Look, there’s no denying that the Wii’s been a juggernaut in the home video game market, dominating market share almost as soon it came out. But Nintendo launched the motion-control console more than four years ago, and it’s safe to assume that priving for the console will change as the device gets longer in the tooth.
So it comes as no surprise that — at least according to our pals at Engadget — that’s exactly what’s going to happen. The claim (pegged to an inside source at Nintendo) is that the Wii will drop from its current price of $200 to $150, come May 15th.
If the price drop happens, it’ll be at a time when Nintendo’s stock price is embattled and the company’s ability to fulfill demand for the new 3DS handheld is at question. What’s more, Nintendo recently announced their spring release slate (see below) and it’s conspicuous for the lack major third-party support. Lots of casual and tie-in titles, sure, but only one game from Activision and none from EA. And only one first-party title–Mystery Case Files:Dust to Dust–isn’t a version of a title that we’ve seen before.
The coming weeks will tell if this release list and a price drop will be enough to keep the Wii’s momentum going — as well as bolstering the fortunes of their new 3D-enabled handheld. Of course, this could be leading up to a big Wii 2 announcement, but I’m skeptical that Nintendo ould do anything that would tip their hand so far ahead of E3 in June.
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Wii
Activision
Transformers™: Dark of the Moon™ Stealth Force Edition – June 14
Deep Silver, Inc.
Get Fit with Mel B – Spring
Disney Interactive Studios
LEGO® Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game – May
Disney•Pixar
Cars 2: The Video Game – Summer
Graffiti Entertainment, Inc.
Reader Rabbit® Preschool – April
Reader Rabbit® Kindergarten – April
Reader Rabbit® 1st Grade – April
Reader Rabbit® 2nd Grade – April
Konami Digital Entertainment
Karaoke Revolution Glee: Volume 2 – Spring
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
ExerBeat™ – April 26
Nintendo
Wii Play™: Motion – June 13
Mystery Case Files™: Dust to Dust™ – June 27
SEGA
Thor™: God of Thunder – May 3
The Conduit™ 2 – April 12
THQ Inc.
Rio – April 12
SpongeBob SquigglePants – April 12
Kung Fu Panda® 2 – May 24
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters – June 7
Nintendo DS Family
Activision
Transformers™: Dark of the Moon™ AUTOBOTS™ – June 14
Transformers™: Dark of the Moon™ DECEPTICONS™ – June 14
Squinkies – April 12
Bergsala Lightweight LLC
Loving Life with Hello Kitty® and Friends – May 10
Deep Silver, Inc.
Duke Nukem: Critical Mass – Q2
Disney Interactive Studios
LEGO® Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game – May
Disney•Pixar
Cars 2: The Video Game – Summer
Easy Interactive
Hollywood Files – June 14
Picture Puzzle Collection – May 17
Match 3 Madness – May 3
Konami Digital Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011 – May 10
Majesco Entertainment
Cake Mania Main Street – May
SEGA
Thor™: God of Thunder – May 3
THQ Inc.
Rio – April 12
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets 2™ – April 12
Kung Fu Panda® 2 – May 24
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
LEGO® Battles: Ninjago – Spring
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters – June 7
Nintendo 3DS
Activision
Transformers™: Dark of the Moon™ Stealth Force Edition 3D – June 14
Aksys Games Localization, Inc.
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II – May 24
Crave Games
Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion – May 24
D3 Publisher
Dream Trigger™ 3D – April
Disney Interactive Studios
LEGO® Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game – May
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
DualPenSports™ – May
PAC-MAN® & Galaga® DIMENSIONS – June
Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D – June 19
NIS America, Inc.
Cave Story 3D – June 28
TECMO KOEI AMERICA CORP.
DEAD OR ALIVE® Dimensions – May
THQ Inc.
SpongeBob SquigglePants – May 17
Ubisoft Entertainment
Driver® Renegade – Spring
Rabbids® Travel in Time – April 10
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell® 3D – April 10
James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes™ – June 7
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment