From $249 to $169 - Massive 3DS price drop coming August 12.

Wow... I can't think of a price drop this big or this soon after the launch.

Nintendo 3DS Gets Sudden, Massive Price Drop

The 3DS only went on sale earlier this year for $249, but as of August 12, it'll be slashed all the way down to $169.99. That's...wow.

"For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime says of the move. "We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games."

In addition to the price cut for new consumers, those who bought/buy a 3DS before the August 12 markdown will be able to download 20 free games from the 3DS eShop. That offer comes in the form of ten NES Virtual Console games (including cIassics like Zelda and Super Mario Bros.), which will be available after September 1, and ten Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games (like Yoshi's Island and Metroid Fusion), which will be available a little later.

Kotaku

I guess this is the real price, the extra $70 were to cash in on the novelty factor. Anyway, wow, haven't seen anything like this since the Virtual Boy. Sales must really have been dismal, I saw SSFIV3D on sale for £9.99...

Price drop, good news.

20 free games, GREAT news :D

It makes sense. Launch the system at a high price to maximize profits on people who will pay and then lower it to a more reasonable price before the competition arrives.

As I said in SW, this scream desperation to me. Nearly having the cost of the system in less than a year is an unheard of move. I hope it pays off for Nintendo.Morrdecai

Ditto. A company doesn't lower the price of a gaming handheld or a gaming console so soon after launch. This just proves that Nintendo is scared & admitted that they overcharged the product for consumers.

[QUOTE="Morrdecai"]As I said in SW, this scream desperation to me. Nearly having the cost of the system in less than a year is an unheard of move. I hope it pays off for Nintendo.garland51

Ditto. A company doesn't lower the price of a gaming handheld or a gaming console so soon after launch. This just proves that Nintendo is scared & admitted that they overcharged the product for consumers.

I don't think that's the issue. Nitendo is just admiting what is readly observable: the 3DS is strugglign compared to the DS. I'm not really faulting Nitnendo for the price as much as i'm faulting them for using the same marketing stragtery that eventually failed with the wii: market the hardware, but provide very little quality games. People forget that the DS is a succesful system not because of its hardware, but because of its game libary, The novetly factor of the dual screens wore off a long time ago.

Good news for people who are about to buy one, and people who already bought one. I plan to buy one early november after I get out of Boot Camp. About to start my New pokemon collection. Haha

Still too expensive for me LOL.

Andriasang is reporting that Nintendo is now making a loss on every 3DS sold at the new price. I think that is a first for them. As far back as I remember, they've been unwilling to sell something for a loss and make the money back on software.

Andriasang is reporting that Nintendo is now making a loss on every 3DS sold at the new price. I think that is a first for them. As far back as I remember, they've been unwilling to sell something for a loss and make the money back on software.

rragnaar

Andriasang is reporting that Nintendo is now making a loss on every 3DS sold at the new price. I think that is a first for them. As far back as I remember, they've been unwilling to sell something for a loss and make the money back on software.

rragnaar

Nintendo must really be feeling insecure if they are willing to take a loss on each system sold. I think the Wii U might launch for $250 now.

The system, aside from the glass free 3D, is incredibly antique. I have seen PSP do better graphics.

Seems desperate, but on the flip side it'll be in a much better position when the vita launches.

It'll be the cheaper alternitive and it'll end up getting two big killer aps, Super mario 3d and mario kart

Andriasang is reporting that Nintendo is now making a loss on every 3DS sold at the new price. I think that is a first for them. As far back as I remember, they've been unwilling to sell something for a loss and make the money back on software.rragnaar

This just means that they need to revise the hardware, cut manufacture costs. I bet we'll be seeing one early next year, maybe hear whispers about it by fall. Nintendo is not going to let these losses last long.

Still, even with the losses, they're smart to have dropped the price. Once the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.

nce the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.c_rake

Ok, now I'm getting one. Plus, Cave Story 3D and SMT: Devil Survivor OC'd is coming in a few weeks,

Why's this thread stickied now?

