Effect of sub-Wii prices on Xbox360 sales?

[Bodhesatva]

Mifely said:

MS has undercut the Wii in Australia by some $50 Australian. If they do the same thing (with the Arcade model, of course) in the US... how much of a danger will that pose to the Wii, since it will be displaced for the first time as the cheapest "next-gen" console, and by a console that has a pretty hefty library of titles, at this point?

I think we'll get to experience the effect of price-point on this generation's sales in a downright fantastic way, if this does indeed happen in the X360's largest market region (Americas). I wouldn't be surprised if the Arcade 360 started to eat up a LOT of the Wii's numbers, if this rumor is true -- I think low price is a pretty hefty factor for a console purchase.

 

Thoughts, opinions?

 

Good question, Mifely: your posts are direct and interestingly probing.

As others have noted, this has had no obvious impact in any other region of the world. Europe, Australia (Where the 360 is also cheaper now). Furthermore, we've seen large sales bumps for both the PS3 and 360 (Due to price cuts or big games or what have you), and these too have never shown any effects, even momentary ones, on the Wii's sales. And the Wii is actually in higher demand in the US than it is in those territories, so it seems unlikely it would be different here.

I personally agree with Pachter on this front: this has a much greater impact on the PS3 than it does the Wii. And again, the evidence is clear; if you pick through VGChartz' records, you'll see that it is very common for any spike in PS3 sales to accompany a drop in 360 sales, and vice versa. Which indicates that the PS3 and 360 can effect each other, but have little ability to affect the Wii.

It's possible this will have an affect, Mifley; I don't think your logic is crazy. I would say "unlikely," however.