Buzzin Games

Not content with breaking all sorts of records with their Wii system already, Nintendo look set for another, not entirely welcome, first: the first console in UK history to increase its price two years into its life. It’s unlikely to come cheap either, with the trade price going up by over 10% according to Gamesindustry.biz.

Since launch the market leader has sold for £179.99 – a price that many thought was too high to begin with, being just £20 short of an entry level Xbox 360 at the time. 2 years on, thanks to the weak pound, the Wii is getting an £18-£20 trade price increase, while the entry level Xbox is available to consumers for just £130.

Of course it’s possible that the new trade price won’t get passed onto consumers, but you can bet that smaller stores with smaller profit margins won’t have this luxury.

All of this makes perfect sense on a business level of course – the pound has fallen dramatically, and Nintendo are perfectly within their rights to make sure they don’t end up selling their products at a loss in our region. What doesn’t make sense is their warning that software prices may follow suit. Given that Wii games are essentially pressings of an original copy, and parts (blank disk, manual, packaging) all cost a minimum and could be sourced locally, the same justifications for a price hike simply aren’t valid. It seems they’re simply trying to keep their profits in the same stratospheric area they’ve been since launch – odd, given they’ve said the DS will not get the same price adjustment.

If you are desperate to purchase a Wii though, it may be better to do it sooner rather than later, before the price rise takes effect. Alternatively it’s entirely possible it will be back down to the original price around December to try and take advantage of the Christmas rush and consumers’ short memories.

What do you think? Are Nintendo justified in putting the price up, or is the Wii about due a drop by now? Let us know, as ever.