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Forums - Gaming Discussion - When will Nintendo's Wii U get a price cut?

TheLastStarFighter on 11 January 2013

It's hard to say because we don't know what software they have planned. They should be close if they don't hit their fiscal year shipping goals. I would doubt they'll cut the price before then. WiiFitU should drive some sales over summer to a different demographic than the Nintendo fans who snapped it up at launch. So I think fall 2013 at the earliest. There are several questions - how aggressively do they want to get a head start on the competition, like they did with 3DS? How is it selling? Do they have major software that will make the product looking impressive? Is word of mouth spreading? What is the exchange on the yen? If the yen continues to fall and they really want to push the system, I could see a $50 cut to delux and elimination of the basic in time for Christmas.



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sperrico87 on 11 January 2013

It won't get a price cut until November at the very earliest. Possible not until next May. Bear in mind though, that Nintendo has many other options to move hardware besides lowering the MSRP. They can offer special retailer discounts in their weekly circulars. They can bundle software/ points cards/ additional accessories with the hardware, etc. A price cut won't be necessary if they can move enough units utilizing others means of discounting. Especially since it's unlikely the Wii U will begin to break even at it's current price until sometime next year or even later.

They're already taking a loss, so a price cut is really not an option for them. Besides, we're not even two months outside of launch, you have to be fair and give Wii U a chance before you create a doom thread.



 

Immortal on 11 January 2013
Mummelmann said:


Like others have pointed out; a good E3 with announcements won't cause a surge in sales. The only announcements of this kind that affect sales is the unveiling and release dates of new consoles, they tend to slow sales by a fair deal. As for announcing great games with the ability to shift hardware; how about New Super Mario Bros U? Among the top three franchises in the Nintendo stable right now? Its a truly massive title and there is little else besides MK that could have the same impact at any given time in the console's life cycle.

Fatal Frame games? The whole franchise has barely crossed 500-600k sales total across four titles and three platforms. Hardly an earth-shattering event when a new one is announced and subsequently released. Metroid? Metroid is by far the smallest of the classic Nintendo franchises with the Metroid 3 on the Wii managing about 1.6 million sold, a mere speck on the library map compared to Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong. Xenoblade Chronicles sold about 850k so far on the Wii, a decent amount but certainly not impressive compared to a whole lot of titles this gen (hint; there are about 450-500 million sellers across the PS3, 360 and Wii thus far). Monolith's new IP? Could be anything and could very well be worthless, you can't put stock in a possible eventuality having the outmost positive outcome, same goes for "rumored big exclusives being grabbed by Nintendo", such hopes will often be dust when they are faced with reality. Bayonetta 2? The sequel to a medicore selling 3rd person action game with no roots as a genre or franchise on a Nintendo platform? No, don't bet on such a fickle horse.

Iwata is "good with Wii U sales". Well, what's he going to say? "These sales are not terribly impressive and we're going to fail to meet our fairly conservative forecasts. Such a shame." He also stated that there was no heir to the DS imminent, about two months before the 3DS was unveiled and then launched shortly after. He also said that the Wii would live as long as the PS3 and 360 and that they would never be the first to enter the 8th generation.

Personally, I think E3 will be an underwhelming experience for many Nintendo fans. Announcements of the usual suspects and the glaring absence of proper 3rd party support. Now, listen, I'm not trying to be rude or ruin your hopes or anything but I think you're being completely unrealistic and have too many expectations for the near future. Overall, I have a feeling that 2013 will be a poor year for Nintendo.

Not necessarily questioning you, but, since Google isn't helping me, sources?



 

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KingofRome on 11 January 2013

Very soon since we all know Nintendo is good at price cuts.

Allegedly.



NintendoPie on 11 January 2013
pezus said:

Don't you mean Sound of Rain is? My prediction is coming along very well.

You both have the serious illness of Premature Predictions.



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Ckmlb1 on 11 January 2013
Vinniegambini said:
Ckmlb1 said:
Vinniegambini said:

Nicely put Pezus, I think you bring forth a good question. Nintendo simply cannot afford a price for the Wii U. It's already not selling the hardware at profit and what will that show to it's early adopters and Nintendo fans? I fear it would only hurt its reputation. Especially twice in a row. Furthermore, the sales are not bad per se and the numbers below prove that:

Xbox 360 US Launch (Nov+Dec): 607k
PS3 US Launch (Nov+Dec): 687k
Wii U US Launch (Nov+Dec): 890k

They could be better true. I'm expecting a Nintendo direct soon.


Is this taking into consideration that the PS3 did not launch in Europe till March (I think) of 2007?

The NPD only track US sales. So this is US sales only :)

Oh right, thought it was about global numbers, didn't think the numbers through.



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JWeinCom on 11 January 2013
Vinniegambini said:
Ckmlb1 said:
Vinniegambini said:

Nicely put Pezus, I think you bring forth a good question. Nintendo simply cannot afford a price for the Wii U. It's already not selling the hardware at profit and what will that show to it's early adopters and Nintendo fans? I fear it would only hurt its reputation. Especially twice in a row. Furthermore, the sales are not bad per se and the numbers below prove that:

Xbox 360 US Launch (Nov+Dec): 607k
PS3 US Launch (Nov+Dec): 687k
Wii U US Launch (Nov+Dec): 890k

They could be better true. I'm expecting a Nintendo direct soon.


Is this taking into consideration that the PS3 did not launch in Europe till March (I think) of 2007?

The NPD only track US sales. So this is US sales only :)

Pfft.  November?  Who gives a **** about November?  Why would we compare weeks 1-6?  Doesn't it make much more sense to only compare weeks 3-6?  Much more logical break down if you aske me.



Soundwave on 11 January 2013
sperrico87 said:
It won't get a price cut until November at the very earliest. Possible not until next May. Bear in mind though, that Nintendo has many other options to move hardware besides lowering the MSRP. They can offer special retailer discounts in their weekly circulars. They can bundle software/ points cards/ additional accessories with the hardware, etc. A price cut won't be necessary if they can move enough units utilizing others means of discounting. Especially since it's unlikely the Wii U will begin to break even at it's current price until sometime next year or even later.

They're already taking a loss, so a price cut is really not an option for them. Besides, we're not even two months outside of launch, you have to be fair and give Wii U a chance before you create a doom thread.


They can wait as long as they want for a price cut. They'll simply have to accept some awful sales figures in the meantime, just like Sony with their Vita. 

460k in December with a new Mario game and still supply available on storeshelves is freaking terrible. A freaking $600 PS3 with no big killer app sold better than that its first December. 

Jan-June is probably going to be a gong show, just like the 3DS post launch. 

The longer they keep it at $350, the harder it is for kids to get the system too, which is a key part of the Nintendo demographic (I think the casuals are gone either way, Wii Sports/Fit was hot for 2006-2009 ... that day is passed). 



MARCUSDJACKSON on 11 January 2013

i'm sure it will. ninty doesn't want to see WiiU become GC. WiiU cost to much for a ninty console.



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cannonballZ on 11 January 2013

I thought the price was fine. But i find myself with no games to play at the moment except for zombiu. A price cut will not change that. They need games. And fast. I have a few friends that are holding back from buying because of lack of software. I dont see sales for wii u picking up much until they can provide a better selection of games. They dont even have the classics up in the eshop yet. Not a good start.