230°

Why retailers are slashing Wii U prices

Retailers are slashing Wii U prices left and right, showing a pessimistic outlook about the console's future.

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wiiudaily.com
LOL_WUT4052d ago

Because it's not selling well thats why. I expect this to force Nintendo to ultimately drop the price of the Wii U, which is not necessarily a bad thing. ;)

PopRocks3594052d ago

I think we got it the first ten times you said it.

deafdani4051d ago

Pop, calm down a little. I'm a big Nintendo fan, and usually I respect your opinion, but sometimes you get way too overdefensive. Lol_Wut has as much right to say Nintendo should make a price drop on the Wii U, in any article, as you do of making your case defending Nintendo in various regards.

And THIS article happens to be about price cuts of the Wii U in various retailers, so yeah, Lol_Wut's comment isn't out of place here.

DivineAssault 4052d ago

exactly.. They have inventory they cant get rid of so its the same thing they do with clearance items.. Nintendo will have to drop it when PS4 releases or they will face utter destruction.. But even with a price drop, do they have even 1/4 of the software PS4 is getting? IDK bout this wii u, i see a gamecube scenario all over again with this thing

Stroke6664052d ago

no offense but you seriously think a $350 system needs a price cut because a $400 or more system releases. not likely. i don't see nintendo dropping the price till early 2014 or whenever they release the new 3d mario and hd zelda. until then they will be just fine in three days they will begin releasing some games and sales will pick up just fine considering the industry as a whole is in a slump

ABizzel14052d ago

@Divine Assault

I really don't understand the lack of Wii U 1st party software. I mean we knew about the Wii U back at E3 2011, and here we are March 2013 nearly 2 years later and there's this huge lack of Nintendo-made franchises on the console.

I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo's E3 was all about first party games like Mario 3D, Super Smash, Zelda Footage with a 2014 release, Metroid footage, and a few other high profile games like "Xeno", Fire Emblem crossover, and more.

The thing is it's too little too late to get people to move from the PS360 to the Wii U, especially with the PS4 coming this holiday with a decent line-up of launch titles thus far, and a potential Nextbox announcement at E3.

At this point Nintendo is only selling to Nintendo fans, and a price drop and great games is exactly what they need to get those fans buying in droves. Will it be enough over the years to push them to the 100mil mark 1st, I doubt it, but it should make it a successful console.

DivineAssault 4051d ago

yes... It is too late imo.. They shouldnt have released the wii u until it had at least a small handfull of 1st party titles already completed & ready to go.. Even if they launched within 6months of PS4, it wouldve been ready like the wii was having twilight princess as well as the casual fanatic game wii sports to make people buy it..

Nintendo has a long way to go to catch up with the PS3 as far as features & apps go.. 3rd party software wouldve been ready too had they waited longer to launch.. Now the hype literally almost flatlined & without a price cut AND software, it will be another gamecube..

Sony is launching PS4 with features & games ready at launch.. They prolly couldve released it by now if they rushed like nintendo but they want their launch to be at a good time without pressuring the hell out of devs.. Also having features ready & a well thought out strategy for the systems life..

HyperBear4052d ago (Edited 4052d ago )

I can honestly say I was initially excited for the Wii U when it was announced, but Nintendo have done a lot of mistakes from tech specs to advertising & marketing.

For starters, they shouldn't of named it Wii U. Parents, grandparents, and people who don't follow gaming news often will think of Wii U as just an add-on bundled Wii with a gamepad (essentially it is being b/c with all existing Wii hardware and software). Revolution is even a better name than Wii U, but they should have not had the name Wii in it. Secondly, going with below average hardware for Wii U makes it seem less appealing for devs as they'll want to develop for high end machines PS4/720/PC, and not port everything over to last-gen hardware, which essentially means unless a developer has a good partnership with Nintendo or creates a game exclusively for Wii U for the gamepad, it means less third-party support and no multi-plat games releasing on Wii U. Lastly, retailers are over-stocked. I went into my local Best Buy on Wednesday and there were 8 Zombie U Deluxe bundles, 10 Basic Set editions, and they had a boxed tower of 32 Wii U Deluxe Sets and no one was buying any of them. Retailers want to get rid of their over-stock and if no one is buying them, they have no choice but to drop the price, even if Nintendo won't, and hope customers buy them.

hollabox4052d ago (Edited 4052d ago )

Wii U-2 will be released in 3 years with Nintendo of Japan scapegoating Reggie for not understanding the America market.

Wii U 2 Specs
2.5 GHZ 8 Core CPU
8 GBs of DDR4 ram
Power VR Quad core 575M GPU
Blu Drive without Blu Ray playback
128 GB SSD Deluxe model, 32 GB Basic model
Multi touch screen controllers
Wifi N and Gigabit Ethernet
Backwards compatible with Wii U game disc, online only for older hardware.
MSRP $299

Performance, 25 percent faster than PS4, and Xbox Next, slower than most mid to low range computers. Nintendo will tout Wii U-2 power consumption being lower than most Wal-Mart laptops while being nearly as powerful.

