Nintendo is looking to do everything in its power to once again make “Nintendo-like” profits from the struggling Wii U, but according to a new report by Game Industry International, those profits won’t be coming from the hardware itself. We initially heard that the dual-screen console, which debuted supporting a white $250 basic set as well as a black $300 deluxe bundle, was being sold at a loss, and even after all these months of the hardware being push out on the marketplace, Nintendo confirmed that it’s still not making money from selling a Wii U.
That’s quite the opposite of being “Nintendo-like,” as the company has been well known in the past for making money on its home consoles. With a 36.4 billion yen ($387 million) operating loss reported earlier this week, it’s starting to become clear that Nintendo can’t afford to reduce the price of the Wii U at this time. This could be a major issue going forward, as both Sony and Microsoft will be launching next-generation consoles with a great deal of anticipation surrounding them this holiday season. With most retailers phasing out the less expansive Wii U and only stocking the black, premium box, Nintendo might just take a beating with its $300 console this fall.
With the PlayStation 4 launching at $400 and the Xbox One coming into the race at $500, the Wii U will still be the cheapest option among the big three console manufacturers. However, numbers up to this point indicate that the general public just isn’t buying what Nintendo is attempting to sell.
