Nintendo Drops Price of the Wii U in Time for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Launches

Company also set to launch the 2DS as an entry level portable gaming device in October

Nintendo will drop the price of its Wii U videogame console by $50 next month as Microsoft and Sony plan to launch the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in November.

The Wii U will be priced at $299.99 starting Sept. 20.

The company also announced it will release a 2D version of its popular 3DS handheld gaming system on Oct. 12, priced at $129.99.

System is meant to be an entry level portable gaming system that will play all 3DS and DS games, clearly aimed at younger gamers. The handheld has been a strong seller of both hardware and software for the company.

New device will launch with the release of the “Pokemon X” and “Pokemon Y” games.

Nintendo has been looking for ways for its Wii U to emerge from the shadow of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launches, and sees the price cut as a way to make its console more attractive to casual gamers. The Wii U has struggled to gain traction against its higher-priced rivals due largely to a lack of games.

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The company only sold 160,000 units during the first quarter (April through June) and reached the 3.6 million mark around the world as of late July. In comparison, the older Wii sold 210,000 units during the first quarter, outselling its replacement. Nintendo expects to sell 9 million consoles during its fiscal year, which ends in March.

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SEE ALSO: Sony to Release PlayStation 4 on November 15

“Nintendo has one of the strongest and most diverse video game lineups in our history,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer, the exec said from the GameStop Managers Show in Las Vegas. “Today we’re making those unique Nintendo experiences more accessible and affordable.”

New Nintendo games set to launch during the fourth quarter include: “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD;” “Wii Party U;” “Super Mario 3D World;” “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Breeze;” “Wii Fit U;” “Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games;” and “Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure” and “Lego Marvel Super Heroes” from Warner Bros. Interactive; Activision’s “Skylanders SWAP Force” and “Call of Duty: Ghosts;” Sega’s “Sonic Lost World” and “Rayman Legends;” and Ubisoft’s “Just Dance 2014” “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” and “Watch Dogs.”

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