[QUOTE="c_rake"]nce the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.Morrdecai

I don't think it'll be instantaneous. I expect the climb to such success will be a slow, gradual one, if the rate at which games are being released is any indication.

This makes sense in the context of what happened.

The 3DS didn't meet sales expectations and Nintendo had to react quick. The two biggest factors against the 3DS were it's price and lack of software. Rather than rush out software, Nintendo decided to give the 3DS a price cut. I think that's a better response than rushing titles out into the market.

It's great that both Sony and Nintendo seem to be extremely competitive against each other this handheld generation. Nintendo pricing the 3DS at $250 played a factor into the PS Vita being priced as such, and the PS Vita being priced at $250 probably was factored into why Nintendo dropped the price to $169.

It's also great Nintendo is offering early adopters some sort of compensation - I'm glad I can get 20 free games in September as well. I can't say I'm mad about Nintendo dropping the price, because either way - being priced at $250 or $169 - I would have bought a 3DS regardless. I've been looking forward to the 3D device ever since E3 2010 and I've been happy with the line up they've shown so far.

This just means that they need to revise the hardware, cut manufacture costs. I bet we'll be seeing one early next year, maybe hear whispers about it by fall. Nintendo is not going to let these losses last long.

Still, even with the losses, they're smart to have dropped the price. Once the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.

c_rake

I also think they can leverage taking a loss on the 3DS with sales of their past platforms like the Wii and DS. If I remember correctly, the DS has still been performing well, especially with the DS Lite at $99.

Why's this thread stickied now?c_rake

Why's this thread stickied now?

[QUOTE="Morrdecai"][QUOTE="c_rake"]nce the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.c_rake

I don't think it'll be instantaneous. I expect the climb to such success will be a slow, gradual one, if the rate at which games are being released is any indication.

[QUOTE="c_rake"]

Why's this thread stickied now?rragnaar

Still, even with the losses, they're smart to have dropped the price. Once the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.

c_rake

People seem to forget that the DS sold pretty terrible the first few months and only became a massive hit after Nintendogs. I'm sure now that it's a reasonable price, once Mario Kart hits, parents will be more inclined to pick this up. Especially during the holiday season.

Of course, DS was new and innovative while the 3DS is just an evolution. The only thing cool about it is the 3D and of course that's the lamest thing about the 3DS. So maybe it wont be a massive success like the DS, but it will still sell tons to kids.

[QUOTE="c_rake"]

Still, even with the losses, they're smart to have dropped the price. Once the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.

S0lidSnake

People seem to forget that the DS sold pretty terrible the first few months and only became a massive hit after Nintendogs. I'm sure now that it's a reasonable price, once Mario Kart hits, parents will be more inclined to pick this up. Especially during the holiday season.

Of course, DS was new and innovative while the 3DS is just an evolution. The only thing cool about it is the 3D and of course that's the lamest thing about the 3DS. So maybe it wont be a massive success like the DS, but it will still sell tons to kids.

Now it just needs an actual gaming library. I can't believe how much the stock has dropped on the 3DS. Seems like only a short time ago that Nintendo completely blew the gaming world away with its presentation at E3.

Plus I give much respect for giving us early adopters a bunch of free stuff as an apology. No other company would do that.dvader654

Ummm... Apple? Didnt they first charge $599 for iPhones and then when they dropped it down to $199, they gave like a $100 credit to all the early adopters?

And 3DS got such a positive reaction at E3 because they hadn't revealed the retail price yet. We were all under the impression it would launch for $169 just like the DS. Especially considering how subpar the technical specs were for the system. if people had known they would be ripping us off then you would've seen a much more subdued reaction at E3.

Of course, the gaming media's insistance that the 3D was actually hovering over the screen and popping out at you was pure falacy and hyperbole, but there are a lot of closet Nintendo fans in the media so that was kinda expected.

