Nintendo Lowers Wii U Price

Wii U has struggled to find a foothold among the other home consoles and Nintendo has relied on the success of their handhelds to help offset Wii U’s woes. The 3DS gained a great deal of steam since its first year, and Nintendo is looking to spark some Wii U interest with exciting news out of the GameStop Managers Show. In addition to announcing a price cut for the console, Nintendo also announced a special Zelda-themed bundle and a new handheld, Nintendo 2DS.

On September 20, 2013, consumers will be able to purchase a Wii U Deluxe Set for $299.99, a $50 price reduction from the current set. While it is uncommon to see a console price drop within its first year, such a cut is needed to help the underperforming Wii U. Nintendo used a similar strategy when lowering the cost of 3DS by $80 in the Fall of 2011.

Nintendo 2DS, was unveiled with plans to hit store shelves this Fall. The 2DS is designed to play all 3DS and DS games, albeit without 3D visuals. The new handheld will employ a more streamlined “slate-type” design, instead of the common clamshell. All other hardware functionality will remain the same.

The Nintendo 2DS will launch on October 12, 2013 at $129.99 MSRP and is branded as an “entry point to the world of Nintendo hand held video games,” designed for a younger audience, even if its price point can benefit anyone looking to play 3DS games. Read more…