Nintendo will rebrand Wii U to Wii Famicom, apologize to its fans, inform Mario 30, Zelda 18, Mario Kart 15, and Metroid 3rd reboot will be released in the fall of 2016.

Stroke6664052d ago

@hollabox...lol thats funny, and honestly i would get that too but i see nothing wrong with the console they have out now. they are mismanaging it right now yeah but the hardware is just fine

Stroke6664052d ago

@hollabox... thats pretty funny, and honestly I'd buy that too, but I see nothing wrong with the console they have out right now.their mismanagement is a prolem but the hardware is just fine

DeadlyFire4050d ago

3 years? Bah to early. 5 years yes. 3-4 = no, no.

Nintendo could leave themselves in a big gap if they launch a new system to early and alienate all of their fans that bought a WiiU.

I do agree the marketing of WiiU was a bad decision. They should of named it something else. As you say most non-gamers(casuals) that bought the Wii. Likely wouldn't even think of WiiU as a new device, but as an add on.

WiiU hardware still is no slouch. People are underestimating it. Its at least 20 times more powerful than the Wii. Which is a bold step for Nintendo. Even so its not spectacular either. Its a small buff up over last generation consoles set for 720p as its main resolution for new games.

Nintendo itself will likely think selling the console at $299 was the dealbreaker for many. So $250 is likely to happen by Holiday 2013.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4050d ago
MikeMyers4052d ago

Well they didn't really have a stellar launch line-up. They had Zombie U, Nintendo Land and a 2D Mario game that drew interest. Other than that some average games and multiplat titles that didn't really do much.

Nintendo is going to have troubles getting the multiplat gamer to buy it and the big exclusive games have no set release date. I imagine a lot of people did the same thing I'm doing and that is wait to see how the PS4 and next Xbox unfold while waiting for the exclusives on the Wii U to build up.

boldstarr4051d ago

Nintendo is close to being a SEGA now...

nosferatuzodd4051d ago

Silence Nintendo is no sega that's blasphemy

DeadlyFire4050d ago

WiiU official price drop won't happen until PS4/X720 are unleashed onto the market. Its possible Nintendo could announce it as soon as E3 or as late as TGS 2013 for this holiday season.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4050d ago
Soplox4052d ago

Because is NOT selling?? Seriously what kind of question is this? And the worst thing is that it got approved. Even my lil bro could answer this.

1nsaint4052d ago

No one is asking something... You see a questionmark anywhere?

Soplox4052d ago

The answer is SIMPLE. Seriously you have to write an Article about why retailers are slashing the price of something?

TongkatAli4052d ago (Edited 4052d ago )

Its not leaving shelfs so its getting its price slashed, the end.

Genuine-User4052d ago

I hope the Wii U does well once the next generation of consoles are released.
Here's hoping the Wii u gets more quality exclusives than the Wii did.

jakmckratos4052d ago

EVerybody now"OH MY GOD WII U SUCKS..WHAT AN AWFUL IDEA....NINTENDO SHOULD DIE"

Everybody this year after E3 when Smash Bros U, Mario 3D U, Mario Kart U and Zelda U are announced: " OH MY GOD I KNEW NINTENDO COULD PULL IT AROUND...WHAT AN EPIC SYSTEM..I NEVER DOUBTED THEM..I'MMA BUY 8 WII U's AND POKEMON RUMBLE RIGHT NOW!!"

Seriously you don't think Nintendo knows what they have had to do for a while now??? So Wii U falters a little bit and everyone pounces to bite the jugular for a console that's been out for 4 months. It has crap now. That's why it isn't selling. People also aren't TGAT impressed with 2-D side scrollers like Yoshi Yarn(btw the STUPIDEST waste for a Yoshi game..I'm sorry) and HD remakes like WInd Waker. ALso add in 3rd party support hasn't been the greatest with ZOmbi U gaining moderately weak scores and Rayman Legends becoming multiplatform and delayed into Fall. Lego City did alright but let's be honest how many people are going to buy a brand new console for it.

Pikmin 3 looks legit but again that won't save the system like the Mario/Smash/Zelda trifecta of games will. And you all know they're gonna sell a crapload regardless of what you say now. I don't have a Wii U but I'm so sick of the hate it's getting so soon into it's release

TongkatAli4052d ago

Pikmin 3 looks too legit to quit on the Wii U.

LordHiggens4052d ago

1 game does not a good console make.

Show all comments (49)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1016d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref5d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde5d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19725d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville5d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21835d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos5d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
isarai6d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref5d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan5d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19726d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

6d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19726d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

6d ago
5d ago
Zeref5d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde5d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19725d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier5d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto5d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21835d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto5d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
Hofstaderman5d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts5d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts4d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic4d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel12d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8811d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing11d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS11d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder10d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218310d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.