Nintendo: A Large Price Cut for the Wii U Is Not the Solution

Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata doesn't think that a large price cut is the solution to the Wii U's problems.

[NYC_Gamer]

Nintendo can't afford another price cut on hardware that's not making profit..Its the lack of appealing software doing the most damage to Wii U..

[guitarded77]

Well, here's the thing. Sometimes you have to take a loss in one area to make profits in another. I think the most important place for them to drop prices (immediately) is on software. There is no reason for Skyward Sword and other older games to be $50-$60 still. Nintendo needs to do like every other pub and drop the prices of software over time. Some people will never play day 1 full retail for a game they're just kinda interested in. Dropping the price over time increases sales. Also, their VC titles are high compared to other offerings.

I'd love to replay Wind Waker in HD, but I've played the game a few times on GC and still own the original. It's not worth $50 to me to rebuy. But for $30, I'd probably check it out.

[cleft5]

I can see a $50 price cut with a dlc code for a game. Still, $199 is such a magical number. I know I would buy a WiiU right now for $199 and wait be happy waiting for X to come out.

[kreate]

'I know I would buy a WiiU right now for $199'

i would agree. but i have a feeling if it drops to $199... i think i want it to drop further to $149 or be bundled w a game for $199.

than i'd buy it for sure.

[Vegamyster]

The only way they'd be able to do it is if they drop the gamepad which isn't an option at this point, although i think it could be a good idea to make a smaller cheaper version of the game pad that uses a screen the size of the 3DS XL top screen.

I think what hurt them the most was the name of the console, lack of advertisements and game delays which is a shame because it is a good console and does have a good selection of current and upcoming games.

[RPG_Lover]

Wii U needs more games, thats basically it. year 2 should be fine.

[Joey_Leone]

Yea.. It needs more NEW games, I am willing to SPEND my money on Nintendo if they stop milking the $%#t out of Mario and Zelda. I don't hate those games don't get me wrong, im just sick of the same old franchises Nintendo keeps on Milking. Just come up with some NEW and fresh IP's already. If Nintendo fails to do this, the wii-u WILL flop.

[RPG_Lover]

Nintendo makes new IP all the time. In 2013, they had 5. Id you didnt buy them, stop blaming Nintendo for your own mistakes. Its weak.

And fyi, new ip doesnt mean new anything.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

They do make new IP's, you just don't give them a chance, or don't care to look for them and focus down the narrow tunnel vision to Mario and Zelda.

BTW, take a look at all the gameplay concepts that these supposed "new and fresh!" IP's on other consoles are using.
Not as new as you think, pal.

[Donnywho]

It WILL be dirt cheap one day and then I will buy it along with all the Mario games I missed and Bayonetta 2. I didn't miss a Zelda on Wii-U did I? Ahh I'll figure it all out... when it's dirt cheap.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

Not yet but your close! I hope I can get a glance at Zelda U at e3 this year!

[AfterThought]

I don't think targeting children even more is a the solution either Iwata...

[lilbroRx]

Wrong article.

[kneon]

I don't think targeting teens and adults is going to work either. Frankly I don't see who the Wii U will appeal to apart from the core Nintendo fans.

[phoenixl1ght]

They need to make the console cheaper and then the games cheaper and then it will appeal to cheapskates. What else can they do? Of course they should fix some obvious problems like online. And maybe remove the gamepad to get prices really low.

[Dunban67]

Apparently they still don t have the software to help - yet why in the world have they not spent some money to get some games in the Wii u lineup

I am very nervous for my Wii u investment

[Father__Merrin]

even with more games I feel it's over for wiiu, compared to the other console's the wiiu is crap

it's best for them to get out key games this year and cut price, and please ditch game pad to sell it separate instead including a normal games pad bundled

£169 it would do wonders

[avidgamer1]

This is almost exactly what I had in mind. The Wii U's success for this generation is all but nullified once the two other systems came out with more bang for the buck and now more blockbuster 3rd party games in the horizon.

At best Nintendo could hope for is ride the waves of a few great 1st party games this year and hopefully cut the losses on a bad investment that the Wii U has become. Holding onto the Wii U will put a strain on Nintendo in the long run. Don't get me wrong, Nintendo the brand is still a worthy investment. It's Wii U the product that is considered a failure. Nintendo is trying hard to not face this reality but at what point can it prove to consumers that it's machine at $300 is a better value than a PS4 at only $100 more. It can't and everyday that goes by that these newer system is out in the market it will be harder for Nintendo to sustain that price tag without drastic changes.

