Wii price cut, budget games confirmed

By Robert Purchese Published 4 May, 2011

£130/$150 console, £20/$20 titles.

The rumoured Wii price cut and budget Wii games range has this morning been confirmed by Nintendo.

From 20th May in Europe (and 15th May in the US), the price of a Wii console bundle (with either Mario Kart Wii & Wii Wheel or Wii Sports Resort & Wii Sports) will drop to £129.99 ($149.99).

On the same day, Nintendo will introduce a Nintendo Selects budget-price Wii game range. Titles cost £19.99 ($19.99).

The initial line-up varies slightly in the US and Europe. In Europe the first Nintendo Selects games are Wii Sports, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Mario Strikers Charged Football and Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City.

In the US, the first Nintendo Selects games are The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City, Mario Super Sluggers and Wii Sports.

The Mario Kart Wii console bundle packs a white Wii, Wiimote Plus, nunchuk, Wii Wheel and Mario Kart game.

The Wii Sports Resort console bundle packs a black Wii, Wiimote Plus, nunchuck and copy of Wii Sports Resort and Wii Sports (on the same disc).

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • menage #1 1 year ago

    Too little too late for me. A year ago I might have gone for it, now it just seems dying anyway.

  • midnight_walker #2 1 year ago

    £19.99($19.99)?

    That's a strange exchange rate you've got going there, Nintendo!

  • emhaslam92 #3 1 year ago

    Not much of a price drop. Been a lot lower than that for the console pretty often. May still be now at most retailers.

    Most Wii games are less than that anyway, with the exception of games like Super Mario Galaxy.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #4 1 year ago

    Europeans are richer than Americans, obviously.

  • drumbaby #5 1 year ago

    Erm, bargain I guess?

    :/

  • sonicyoda #6 1 year ago

    I like how we don't get a budget Twilight Princess because there's still a high demand for that game over here. Pre-owned prices are still a bit silly. Not as bad as Mario pre-owned prices though.

  • menage #7 1 year ago

    They just want us to think that so we buy their stuff

  • Golgo #8 1 year ago

    When Metroid Prime Trilogy turns up for £20, I'll bite.

  • Ryze #9 1 year ago

    Getting a 2nd hand Wii next week for £60 with Wii Sports, Mario Kart + Wii wheel and Monkey Ball Banana Blitz.

    Anyone care to list the best Wii games for me to get? It'll be the FIRST time I've OWNED a Nintendo console!

    I've already bought:

    Star Wars: Rogue Leader (GC)
    NBA Street Vol.2 (GC)

    I plan on grabbing:

    Super Smash Bros. Brawl
    Bully
    Metroid Prime Trilogy
    Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
    Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
    Super Mario Galaxy
    Super Mario Galaxy
    New Super Mario Bros. