Ubisoft Wants a Wii U Price Cut

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

Ubisoft Wants a Wii U Price Cut

Alain Corre, Ubisoft's executive director for EMEA territories, is "optimistic" about the Wii U but thinks a price cut would result in more game sales.

More than three months after its launch, it's safe to say that Nintendo's Wii U console Edge [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122149-NPD-Numbers-for-January-Xbox-360-Up-Wii-U-Down]'s question about whether he'd like to see a price cut, Corre responded, "Always."

"We always want the hardware to be at a low price because we want as many fans as possible to afford to buy our games, so that's for sure," Corre elaborated. Ubisoft has been one of the most prominent third-party publishers on the console, with ZombiU, Rabbids Land, and Just Dance 4 among its Wii U launch games. Delayed platformer Rayman Legends was supposed to be a Wii U exclusive, but Ubisoft recently incensed fans (delaying the game in order to go multiplatform [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122077-Rayman-Creator-Joins-Legends-Protest].

This doesn't mean Ubisoft is giving up on the Wii U, though. "We think that Wii U will find its public at some point," Coree said. "Some were expecting sales to be quicker but we are optimistic." Nintendo currently has no plans [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121806-Nintendo-Rules-Out-Wii-U-Price-Cut] to cut the price of its hardware.

Source: Polygon [http://www.edge-online.com/news/ubisoft-exec-wants-a-wii-u-price-cut/]

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[The White Hunter]

A price cut AND some new good games from the system would help...a lot.

Although I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't announced a new Super Smash Bros game yet. We all know that game is basically THE console seller (let's be real, you're not going to get people to buy your system with freaking Zombie U or Mario #342536).

They announced a new smash bros game over a year ago.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Why is it nintendo never release great games when they release a new system? Look at the wii, new zelda took forever to come out.

 

[The White Hunter]

A price cut AND some new good games from the system would help...a lot.

Although I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't announced a new Super Smash Bros game yet. We all know that game is basically THE console seller (let's be real, you're not going to get people to buy your system with freaking Zombie U or Mario #342536).

They announced a new smash bros game over a year ago.

They did? Where's the trailers? Any links to this? This is news to me .

It's for Wii U and 3DS being co-devved with Namco, got no trailers or anything yet though. They can take their time with it though, I'd rater they did that than rushed it. The director guy (name escapse me) has some bad RSI going on so it's hampering it a bit.

I do have a Wii U and Mario Bros U is a damn good game but there's fuck all else going for the system until Lego City later this month sadly. Then a nice big gap until Pikmin 3 and apparently a b unch of stuff in the autumn (Wind Waker HD, SMT x FE, Untitled 3D mario title, etc).

Oh and MH3U but I don't care much for it...

 

[Mr. Omega]

A price cut AND some new good games from the system would help...a lot.

Although I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't announced a new Super Smash Bros game yet. We all know that game is basically THE console seller (let's be real, you're not going to get people to buy your system with freaking Zombie U or Mario #342536).

They announced a new smash bros game over a year ago.

They did? Where's the trailers? Any links to this? This is news to me .

No trailers, just said they were working on it, and they're partnering with Namco Bandai for the game. Reports have been saying they'll probably have something to show at E3.

However, there have been complications.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/02/masahiro_sakurais_arm_injury_impacts_his_work_on_smash_bros

As for the price drop, there will always be a price cut. The issue is when. I'd take the safe bet that it'd happen either during the summer or right before the holidays. Possibly right before the PS4 launch.

 

[The White Hunter]

A price cut AND some new good games from the system would help...a lot.

Although I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't announced a new Super Smash Bros game yet. We all know that game is basically THE console seller (let's be real, you're not going to get people to buy your system with freaking Zombie U or Mario #342536).

They announced a new smash bros game over a year ago.

They did? Where's the trailers? Any links to this? This is news to me .

No trailers, just said they were working on it, and they're partnering with Namco Bandai for the game. Reports have been saying they'll probably have something to show at E3.

However, there have been complications.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/02/masahiro_sakurais_arm_injury_impacts_his_work_on_smash_bros

As for the price drop, there will always be a price cut. The issue is when. I'd take the safe bet that it'd happen either during the summer or right before the holidays. Possibly right before the PS4 launch.

Price cut right before launch of the competitors systems and some kind of ambassador thing liekw ith the 3DS I'll predict. I think they must have a tonne of stuff lined up for E3 this year, they're gonna need it!

 

[Merlark]

Without worthwhile exclusives flipping over from the wii to the wii U is not very enticing for me yet. A price cut would help things. 350 bucks for the good version of the console that's no better graphically then an Xbox seems a little steep.

Probably upgrade eventually, but the price point has prevented me from just impulse buying and waiting for a title I'd enjoy.

 

[Chaos James]

Or, you know, Ubisoft could lower the price of THEIR GAMES, which would make them more likely to be bought. Also, if you made some more games for it as well. I mean, the more games you make for it, the more likely someone will buy it and buy your game.

 

[Atary77]

Seeing articles like this that talk about how critical a price cut is needed makes me wonder if there's more of a growing disparity between what it takes to cover the cost of making hardware vs what we can afford. Like I wonder if we're hitting a price plateau.

 

[Frezzato]

Ubisoft wants to cut the prices of their games on the WiiU? Excellent idea!

Oh, wait, you want Nintendo to drop the price of the console itself. Jeez, at least give Nintendo some time to retool and strategize. Everyone had the decency to wait at least two years before asking Sony to do the same thing [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/210736/developers-call-for-ps3-price-cut/].

Get your head out of the clouds, Ubisoft. The WiiU isn't just another Gamecube [http://kotaku.com/205086/miyamoto-on-the-wii-the-hardware-is-basically-a-gc?tag=gamingshiggy]. Nintendo is already taking a loss with every WiiU sold. I wonder if they'll sacrifice even more profits for marketshare.

 

[Frezzato]

You know what would have helped Wii U sales Ubisoft?

If you hadn't kicked Rayman Legends from a totally quiet period where people are looking for new games to play, into the single busiest period in the gaming calendar!

Ouch! Well said, sir. I totally forgot about that fiasco.

 

[EvilChameleon]

I truly believe that sales of the Wii U will pick up in the Spring of this year. By the Fall, sales will be quadrupled.

 

[Yopaz]

Maybe sales would be a little better if there were games for the console? Maybe such as... I don't know... Rayman Legends?

Yeah, price cuts are good, but the utter lack of games is probably a deal breaker for potential customers regardless of price.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

A price cut AND some new good games from the system would help...a lot.

Although I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't announced a new Super Smash Bros game yet. We all know that game is basically THE console seller (let's be real, you're not going to get people to buy your system with freaking Zombie U or Mario #342536).

They announced a new smash bros game over a year ago.

They did? Where's the trailers? Any links to this? This is news to me .

No trailers, just said they were working on it, and they're partnering with Namco Bandai for the game. Reports have been saying they'll probably have something to show at E3.

However, there have been complications.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/02/masahiro_sakurais_arm_injury_impacts_his_work_on_smash_bros

As for the price drop, there will always be a price cut. The issue is when. I'd take the safe bet that it'd happen either during the summer or right before the holidays. Possibly right before the PS4 launch.

They officially announced that Smash Bros will be shown at this years E3 in the form of "screens", now this may mean a full on trailer or just a few screenshots. It will be shown though.

OT: If they do do a price cut I hope they do another ambassador program sort of thing. Still, Ubisoft is being pretty damn stupid by asking Nintendo for a price cut because the console isn't selling well, after pushing back the thing that might have made the console sell well. Hypocrites, I tells ya!

Nintendo is already taking a loss with every WiiU sold. I wonder if they'll sacrifice even more profits for marketshare.

Actually, Nintendo makes a profit on the Wii U if the user buys just one game (this does include the Nintendoland pack-in, I think), so Nintendo are only making losses with people who buy it and... look at the home screen. So when stuff like Smash Bros, Mario Kart and Zelda comes out they definitely won't be making losses.

 

[sky_rider19]

You know what would have helped Wii U sales Ubisoft?

If you hadn't kicked Rayman Legends from a totally quiet period where people are looking for new games to play, into the single busiest period in the gaming calendar! People aren't going to want to buy a console when publishers keep kicking the release dates back, and leaving empty periods! Especially when the only reason you're doing that is because apparently you don't want to pony up to market the game twice!