P.S I went cold on the system right when i found out it only had one analog stick, and I'm sure it was a deal breaker for most handheld gamers too.. especially those who've owned a PSP....

[QUOTE="QuistisTrepe_"]

Now it just needs an actual gaming library. I can't believe how much the stock has dropped on the 3DS. Seems like only a short time ago that Nintendo completely blew the gaming world away with its presentation at E3.

dvader654

Hey not all of them are canceled.

Most of the notable titles are still on the way

Well, this is interesting. Iwata is taking a 50% cut from his salary and other execs will be taking a 30% cut in order to put the money to better use for the 3DS and it's future.

link

Gotta say, I admire that man a whole lot.

Well, this is interesting. Iwata is taking a 50% cut from his salary and other execs will be taking a 30% cut in order to put the money to better use for the 3DS and it's future.

link

Gotta say, I admire that man a whole lot.

Haziqonfire

Wow. Talk about dedication. They're really determined to see this thing succeed.

They should have been selling it at this price from the get go...It still doesnt interest me in one im gonna wait for some games and a possible price drop again.

[QUOTE="QuistisTrepe_"]

Now it just needs an actual gaming library. I can't believe how much the stock has dropped on the 3DS. Seems like only a short time ago that Nintendo completely blew the gaming world away with its presentation at E3.

dvader654

Yeah, generally speaking, consumers haven't been as high on 3D as companies were hoping they would be. Personally, I think 3D is a nice effect, but it doesn't add so much that I would buy a 3D TV. '2D' images look perfectly '3D' to most people.

Also, Sega did give the people who bought the Saturn at $400 VF Remix and maybe some other game I am forgetting.

[QUOTE="c_rake"]

Still, even with the losses, they're smart to have dropped the price. Once the software starts rolling in, the system should start climbing to DS-original level success.

S0lidSnake

People seem to forget that the DS sold pretty terrible the first few months and only became a massive hit after Nintendogs. I'm sure now that it's a reasonable price, once Mario Kart hits, parents will be more inclined to pick this up. Especially during the holiday season.

Of course, DS was new and innovative while the 3DS is just an evolution. The only thing cool about it is the 3D and of course that's the lamest thing about the 3DS. So maybe it wont be a massive success like the DS, but it will still sell tons to kids.

I disagree. I think both the 3DS and the PSP's biggest competitors are smartphones and tablets. Smartphones/tablets are powerful systems (which like PCs, improve every few months) which boast strong support from an incredible number of indies (its also worth nothing that my brother recently showed me his new smartphone, which has a 3D screen which looked much higher rez than that of the 3DS).

The fact parents can buy games for their kids for less than the price of a cup of coffee is hugely attractive for parents, especially non-gamers who aren't trying to mold their kids into core gamers.

Last but not least, 3DS does have that 'blinds small children' thing going on... :P

God heard my prayers, let's roll.

I love reading this type of thing, this is why this topic is gonna be featured in our new attraction to the Weekly Report "Boards of Wisdom".

There were three things that caused the 3DS to stumble: price, software, and advertisements. Now that the price is lowered to $170, there will be no doubt that sales will pick up which will lead to a larger install base and a more firm developer support for the system. I would say that Nintendo grew too confident with the 3DS and expected it to sell gangbusters with little advertisements, which by the way, failed to differentiate the system as not another iteration in the DS line and used 3D as its main selling point (which was a bad idea considering that 3D now carries a negative connotation). Yet Nintendo is taking the appropriate measure with a stronger advertising push and marketing slogans like "This is not DS, this is Nintendo 3DS," as shown here. Yet the determining factor of a system is the games, which the 3DS is seriously lacking in volume and variety. Thankfully, this too will be answered this holiday season with mega-hits like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, along with titles like Kid Icarus: Uprising and Star Fox 64 3D. Nintendo is taking the necessary measures to ensure that the 3DS will be a success and I cannot imagine anything but an upward trend from here on out.