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Nintendo’s 3DS had a rocky start, but following a crazy huge price cut, it not only got back on track but performed better in eight months than the DS did in its first year. Thanks to the lower price and giant releases like Mario Kart and Monster Hunter 3G in Japan, the 3DS has been trouncing the Vita on a weekly basis in the island nation. Obviously Nintendo wants to repeat that success in the US, perhaps using shocking price reductions, at least if one GameStop listing is anything to go by.
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Currently on GameStop’s website (opens in new tab) you can buy a new 3DS system for $149.99, $20 less than the current price elsewhere. It’s listed like a sale price by Stop, but GameStop basically NEVER cuts prices on new hardware, and Nintendo stuff besides. More often this type of thing happens as part of an industry wide price drop. Is this the case?
Our brief research has proven that competing mega-retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Wal-Mart are still charging $169.99 for a new unit. Recently Nintendo has given GameStop US-exclusive retail items, like the 3DS Circle Pad Pro (opens in new tab) and Xenoblade Chronicles (opens in new tab). It’s possible that this is another Nintendo favor, but it’d be a pretty big one.
In the US Nintendo is launching a new pink unbundled 3DS system in three days, which would be a great time to reveal a shocking, last minute price cut. Perhaps The N is letting Stop in on the new MSRP a little early, but we bet it’s only a matter of time before every US store will reflect that price. Nintendo is playing hardball with Sony and this clearly appears to be a big move to overshadow the Vita’s upcoming launch that begins with early bundles on 2/15 and a full launch on 2/22.
How long before Nintendo makes this price cut official for everyone? Will UK/EU/Japan get similar reductions? And will this move allow Nintendo to dominate in the US like it does in Japan? We’ll keep you posted.
