When we were ripped from the E3 3DS demo units by heartless Nintendo reps, our minds raced to calculate precisely how much we'd be willing to pay to take one home with us. The answer was ... unnerving, to say the least. While we still don't have an official price, we've got a slightly better idea courtesy of a recent VentureBeat interview with Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata.
He says that the handheld will, unsurprisingly, cost more to produce than a DS does today and that it won't be sold below production cost. We don't know the current DS Lite production price, so determining a minimum price from that quote is tricky. But here's a little perspective: The original DS cost $150 at launch, the DS Lite cost $130, a price point it's still doing crazy numbers at four years later. Our gut's saying at least $200 for the 3DS, but we'd be thrilled to be proven wrong ... provided we're overestimating.
Also of interest in the VentureBeat piece: Iwata says that the 3D tech in the system has been prototyped on the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. Just imagine! There's an alternate reality where the Wii has six dimensions duct-taped together.
Reader Comments (67)
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:33AM cylet said
please don't make it 250 like the psp go
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:35AM CaptainProtonX said
@(Unverified)
Yeah, but this will be worth $250.
Reply
Yeah, but this will be worth $250.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 1:40PM kenny goo said
@ CaptainProtonX
No offense, but half of the games announced so far are ports, and spec wise this thing is barely more powerful than the PSP-3000 that sells for $170 (a price that Sony makes a profit on). IMO $250 is by no means a justifiable price point.
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No offense, but half of the games announced so far are ports, and spec wise this thing is barely more powerful than the PSP-3000 that sells for $170 (a price that Sony makes a profit on). IMO $250 is by no means a justifiable price point.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:37AM CaptainProtonX said
I recognize the cost of development, and the expectation to make a profit.
Try buying an iPhone without a contract. BAM...$700. Cost of production? Not even half of that. Maybe not even a third.
I'm going to call $250 just because I'm convinced it will be worth it.
Try buying an iPhone without a contract. BAM...$700. Cost of production? Not even half of that. Maybe not even a third.
I'm going to call $250 just because I'm convinced it will be worth it.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:40AM Churchbus said
When I read the title, I thought it meant one of two things:
1. The 3DS will be pretty expensive.
2. The 3DS will be less costly to produce than expected.
Seems like it might be a bit of both. Most companies (i.e., Sony) would take a bit of loss on the hardware so it will sell, and make profits on the software.
Nintendo, on the other hand, knowing full well that people will buy the 3DS regardless, chooses to make profits on everything. It's a move you can afford to make when you create something people want.
Everyone else should take note.
1. The 3DS will be pretty expensive.
2. The 3DS will be less costly to produce than expected.
Seems like it might be a bit of both. Most companies (i.e., Sony) would take a bit of loss on the hardware so it will sell, and make profits on the software.
Nintendo, on the other hand, knowing full well that people will buy the 3DS regardless, chooses to make profits on everything. It's a move you can afford to make when you create something people want.
Everyone else should take note.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:41AM knighty said
I think this is yet another case of greed on Nintendo's part. Fair enough, it's their product, it's totally up to them what they sell it for, but bearing in mind the shovel loads of money they'll make on software, it seems not only greedy of them, but bad business wise. Surely it'd be better to get it in more peoples hands and recoup extra money on software than to put it out of the price range of many people?
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:50AM Haywire said
That strategy presents greater risk for Nintendo, but probably not greater rewards. This console is impressive, as is its lineup, and people will buy it at a profitable price.
Also, I wish people would stop criticising companies for being "greedy". It's capitalism, and if their being greedy means making great products so people will pay a lot of money for them, that's a good thing.
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Also, I wish people would stop criticising companies for being "greedy". It's capitalism, and if their being greedy means making great products so people will pay a lot of money for them, that's a good thing.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:00PM AwesomeTown said
@knighty
Nintendo doesn't have the financial backing that Microsoft and Sony have through other products. They can't afford to take a chance and lose money on a system.
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Nintendo doesn't have the financial backing that Microsoft and Sony have through other products. They can't afford to take a chance and lose money on a system.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:05PM knighty said
But it's not really a case of taking a chance is it? Come on, we all know Nintendo will make an enormous profit on software because the main reason people but Nintendo systems is because of Nintendo games. I agree that it's up to them what to charge, I said that, I'm just saying I think it would be *nice* of them to charge a bit more reasonably based on their profits. I know I'll get downvoted into oblivion for this anyway but whatever, that's my view. I know they're not a charity, but I think it's sad that in this world there's so few *nice* companies. *sigh*
Reply
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:41AM Vidikron said
Well, if it's over $200 I'll just wait.... might be for the best since we all know they'll release a considerably better version a year later anyway.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:44AM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
Nintendo could sell it for $100 over production cost, if they wanted.
Anything Nintendo touches = Money Printer.
Anything Nintendo touches = Money Printer.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:47AM crazypeng1 said
i'm not buying 250 for a 3d gimmick that may hurt my eyes. Nintendo still prides themselves on being the most affordable, so stick to that idea.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:15PM Alexisonfire said
@crazypeng1
"i'm not buying 250 for a 3d gimmick that may hurt my eyes."
250 3DS's is a bit excessive.
But would you consider buying only one?
Reply
"i'm not buying 250 for a 3d gimmick that may hurt my eyes."
250 3DS's is a bit excessive.
But would you consider buying only one?
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:48AM (Unverified) said
I think Nintendo can afford to make less of a profit off this thing. They've still gotta be making a killing on the Wii.
