Nintendo has announced plans to slash the Wii’s suggested retail price by $50. According to company spokesperson Cammie Dunaway, the new $200 price point – effective on September 27 – will help advance Nintendo’s “mission” to expand the gaming universe.
“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Dunaway. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.”
It should be noted that a Wii price cut had been widely anticipated by analysts after Microsoft and Sony lowered the prices of their respective consoles. Indeed, EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich told TG Daily in August that Nintendo should decrease the price of its Wii console to $199.
“In order to maintain [their current] position, Nintendo should drop their Wii console down to $199, not because the current Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 pricing structure poses a threat; rather, because they will eventually pose a threat,” explained Divnich. “Nintendo’s strategy should be to capture as many consumer dollars as possible while their competitors are still weak in their offerings to the casual audience and price sensitive consumers.”
However, Divnich emphasized that there was a “significant difference” between demographics for the Xbox 360 and the Wii.
“EEDAR does not believe the new Xbox 360 hardware line-up will hinder or steal Wii sales in the short-term. [Nevertheless], as the casual software library for the Xbox 360 grows and hardware prices fall (lower than $299), the Xbox 360 could begin to steal market share among the mainstream, casual and price sensitive consumer.”
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