September 25th, 2012

Reggie: Don’t worry, we’re not going to drop the price of the Wii U

59 Comments
Wii U Price

Reggie Fils-Aime, the President of Nintendo of America, has made it clear that they “don’t believe in pricing a product and then having to reduce the price some short time later”, and:

When we had to do that for 3DS, it was a very painful proposition for us. And what we did with the Wii at $249 and leaving it there for, I think, about three and a half years is very much consistent with our pricing philosophy.

It’s probably an uphill battle to regain the confidence of some early adopters, but I think there’s more to lose from a price drop than they could ever gain. Any price drop within a year or so of the Wii U coming out would just be encouraging people once again to hold-off from buying a system on day one.

(via gamesindustry.biz)

  • Karl Blaiwes

    Correction, Reginald: the Wii price drop took place less than three years after November 19, 2006, the launch date of the Wii.

    • Karl Blaiwes

      Oh, and first.

    • Omarsonic9

      EVERYONE! Press arrow down on his ^ comment! Not the “Oh, and first.” the other one! Do it now! He wants to be last!

    • Karl Blaiwes

      You, good sir, are a master troll.

    • Riku

      lol

    • Big E

      I’m here to save the day.

    • Omarsonic9

      xD, not really.

    • NintendoR0CK3T

      Omarsonic9!?!?!?!?!? It’s me JACOB from 3DS!!!!! 8D

    • Omarsonic9

      xD

    • NintendoR0CK3T

      …aaannd of course you have the most disliked comment… -_-

  • Marty

    I want to say suck it but I feel it’s inappropriate for the blog.

    • Big E

      Then why did you type it?

    • Marty

      Why not?

    • Game Master

      lol

    • Marty

      I apologise for my extremely lame comeback ;n;.

    • NintendoR0CK3T

      Wow, surprisingly you have the most Liked comment!! :0

  • Hybrilynx

    i dont blame them. the nintendo 3ds cost more then a wii u by itself. either the wii u is really cheap money wise, or the 3ds is really expensive.

    • Hybrilynx

      i dont know why people gave me negatives i mean seriously, the game pad is $170. if you know any math, the console is worth $120. a 3ds, is worth $170. not to mention, i had a positive comment about the wii u.

    • Lord Infamous

      The Wii U controller alone, has a 1080p pixel count that runs 60 fps with 6 axis motion sensors & a geomagnetic sensor & rumble & NFC & IR & then theirs the IBM Power7 3-core CPU & Radeon High-Definition GPGPU for its graphics chip & 2GB RAM.

      So the Wii U Basic bundle actually cost so much more then the 3DS & 3DS XL.

      But they have started making a profit on the regular 3DS and they always have profit off the 3DS XL………so Wii U Basic Bundle at $300 makes sense to make any profit.

      The Controller always comes with the System……..i.e.

      NES

      SNES

      N64

      GameCube

      Wii

      So video game controller has to come with the system with all video game systems like the PS1 & PS2 & PS3 & Xbox & 360.

      You can’t release a Video Game System without its controller, just imagine if the Wii did that in 2006.

      I’m just sayin.

    • Hybrilynx

      i dont know what your trying to say. maybe you thought when i said this “more then a wii u by itself” you thought i meant, the wii u with the gamepad not by itself. i dont know.

  • Kaizar

    I have always thought that during 2014 they would do a price drop without any competition, and now I am further believing it.

    Probably November 2K14 or something.

    I’m getting Black in Q1 2K13.

    MINT BERRY CRUNCH!

    • Drew

      Because you could pre order black…..if you went to school in my town they ran out before you got out of school….

    • http://twitter.com/AyaneKimura ♡AуaηєღKɪmυяa♡

      Yeah I know.. I hope they release more units before launch they’re kind of losing money when people are unable to buy them

    • SebTH

      Actually no.
      When Nintendo has maxed out their Pre-Orders their making the Maximum amount of income on their current shipment of WiiU’s
      Now, theirs more people who “currently” can’t pre-order
      that means more people who ARE going to buy the system.
      so when their 2nd shipment arrives BAM More money.

  • BigRedBro

    Please do it in a year or 2…. I really want day one but come on Nintendo cooperate.

  • EddKupo

    I’m not sure to be disappointed or not. I don’t want a price drop because then people would get angry that they paid more for it. But at the same time I want a price drop because I don’t have that kind of money.

    • Joel Saunders

      Really, 300 is not bad at all. considering that when the xbox360 was released it was $500 (or $400, i don’t really remember. that’s what i paid but i bought one in 07) and the PS3 was $600!!! So $300 aint bad at all for a release price
      man

    • Sonic20012

      Yes the Wii U has a very fair price for launch compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3 launch prices.

    • EddKupo

      I know. I’m still broke though ;u;

    • riff machine

      Your looking at it all the wrong way. The 3ds had a price cut because it wasn’t selling well and was possibly over priced.unless the wii u bombs,price cuts will occur eventually.the result of the wii u getting older as it blossoms into a mature young women. only getting cheaper.

    • EddKupo

      What kind of symbolism are you using?

  • TheFarmboy

    $299-$349 is rather reasonable for a new console. Considering it has a better launch line-up and window than the 3DS. I hope it will do well.

    • Big E

      ZombiU is the one of two games I’m buying. I don’t know if I should then get Tekken TT 2, Ninja Gaiden III: Razor’s Edge, or Nintendo Land…Or buy Xenoblade Chonicles……..Or just get ZombiU alone and buy Resident Evil 6 for PS3. AGH!

