Okay Geek Farm
Breaking: Nintendo 3DS getting heavy price drop - $169 starting Aug. 12th
Ricardo Trejo
Let’s face it, the 3DS was an awesome idea but simply priced too high. Not only that, but the serious lack of software support from all angles (3rd party and 1st) has been a major letdown for early adopters who believed we’d get a new age of handheld dominance from the Big N. Well, Nintendo today announced a whopping, never before seen $80 price cut only 5 months since its initial release in the states. And it doesn’t end there; early adopters will get 20 free NES and GBA virtual console titles once they become available on the eShop.
- Lack of software support
- Heavy launch price tag
- Looming PS Vita threat
It’s apparent that Nintendo didn’t feel comfortable moving forward with their current strategy, and so have decided to pretty much do the noble thing and make their latest handheld system for the people.
Starting August 12th, the 3DS will be slashed to $169.99 in the US, and ¥25,000 to ¥15,000 in Japan. No exact price was listed for the EU or AU Nintendo said details would soon emerge.
“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”
- Star Fox 64 3D is due for release on Sept. 9th
- Super Mario 3D Land (official title) will be out November
- Mario Kart 7 and Kid Icarus: Uprising will launch December
The best news comes for early adopters who might’ve felt cheated out of their hard earned rupees. To show their fans that their support is noticed, those who purchase the system anytime before the August 12th price cut and connect to the eShop will receive 20 FREE NES and GBA title (10 each). Yep, you read that correctly.
On September 1st, Nintendo will be releasing NES titles (such as: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda) through the eShop channel and the newly dubbed Ambassador program will make all ten of these titles available for free for early adopters.
Likewise, later by the end of 2011 Nintendo will be doing the same with GBA titles, however these titles (which include: Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong) are not scheduled to be released to the public and will only be for Ambassadors.
While the NES and GBA virtual console aren’t yet available, Nintendo has said that they will be giving out more details in the coming future for the general public.
So does this give you an incentive to buy the 3DS at the new low price?
