With Project Cafe Coming, Wii Gets Cheap

Wii

Since Nintendo's now looking forward to its next console, codenamed Project Cafe, it has started to discount the Wii. There's no question that the system will keep selling to families and non-gamers for years on the back of Wii Fit and Wii Sports, so why not make strides to regain the hardcore market with a system that developers can port their Call of Dutys and Mass Effects to easily? Win-win.

Engadget originally reported that the Wii would see a price drop to US$150 (AUD$140! - man, the Aussie dollar's hitting some highs!). Now Gamespot is reporting that not only will it make the drop from May 15th, but that Mario Kart will replace Wii Sports Resort in the bundle. Additionally, the Wii will be getting a 'Platinum' range of games under the 'Wii Selects' banner, such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Animal Crossing: City Folk. In the US these will be priced at $20, but if the trend follows here we suspect it's more likely to be $49.95.

If we optimistically assume Nintendo Australia will follow suit, is it too much to expect a drop to $199? That's a hell of a price cut from its original $399.95 retail price at launch, and a cool hundred off its current $299.95 tag. That said, a year ago they did make a $100 drop, and $199 really opens it up to a far wider audience. We'll have to wait and see how they move.

Reader Comments:

Posted by zen 05/05/2011 6:20pm

ummm so what if we have a strong dollar? i havent seen ANY of these mythical strong-dollar associated price drops.
shops keep the price high to fatten their profits - they know we will pay the higher prices and have no real incentive to drop them.

Posted by G-Train 05/05/2011 9:37pm

Capitalism - The giant "FK U!" of the 21st century.

Posted by admeister 05/05/2011 10:20pm

Indeed, we are all slaves to it. That's why importing has become so popular in recent years.

Posted by Master Chief 06/05/2011 5:07am

The Wii has been on special for $199 in recent weeks, and yes this was the one with sports resort and motion plus.

All the discontinued Wiis just changed from $269 to $199 at Dick Smith on Wednesday, which includes the red one.. so yeah, I'd say a RRP of $199 isn't too far away.