    • BellaKazza

      Think…..what was the last Resident Evil game highly anticipated?….*COUGH* RESIDENT EVIL: REACOON CITY *COUGH*
      Yeah, play it safe and go with Zombi U.

    • Big E

      Never heard of RE: Reacoon City…Oh, Operation Raccoon City. That wasn’t developed by Capcom but rather Slant Six. And there wasn’t a lot of hype for it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/8xBIT Thomas Reifenberg

    I would guess the price the drop will drop in 2014 Christmas time. All the other Nintendo systems shared that same trend. I still have my NES box from Christmas day (1989 I think) with the price tag of $99.99. The same went for my SNES. The box still has $136.79 (I want to say 1992). I think both systems started out at $150.

  • Ichigo Kurosaki

    What’s the name of that guy who said the Wii U would see a price drop just like the 3ds??? Well BOOYAH fool!!! I said at least next yr there would be one to answer the release of PS4 and 720 but Nintendo seems confident this time around. And with it selling out before the system is even released, why shouldn’t they be? As long as they keep up the constant flow of good games they can keep it this price for 2-3 yrs.

  • john locke

    They also said they were not redesigning the 3DS any time soon. 1 year later, 3DSXL. Anyone who early adopted a 3DS and is going to early adopt a Wii U is an idiot to put it bluntly.

    • Someone

      they said there not going to have a upgrade anytime soon they did not sa anything about a redisgn

    • john locke

      Go read the Iwata Asks article. You are incorrect.

    • littlebigmusic

      Gameboy, Gameboy pocket, Gameboy Color. Gameboy Advance, Gameboy Advance SP. Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL. Nintendo 3DS then the Nintendo 3DS XL. You’d have had to be living under a rock the past 28 years to not have seen a “redesign” coming from a mile away…..

    • john locke

      Except only for the 3DS did they state there would not be one so soon.

    • littlebigmusic

      True, but the 3DS XL is barely a redesign. It’s essentially the same thing with little improvements here and there. So, it’s not a “new version that is totally essential to your gaming experience” kind of system. More like an option for “preference”, like…a new color that you can choose. I forgot the Gameboy Micro….

    • Babymario26

      Someone is right, they said they werent going to add any upgraded features to the 3DS (Which is why we have the circle pad pro)

  • Egghollo

    Don’t worry, be happy!

  • Heefe

    Just buy an already used console and save at least 50$ ;)

  • Riff Machine

    in Australia i paid 350$ for a 3ds before the price drop.it was already 100$ overpriced before the drop,the drop just made it normal.the wii u costs 350 here in Aus same price as 3ds at launch so that says something there.its a damn good price anyone saying wii u is too expensive should consider buying consoles at the 2 dollar shop where things are a little more in there price range.i paid 350 for my vita its far superior to the 3ds in everyway as far as price and value is concerned.in any case i see no reason to lower the price of the wii u in the next 2 to 3 years.

  • http://PolyKhromeGames.blogspot.com/ Brian Lockett

    Good to know.

  • Big E

    Looking at the pic used made a thought cross my mind: Are Nintendo’s theme colors going to stay gray/blue (grey/blue)? Is it possible the theme will change within the next few years?…I kinda miss the red/black “Nintendo” logo.

  • BellaKazza

    I still can’t find anywhere to pre-order this thing!

  • Sonic20012

    I’m glad this is the case, because I was a little skeptical over buying the Wii U day one, because I bought a 3DS day one, and looked what happened LOL.

  • Snake

    If anyone thinks the WiiU is over priced then you are just a Sony and Microsoft fanboy cause when those new consoles come out they will cost over 300$ and 50$ dollars for a new console is a good deal.

    • najee

      yea i remember the ps3 costing 600$

  • mr L

    Pachter: There will be a price drop
    Reggie: Nope
    Me: SUCK IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Diamond Ammo

    as if it matters, most of the world plays games on pc

  • NintendoR0CK3T

    To be honest I kinda hope they do so I can actually buy it… :/

  • Vanny

    hey were not cheep fan boys or girls and im specking for most of the people that r gamer for Nintendo the most tho.so if we think the Wii U is at a high price then it is. listen bub or whatever point is Nintendo’s Making a hell lot of money on the Wii U and its not even out yet so lets say they did ship about 5 million copies of the Wii U everywhere(its just an esinterment its not 100% sure) anyway think about guys Nintendo’s making way way more money on the Wii u then they ever did with any of there system im i correct well i mean for a system that’s 299 and 350 and it come with like 2 system that interact with each other and by its self’s.well cant they be nice to us since most of us going thow some financially problem and bills again. correct i mean for kids under the age of working and and people who have a job but cant afford + its hard to afford these great and wonderful system that bring alot of Gamer to one place most of the time Now if been a gamer for all of my life and you can guess for a 16 16 yr old yes such ground up stuff cant you guess at least agree and reply to what im saying i know alot about Nintendo and been there favorite customer for all of my life and costuming to be with Nintendo for a lot time so for getting into some personal bis but im pissed that Nintendo is not going to lower there price a little on the wii u for start because that would be a good start of and i triple dog dare Nintendo to make the wii U a little cheaper and thrill make up all and maybe more money then they did when they made the 3ds so whose with me. im pretty go at right Gaming talk :) :) ya for me o and im not a gaming dork im a Gaming Geek get it stat ok thanks

  • Justin

    We need to remember this is the MSRP(Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price)

    Individual prices could be different in specific stores not advertised. That doesn’t mean a price drop, however it could mean “A slight(very little) lower that suggested price”. Don’t count on it though.

  • Deboog

    Don’t worry, you have to pay more money? I don’t get it.