Nintendo needs to either cut the cord on the gamepad or offer more accessories on that price tag to sell more system because most consumers have only 2 systems as current gen in their minds right now. Wii U sorry to say has became last gen in their eyes. Other than that, they need to invest in developing a newer console hard and get it out on the market within 2-3 years and this time do it right. No gimmicks and no selling out just to make a cheaper console because the market is no longer there for them. Cut their losses on a Wii U hard and fast or they will soon find it hard to even compete in the generation after this one also.

[KevinCubes]

Iwata needs to go.......

[BX81]

Or at the very least pull his head out of his ass about the wii u.

[Aces17]

They need to get 3rd party support back, but without the right hardware they can't. So of the options they have a price cut would be best.

[Half-Mafia]

It did wonders for the 3DS.

[hduce]

It wasn't just the price cut for the 3DS that did the trick. It was the price cut plus killer games like Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D land. I think if they can lock down a Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros Wii U date with a Wii U price cut they will be okay for the time being. Imagine a bundle like that for Christmas. Also it is time for them to get on board with the video game culture in western markets like Sony. Sony is still a Japanese company but they tailored their products toward the largest video game markets in the world such as the U.S., Europe, etc.

[for we are many]

But it did nothing for the vita.

[clouds5]

It's always the games that sell consoles... Been proven by 7 generations of consoles. It's not the hardware and not price (unless it's ridiculous like the ps3 launch) it's just the games. We haven't seen any true system seller for wiiu but I'm pretty sure once they come it will be fine. It probably won't win the console war but it's still a good system. I just love it so far!

[snookiegamer]

Translation error, Iwata meant...

'A Large price cut may not fool the Kids'

Nintedoh!

[Baccra17]

Worked for the 3DS. People knew, from your own statements, that 3DS was overpriced and you wanted to see if you could get away with that. And guess what? You couldn't! Drop the price on the souped up GC.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Or you could do the smart thing and look online for the discounted bundles, instead of waiting with your thumbs stuck up your butt for a price drop that isn't needed and won't happen.

[A7XEric]

They already have an appealing price.

The things they need to do is first get 3rd parties back on board, get some new core IP or ressurect some forgotten IP (starfox, fzero, etc.), overhaul their online infrastructure (I don't see this one happening), and I think most importantly properly market the damn thing and communicate what the Wii U is and the value of the screen on the controller.

[RPG_Lover]

Games arent the problem. They put out more varied, more diverse games than ANY other game developer.

[Dunban67]

So you think hey are handling the Wii u perfectly?

It is a disaster on many levels and Iwata has not indicated what he plans to do about the many problems he himself as acknowledged

He is either grossly incompetent or intentionally running the company s value into the ground for some unknown alterior motive -

[blastergun]

wii u is the best console i have ever owned. It provides fun without the need for violent or bloody scene. I own more and more games each week because of the experience i had in playing wii u unique first party games or better port games than other consoles offered. People now mostly only talk about how powerful a console is. Hence the most powerful console selling well. people now think powerful console = more fun. Wii sold well last gen because people hope to get fun from innovation but wii failed to produce good game in general. Now previous wii console owner avoid wii u and see wii u = console with no good game same as wii.
Nintendo cannot compete with sony for most powerful console because of their bad image created by wii. They need to create good games and make people start to talk about games in wii u. Let gamers talk about exclusive wii u games that can only be played on wii u . More instore demo of game will help wii u sales like what the skylander did in store,.. Games like pokemon u, hyrule zelda u, fatal frame u , some online fps u (get market shares from xbox) and more rpg to compete with sony.

[clouds5]

I agree. All that wii u needs is a true system seller. And they will come, I'm sure of it. If X is only have as good as good as the trailer (knowing how the previous games in the xeno series where) it will be mind blowing.

[captainexplosion]

I own a WiiU and I think its the worst console I have owned since the 32X. I dont get why you are giving credit for Nintendo not realeasing violent games. Wouldnt it be better for WiiU owner to have more choice and have both family friendly games and violent games? The PS2 had both and sold really well.

[captainexplosion]

Nintendo is in a bad place. Slashing the cost of the WiiU would sell a lot more consoles, but unlike Sony and Microsoft the WiiU doesnt sell many 3rd party games so its much harder for them to take a loss on the hardware.

[ricochetmg]

SOFTWARE.