The Wii U will retail for no less than $300 when it comes out this fall, according to unnamed sources "closely involved with manufacturing and distributing Nintendo products."
According to these sources (cited by Forget The Box), the total cost of materials to make a Wii U console is estimated to be around $180. That includeds the Wii U's innovative screen-based controller.
- NEWS: Wii-U Release Date Leaks
According to these nebulous sources:
“Cutting production costs to maximize profits is Nintendo’s main concern with the Wii U. They are cutting costs in the Wii U’s hardware to build back confidence in investors. Nintendo wants investors to view Wii U as a less risky proposition. ”
I don't think $300 is an unreasonable prediction for the price of the Wii U, but I don't have anything that says that this is more than an educated guess on someone's part. I advise caution in accepting this amount.
Let's assume, though, that the Wii U is going to cost $300. Do you think that's a fair price for the first console of the next generation? Given what you've seen of the device, is that a good price?
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untamedbulet247
well I am definitely no Nintendo fan-boy, I own every recent system and most of the old system my main system is my xbox . the regular nes, and snes is what I grew up on. It was kind of the roots of video gaming, but nintendo in my personal opinion focuses on the younger generations. As I walk into gamestop and look at the shelves when you look at the xbox, and playstation shelves how many games are truely dedicated to the younger generation. As I look there really aren't too many. Nintendo has started a revolution in video games, granted I don't think its the best system. They were the first with the motion part. and now with the new tablet that comes with the wii u its taking it to a new ball game. I don't think graphics are everything in a system. i think whatever fits a persons tastes is what they should get. I may like my xbox while others like the wii or the playstation, it is too each his own. I will buy the new wii u mostly for the classic games that I enjoy. just because you don't like it doesn't make it a bad system.
Bloodthr0e
$300 for a household tablet may be the only reason this console sells well. It will be cheaper than an iPad and the games on it will be actually fun to play. I probably won't need it, what with my Vita. If this turns out to be the last console Nintendo ever makes, I might eventually get it, but with Nintendo only putting out 1 Mario and Zelda game every 2-3 years, I only feel the need to pick up their consoles once every 2-3 generations.
InnerRise
Much to much to pay for ANY Nintendo product since it will be SPUNK after it's first year of false media hype like it's other failed products.
Madav
I wouldn't buy any console for $300 at launch; not before trying it at least. For the inevitable fact that it won't have many games to play and they'll still be working out the kinks. I've seen it too many times before. I'll wait until they upgrade it to something beyond a beta version and the quality matches the price.
dantastic4
What gets me is how some people here still praise the Xbox 360 and the PS3 as if there still next gen and new tech when infact the graphics chip behind both of them is practically almost 10 years old.Sorry but I just can't take some gaming websites along with fanboys that seriously.Aspecially when they use the generic HARDCORE smash a beer can over my head Gamer tag line as if it really means something to them when infact its nothing more then PR fluff to help sell said such product.Even Adam Sessler really does'nt consider himself a HARDCORE GAMER he just refers to himself as a gamer.I get why some people will never like Nintendo because they feel like they've been buried by the WII.But people to say that the WII U is gonna be certifed flop based on others assumptions and gaming gossip websites slurged on about whats underneath the hood is just plain rediculious.The really truth is people can't be certain for sure but then again this is how the big N has always operated.They never,as long as I can remember did any PR bragging on their specs to their consoles.They usually keep stuff like that a secret until the big events like E 3.So please stop the childish assumptions and lets all be excited for once at what possible tech could be in store for us for all the up coming systems.
Cryptomaster420
anyone notice how the nintendo fanboys all have high votes(vote spamming) well gotta question for em "UMAD Bro?"
Osaka1337
Not bad, though it may be even $250.. But still at $300 it'll cost as much as the Vita which is a handheld.
WiiU has been rumored to have more RAM than XBOX 360 and PS3, we'll have to see wouldn't we.
ScrappedHeap
$300 seems kinda low for a next gen console. It really makes me wonder what specs the Wii U will have and what will come with the system. I expect the demo software from last E3 and just the Wii U remote will come with the new hardware with such a low price point, so keep those old Wii-motes and nun-chucks or you'll be buying them again.
For those that think the Wii U is just another gimmick, you're right. But the whole gaming industry is based on introducing new gimmicks. Nintendo has been at the forefront of most of the revolutions in gaming because it invented or improved some of the most well known gimmicks, dual joysticks, touch screen gaming, motion control, gaming peripherals. These gimmicks have made Nintendo very successful even though they occasionally fall flat like the Virtual Boy or the 3DS (which is actually kinda cool.) I am excited to see what their new tech can do and if I can get their system and a game for under $400 dollars I am sold.
mikepjr
Yeah 300 sounds right, i would pay that... i am for sure to get one if it IS that much.
bugninja042192
i can not say this price seems too bad. it seems about what a console should be, nintendo or otherwise
MrRickenbacker
Sure the Wii-U is go to be behind in terms of power that the other systems will dish out but I'm getting it! 1080p Link and Mario! Yes Please!!! 1080p SMASH BROS.!!! YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!!
TheJollyJokers
I'll buy @ $100.
teac77
The games are more important than the system, or the system's price.
willywong
Yeah.. I would and will Pay that
mikegonzalez2k
I think the cost sounds about right. It would be Nintendo's way of making up for low sales of the Wii. This strategy however could backfire and really hurt the popular family game company. Considering up to this point in history their primary market are the family gamers, you have to ask yourself if families would consider this cost too high. If they aren't careful on how they execute this system it could really hurt them considering the Wii didn't do well. Two low sales systems in a row I would imagine would bring lots of bad things to Nintendo.
Cryptomaster420
looks like the nintendoof fanboys can't take criticism about how bad nintendo has sunk since 2009 :( i know they will just spam vote this down its a shame really
Keth
It sounds good if it was the first console out and it came out while the other consoles were still popular amongst the public.
And since it would be nearly the same price as the current generation it would probably work out pretty well.
pointblizzy
What the hell are you guys talking about!?! just because a system is more expensive, doesn't make it better. Do you think that the PS3 really cost anything close to $600 to make? of course not. they just overpriced it because they were being greedy and trying to take advantage of all that PS2 craze at the time. And look how it backfired on them. Nintendo likes to keep their consoles not too far from the $250 range, and us smart gamers appreciate that!
brsterkens
If they had called it the "Super Wii" i might have been more interested.
swanychargers
yes it might be cheaper but cheaper by no means better....i rather pay for high quality, powerfull hardware, if it does costs them $180 to make it, the ps4 and nex xbox is going to blow it out of the water big time....its already going to fail
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