Of course, that's a consumer talking. We always want the lowest price. I don't want to have to wait for years just so the thing can drop to a price I'm willing to pay since I'm a stubborn and frugal person.
Of course, that's a consumer talking. We always want the lowest price. I don't want to have to wait for years just so the thing can drop to a price I'm willing to pay since I'm a stubborn and frugal person.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:50AM One Stomy Night go watch it said
200 bucks better mean they'll push out software for it. Good software.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:28PM MystileArmor said
@One Stomy Night go watch it
Where you in a coma during Nintendo's presentation or something?? Or are you insinuating Ocarina Of Time in 3D and Starfox in 3D wouldn't be good enough?
I mean, I'd be willing to buy a 3DS at 200 dollars for just those 2 games. If they'd not release a single game after those two, I'd still be content.
Reply
Where you in a coma during Nintendo's presentation or something?? Or are you insinuating Ocarina Of Time in 3D and Starfox in 3D wouldn't be good enough?
I mean, I'd be willing to buy a 3DS at 200 dollars for just those 2 games. If they'd not release a single game after those two, I'd still be content.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 4:29PM Alexisonfire said
@One Stomy Night go watch it
If you are meaning at launch, then I will agree. Most games do not look ready for a prior-to March 2011 launch. I would think that Kid Icarus and Star Fox 64 would be the only interesting titles to be released.
If you are talking about the line-up in general, ARE YOU BLIND?!?
Reply
If you are meaning at launch, then I will agree. Most games do not look ready for a prior-to March 2011 launch. I would think that Kid Icarus and Star Fox 64 would be the only interesting titles to be released.
If you are talking about the line-up in general, ARE YOU BLIND?!?
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:51AM Jeff Kibuule said
My guess is $179.99 for the 3DS, $139.99 for the DSi and finally $99.99 for the DS. A good $40 separating each console allows Nintendo to keep selling them all at the same time. I have no doubt that the DS could be sold for $99, and I doubt there's really much value in the DSi compared to the 3DS, but it's probably nice to keep it around anyway.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:03PM HeroicPrinny said
@Jeff Kibuule
$180 is also my hopeful guess. Keeping it in the hundreds would probably be the safe bet to sell to the masses. Many parents will probably just see another DS and be appalled by too large of a price increase.
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$180 is also my hopeful guess. Keeping it in the hundreds would probably be the safe bet to sell to the masses. Many parents will probably just see another DS and be appalled by too large of a price increase.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 7:09PM xxxsam said
@Jeff Kibuule My guess is $200 and drop the DS when stocks run out. It's confusing - they really don't need so many products in the market. So it'd be 3DS, DSi XL, and DSi.
If they launch it in March for $200, to sell to fans, they can probably afford to drop the price a bit for Christmas to sell to (still relatively rich) parents.
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If they launch it in March for $200, to sell to fans, they can probably afford to drop the price a bit for Christmas to sell to (still relatively rich) parents.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 11:56AM Mr Khan said
I'm going to call $200 even, but no more than $250, though Reggie implied that 3DS costs a lot more to make than DSi
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:00PM helix91 said
I'm gonna guess that it will cost about $230. The 3DS technology has got to cost a pretty penny, so I expected it to be quite a bit higher than the DSi.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:01PM Toxic said
As Michael Pachter said it would be about $299. I think that the actual price will be close to this point, maybe $249.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:20PM McBrick said
Nintendo is a "nice company" - the question is, who are they nice to? Their stockholders and employees (meaning - maximize profit) or their customers?
Companies that do not maximize profit typically don't stay in business very long. If you'd like to make a point, don't buy the thing.
Reply
Companies that do not maximize profit typically don't stay in business very long. If you'd like to make a point, don't buy the thing.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:08PM Shiaoran said
"Likely"? Why would they want to sell it for less than what it costs them to make each unit?
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:43PM BobTheElephant said
@Shiaoran
Companies often lose money on their console(hardware) with the idea that it will convince more consumers to buy the product and they will each buy more games(software) to overcome the loss in profits on the system.
Reply
Companies often lose money on their console(hardware) with the idea that it will convince more consumers to buy the product and they will each buy more games(software) to overcome the loss in profits on the system.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:14PM AmericanNinja said
$300 you heard it heard first.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:16PM Raffi256 said
Regardless it'll show up on ebay for $5000.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:17PM r4in said
Imagine if Nintendo had not announced the 3DS just a few weeks before E3 like they did.. Imagine if they dropped it during the Nintendo Keynote with that software lineup already in place.
I might have soiled my armor I'd have been so scared. =)
I might have soiled my armor I'd have been so scared. =)
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:23PM Faenix said
I find myself puzzled when this happens, feels like we went back in time xD
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:26PM erh said
Nintendo should know that price has been a major factor that has played in their favor, in DS vs PSP and Wii vs 360/PS3, all the way back to GameBoy vs Sega Game Gear. Most parents are very price-sensitive when buying "toys" for their kids - especially a portable game system that the kid has the potential to lose or break! Nintendo would be stupid to raise the price.
Posted: Jun 21st 2010 12:38PM Benstamania said
I'm guessing 190-200....but IMHO 200 seems like it would be to high...from a Nintendo standpoint.
I think 200 is reasonable based on everything it does but I'd be surprised to see it sell AT 200.
190 is a decent bet IMHO.
I think 200 is reasonable based on everything it does but I'd be surprised to see it sell AT 200.
190 is a decent bet IMHO.








