Satoru Iwata Cites Poor Basic Wii U Sales To Rule Out Price Cut Benefits

[superchunk]

Agree and disagree at same time.

1) Clearly the first and foremost issue up to this point has been lack of content that justifies the purchase of the system.

2) Sure people have paid $50 more for the premium because its simply the better value when you consider all that is packed into the premium's box. So yes, people will spend more for a better bundled item and yes $350 isn't a price point that pushes out new console purchasers. (Hell last gen proved that as PX360 have almost always been $300+)

3) However, you have to take a look at total sales too. Even though Premiums has decidedly outsold the basic model, the premium model still isn't selling at a great rate.

I would argue that had WiiU had the first party content like Pikmin3 in January plus some other bigger games that have been hinted and still not arrived like Rayman etc, it likely would have sold quite a bit more than it has now. But, you cannot argue that a $350 WiiU put up against a $400 PS4 is simply a bad idea.

To the average gaming consumer that $50 difference is nothing when all they know is PS4 is more powerful.

Nintendo needs to realize this and along with the great games coming, they need to make that Premium a $300 system with a game and everything else in the box. (They can drop the digital 5% kickback plan)

Doing that BEFORE the competition launches is a must. However, considering they are still selling at a loss AND Iwata's statements from the OP, I think we'll see this price point stick until 2014. Along with that I am more uneasy about my earlier statements regarding WiiU reaching at least 8m by Jan2014.