Is The Nintendo Wii U Really Going To Retail For $600?
Over the years, video game consoles have gotten more and more expensive. Back in the day, a couple hundred bucks could get you everything you needed to plug your console in and start playing. But that all changed a few years ago when the Sony PlayStation 3 hit the market and cost a whopping $600—not including the extra controller and games you would need to get started. Sony got blasted for it at the time and, since then, the price of the PS3 has dropped dramatically.
It’s one reason that we’re a little surprised to hear that Nintendo might be thinking about dropping their brand-new Wii U next year at the same exact price point that the PS3 started at. According to EB Games Australia, the Wii U—which will reportedly come with tablet controllers—will retail for about $600. That price is really expensive compared to the original Wii that debuted in stores for just $250 and was by far the cheapest console at the time. And, in fact, it was the lower price point on the original Wii that made it so popular and successful.
So then, why in the world is Nintendo even thinking about making the new Wii U 600 bucks? I, for one, will not be buying the second-generation Wii anytime soon if these rumors are true. The tablet controller seems like it’ll be a nice touch and I have absolutely no doubt that there are people out there who will have no problem spending $600 for it. But, come on, Nintendo. I know that I’ll have to buy at least one more tablet controller when I buy the Wii U, a couple games, and a bunch of other accessories. So, what am I going to end up spending before I even power up my Wii U? $800? $900? $1000? That’s ridiculous and waaaaaaay too much to pay for a video game console.
I seriously hope the latest rumor about the Wii U is wrong. Up until now, the system has sounded great and I’ve been eager to find out more about it. But if it does turn out to cost $600, count me out. I’ll stick to playing my old Wii and I bet a lot of other people will, too. Will you?
Several flaws in your logic…
1) The $600 price quote is $600 Australian. You’re comparing it to $600 for the PS3, but that’s in American dollars. The Wii debuted in the states for $250, but in Australia it was around $400. $600 Australian for the Wii U would work out to about $375 American. Still a hefty jump, but certainly not more than double.
2) EB has a long track record of putting up a price long before a new item is for sale, and making that price what they think it’ll be worth. Then, when the manufacturer comes out with the real price, they adjust accordingly. This is likely just a placeholder price.
3) Your comments about paying for an extra tablet are currently unwarranted. When Wii U debuted at E3, they specifically said you would only need one tablet per console; in fact, they said they couldn’t even imagine a need to have a second tabled on one machine. Only recently have they changed that and started developing ideas where that might work (and tweaked the hardware to support it), but they still say their focus is to make it one tablet needed per console… everyone else plays with Wii remotes, which you already have.
So… how ’bout we wait for the facts, K?
I thought they weren’t making it with next, next-gen power so to keep the price point down? If it’s going to cost as much as a next, next-gen console, I want a little more power then they are giving.
I’ve been hearing talk that MS wants to keep the initial price of the 720 down low, and if that’s the case Nintendo is going to have a tough sell with both the PS4 and the 720 coming in cheaper.
As shawn mentioned, you have the currency wrong.
Ps3 launched in Australia for a massive $1000Aud, and the wii at $400.
And dont think that the american dollar being worth the same or less than the Australian Dollar right now means anything – I can still buy anything from the USA, have it express shipped, and increase its warranty for less than it cost me to go buy it locally from a price saving store (That is why Australia got labelled the Land of The Rip Off)
So no matter how well our dollar is doing – American pricing will almost always assume a $1usd to .60aud. If that makes sense.
Besides, if it doesn’t sell as well as they hope – they’ll go 3ds on it and drop the price down by half, and make anyone who already has it an ambassador. So just wait 2 months.
I am posting comments to quickly?
Hey 360 yes ps3 are you pondering what im pondering yes ps3 if nintendo does it 1st and we copy it and add more power will that make us better then nintendo YES! YES!!!!! 360 LOL.