Did Microsoft just force Nintendo's hand?

[armodillo17]

To answer the thread title question: No. Nintendo will only reduce the price of the Wii U if the reduced price still nets them a profit on the sale. Considering the Wii U only started being profitable on each sale a year ago, I doubt they have managed to reduce production costs by another $50/unit already. For better or worse, Nintendo's focus is profit, not marketshare, so I don't see a price reduction coming until summer at the earliest.