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Soundwave on 16 April 2013
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superchunk said:

I think it will depend on the price structure for neXtBox/PS4.

If they are close to $500, Nintendo will stick it out and focus on bundling.

If they do subscription models below $400, then I'd expect a price cut near their launch. Probably $50 maximum.

Keep in mind the 3DS had a BIG margin when it was selling for $250 such that when it was reduced, it was barely losing money... kinda the point where Wii U is NOW. So any cut in Wii U price is putting the hardware further into the red, something Nintendo doesn't do. PLUS, they have stated in the last few investor meetings their goal is to return to continued profitability unlike the previous year.

A price cut will ONLY happen if they see it as a competitive move due to the rest of next-gen being priced very low. We'll see tons of bundling first until Wii U costs go down sometime next year.

I think whether or not people want to admit it or not, the Wii U is very much in direct competetion with the PS3 and 360, probably even moreso than the PS4/720. PS4/720 is a different market for the really loyal/core parts of the Sony/MS fanbase and there probably won't even be enough inventory to supply to the market beyond that group until spring 2014.

The rumblings of a $99.99 XBox 360 is much problematic for Nintendo, IMO it cuts the legs off some demographics they are banking on like the family/kids and "casual looking for something else to upgrade to from their Wii" market. I think a lot of those folks will look at the 360 and see it's half the price, with the same or better third party games and similar performance/features otherwise and choose to get that.