a lot.

Source: GamesIndustry [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-12-ubisoft-ceo-would-like-lower-price-on-wii-u]

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[kburns10]

It's $299 on the lower side of recent console releases? It's not "cheap" but it isn't PS3 expensive either!

 

[Pink Gregory]

"I always prefer lower pricing, so I can't say I'm happy."

Says the head of Ubisoft.

Someone's eyeing their pile of rocks inside their glass house...

 

[Absolutionis]

For example, Ubisoft has re-released Rayman 2 for four consecutive generations now. The most recent re-release arrived for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, a full decade after the original, for a whopping $39.99. So if we're talking about an "old" product - or been-there-done-that technology - being priced too high, perspective means a lot.

Ouch...

You have a very valid point there.

 

[Yoshisummons]

"Is $300 too much for gamers to handle?"

No, but it is for the gamers grandmother.

 

[Eternal_Lament]

I didn't think the $300 price point was too expensive. Sure it's a turn-off for some, but definitely not overpriced. The controllers on the other hand...It feels odd when it seems technically cheaper to buy another full console than buying the controller for said console

 

[getoffmycloud]

It's $299 on the lower side of recent console releases? It's not "cheap" but it isn't PS3 expensive either!

I actually like the pricing. Especially that of the Wii U Special edition at 350$.

Compared to almost anything else nowadays, tech wise, that shit is cheap! I had payed 350 for my PS3, 450 for my first Xbox 360 and 350 for my Second Xbox. The cheapest "New" Console I had bought was a 3DS at 60$ because I sent in my DSi to go with it. I wish I didn't do that >.<

Regardless, I can't wait to pick this up in January. It will give me a good couple months to clear out my "Recent Games" Backlog.

I think the main issue with the price as I see it is as far as we are aware the Wii U doesn't have a significant graphical advantage over existing consoles and it's hard drives are quite small and I can't really see why it couldn't come out at a price the same as the PS3

 

[Baresark]

It's $299 on the lower side of recent console releases? It's not "cheap" but it isn't PS3 expensive either!

I actually like the pricing. Especially that of the Wii U Special edition at 350$.

Compared to almost anything else nowadays, tech wise, that shit is cheap! I had payed 350 for my PS3, 450 for my first Xbox 360 and 350 for my Second Xbox. The cheapest "New" Console I had bought was a 3DS at 60$ because I sent in my DSi to go with it. I wish I didn't do that >.<

Regardless, I can't wait to pick this up in January. It will give me a good couple months to clear out my "Recent Games" Backlog.

I think the main issue with the price as I see it is as far as we are aware the Wii U doesn't have a significant graphical advantage over existing consoles and it's hard drives are quite small and I can't really see why it couldn't come out at a price the same as the PS3

I'm halfway with you on this. For what we definitively know we are getting (hardware comparable to the current gen Sony/M$ and much smaller hard drives), it seems on the expensive end. But I would like to think that if it performs identical to the PS3 on release, in time it will far surpass what it can do. But I'm definitely not going first adopter on that shit anytime soon. I need a good library of games that are WiiU exclusives before I'm interested in picking one up. It's why I waited so long to get a 3DS and I still haven't bought a PS Vita.

As always, buyer beware.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

$300 isn't all that expensive really. Considering it comes with a fancy gamepad I don't think that's very expensive. He's talking out of his arse.

The only thing I see wrong about it (judging by the amazon store page) is it's limited hard drive space.

 

[Rad Party God]

The WiiU is being pre-ordered at $580 here in Mexico... so yeah, I'll stick to my PC from here on out... and maybe I'll buy a PS2 to catch up on all the games I missed.

 

[Sylveria]

"Compared to an iPad..." and that's where I stop listening. This isn't an iPad. It's a full fledged console. When I can play Bayonetta 2 on an iPad, I'll give this argument some credit. $300 isn't a bad price when you consider that the PS3, Xbox360, and PSVita all run pretty darn close to that price point even now... and two of those are 6 years old.

And yeah, the company that's been a pioneer in DRM and anti-consumerism shouldn't throw stones about pricing when they charge you $60 for a PC game that limits you to 3 installs.

Additionally, does Ubisoft EVER stop bitchng? They ***** about piracy, they ***** about us needing a new console gen, they ***** about how consoles aren't powerful enough, they ***** about how hard programming advanced AI is, and now that they got a new, more advanced console.. they ***** about the price.