3DS launched at a very profitable and hefty price of $250. This allowed Sony to match the price with a minor loss per unit for their Vita as well as saw Nintendo have a very lackluster opening for the 3DS.

Now Nintendo will have a major price cut on the 3DS in order to boost its sales to levels they were expecting, put the 3DS at a price well below Vita, and create a significant head start before Vita launches later this year/early next. Additionally, its very much likely the 3DS is now going to be sold just below or above cost (based on early reports of estimated cost).

Initially most people pegged Wii U to come in around $350. However, considering what has happened here, is that still the average most people consider or has it dropped?

Maybe this was the plan? Get Sony to peg a price, then move to a lower one. Maybe they'll do the same as they will have a head start on MS/Sony.. possibly.

We know the hardware is definitely more advanced the PS3/360, so cost should be more. Especially considering the new controller... I think $350 will still be a launch price, if they go for a profit and $300 if they go for undercutting MS/Sony and pure market-share with little to no profit on console. However, what if they go for $250 with a minor loss?

What do you think?

I think it will be around $349 at launch. :)

I'm seriously thinking $299 at this point; hopefully 3DS has taught them something.

While Wii U is of course newer tech than the competition, from what has been rumored it's certainly possible that it won't be terribly more expensive to make than a PS3, and it won't be a blu-ray player. If Sony can retail the PS3 at $199 around Wii U's launch without a loss (or a very little one, anyway), it's not unfathomable that the Wii U, controller and all, could be $299 if Nintendo follows the same aggressive pricing demonstrated with the 3DS price drop.

Looks like the average has shifted....

Need more information about WiiU. Launch games etc..

Don't have the faintest clue, like you can predict anything the big 3 do these days.

If the ps3 or 360 get a price cut they'll have no choice but to match it or have the best mother f**king launch line-up with exclusives man has ever seen

Unless the Wii U turns out to be significantly more powerful than the 360 or PS3, if it costs a penny over $300 at launch, anyone who's a serious gamer will laugh at Nintendo and just go back to gaming on their 360's, PS3's and PC's.

In light of Nintendo's embarrassment over poor sales of the 3DS due to what can only now be described as price gouging (they're still making a nice profit off each unit after shaving $80 off the MSRP), a price point of $250 suddenly seems like a real possibility for the Wii U.

No they're not.

$350-$400 i just can't see a brand new console with a tablet controller and more power than the current gen ones being released for less especially since nintendo likes their profit