Sorry, but Ubisoft have got no cause to complain here. If they'd released Legends on time, it would have provided Wii U owners with a must have title, and no doubt inspired more people to pick it up. As it is, they're going to try and field it alongside GTAV, Watch Dogs and AssCreedIV, and therefore have proven themselves to be completely and utterly stupid.

This. So much. Ubisoft has no ground to complain because of this single point. Consoles don't sell when games people want to buy are delayed for no reason other than to release it on other systems!

 

[Colt47]

is it just me or is everything seeming to be overly expensive these days with the console hardware? I remember the 90s when I could buy a Super NES for 150 USD, now a good console costs double or more that amount. Even the games got more expensive. =(

 

[weirdee]

You know what would have helped Wii U sales Ubisoft?

If you hadn't kicked Rayman Legends from a totally quiet period where people are looking for new games to play, into the single busiest period in the gaming calendar! People aren't going to want to buy a console when publishers keep kicking the release dates back, and leaving empty periods! Especially when the only reason you're doing that is because apparently you don't want to pony up to market the game twice!

Sorry, but Ubisoft have got no cause to complain here. If they'd released Legends on time, it would have provided Wii U owners with a must have title, and no doubt inspired more people to pick it up. As it is, they're going to try and field it alongside GTAV, Watch Dogs and AssCreedIV, and therefore have proven themselves to be completely and utterly stupid.

pretty much this times a thousand

I'm just going to sit in this armchair and stare at ubisoft without blinking

 

[OldNewNewOld]

Am I the only one who sees the delicious irony here?
Ubisoft thinks the WiiU needs a price cut to sell. The guys who moved Rayman's release date from March to the fucking busiest part of the year want a price cut to sell their games?
The WiiU would pick some sales up if they released games and the price is fine. It's an expensive console to make, what did they think? Free console?

The WiiU will just now start getting games. So if they launched Raymen before that, everyone who owns a WiiU would think about buying it if nothing, just to waste time until the games they want are released.
A MonHun fan surely won't buy Rayman once he gets MonHun 3 Ultimate. There are also Bayonetta 2, Wind Waker, 3D Mario, Mario Kart, Pikmin 3, Watch Dog, AssCreed 4... all releasing later this year.

But no, they chose to move the release date from a game drought to later when there will be a gazillion popular games released. And then they will blame Nintendo fans for only buying Mario instead of Rayman.

Actually, Nintendo makes a profit on the Wii U if the user buys just one game (this does include the Nintendoland pack-in, I think), so Nintendo are only making losses with people who buy it and... look at the home screen. So when stuff like Smash Bros, Mario Kart and Zelda comes out they definitely won't be making losses.

Actually they need to sell more than 1 game. That was a mistake Reggie said and Iwata corrected it in a Nintendo Direct. Tho the loss isn't huge, one game won't cover it. I assume it's at least 2 games.

But even if it's just 1 game, Nintendo can't afford to sell at a loss like Sony and MS. They don't have other divisions that can cover the losses and hide them from the investors. They must earn or at least stay at 0 constantly.

is it just me or is everything seeming to be overly expensive these days with the console hardware? I remember the 90s when I could buy a Super NES for 150 USD, now a good console costs double or more that amount. Even the games got more expensive. =(

Games got actually a lot cheaper. Old cartridges were sometimes up to $80. That's around $140 when you adjust to inflation.
$150 is around $260 with inflation. And the SNES wasn't really some hardware powerhouse.

 

[Maxtro]

The Wii U will get a price cut late this year.

It's basically going to be $400 PS4 vs $200 Wii U.

 

[medv4380]

Games got actually a lot cheaper. Old cartridges were sometimes up to $80. That's around $140 when you adjust to inflation.
$150 is around $260 with inflation. And the SNES wasn't really some hardware powerhouse.

Only the vary rare title was ever that much. Phantasy Star 4 and Shadow Run at the End of the Genisis life cycle because they didn't make very many copies.

And to anyone foolish enough to use inflation. Try taking a look at wages. They've been flat for nearly 30 years. Your "inflation" is the cost of gas going up eating every disposable penny for other things.