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Nintendo Wii Price Drop Is It Possible For 2009

As of this writing, the Nintendo Wii price is pegged at $249.99 SRP. Not bad, really, for a console that is dominating the sales charts and has the deepest library of games among the current generation of consoles.

But many people are still hoping – praying, even – for a Nintendo Wii price drop before Christmas of 2009. After all, the console is on its 3rd year in the market – which, in industry terms, means that the system is currently at the peak of its expected 5 to 7 year life cycle – and now is the best time to own one.

But is a Nintendo Wii price drop possible for 2009? Alas, that is THE question!

Currently, Nintendo has not made any announcements, and neither has it made any indications, that a price drop for the Nintendo Wii console is forthcoming in the near future. Hence, any take on the matter will merely be an opinion – an educated deduction at best, based on prevailing market factors at the moment.

Let’s take a look at the possible reasons why a Nintendo Wii price drop should not be expected this year:

- With the exception of the Xbox 360 Arcade edition (naked version of the console which isn’t ideal for first time owners), the Nintendo Wii is the most affordable current generation console in the market today. Hence, the company doesn’t need a Nintendo Wii price drop to remain competitive with regards to having a lower price point.

- The Nintendo Wii has always topped the sales chart – and by big margins, at that! Hence, the company wouldn’t feel that a Nintendo Wii price drop is necessary as the public obviously concurs with the current price given the console’s dominance of the sales charts.

- It’s too soon for a price drop. Traditionally, consoles offer price drops at the middle and at the tail end of the system’s market life. For the current generation of consoles, that market life is pegged at 6 years. Nintendo already offered a price drop, albeit early on during the system’s life span. The company would think that another price drop would be premature at this point.

Now, let’s take a look at the possible reasons why a Nintendo Wii price drop is actually quite probable for 2009:

- It’s a down economy, and if the company cares for its loyal fans, they will make their flagship console more accessible to them. In a bad economy, the only way to increase sales is to offer value at a lower price. The Nintendo Wii has proven that it packs value. Now, only a lower price is needed.

- Nintendo already enjoys a humongous installed base of users. It can afford a Nintendo Wii price drop as majority of its profit for this point forward will come from software sales, anyway.

- A Nintendo Wii price drop is what the public wants!

So, will the company offer a Nintendo Wii price drop in 2009? Only time – and Nintendo – will tell.

Tags: Nintendo Wii, Prices, Xbox 360

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