Say what you want about the Nintendo Wii, but it's the best-selling console this generation. Nintendo last gen hardware, bundled it with a then newfangled motion-controller and bitch-slapped the significantly more powerful competition.
But lately, the Wii's hardware is showing its age. Meanwhile, developers manage to squeeze more and more performance out of the PS3 and Xbox 360. The Wii-mote isn't so cool anymore now that there's a PlayStation Move and more-so, Kinect. The little Wii engine that could, can't keep up at the same pace as it once was.
This is evident in recent month's console sales across the globe. In the US, Kinect has helped move an exorbitant amount of Xbox 360s, easily eclipsing the Wii in sales. In Japan, PlayStation 3 amassed greater sales than the Wii in year-end totals.
It's only going to get more grim for the Wii, too. Especially with nothing too significant (aside from Skyward Sword) in the Wii's pipeline. So what's a major Japanese console manufacturer to do? Drop it like it's hot.
A new rumors suggests that Nintendo will be cutting the Wii's price in the US by 25% bringing the total consumer cost for the console to $150. That's $50 lower than the entry level Xbox 360 and half the cost of a 160GB PS3. That's sure to put some pep back in Nintendo's step. This makes sense too, a Wii successor could be shown off at E3, and there's more than enough profit margin to be had with the 3DS to help absorb some of the lost revenues from the Wii price cut.
The price cut is said to happen on May 15. We'll let you know if or when its confirmed by Nintendo.
[Source]
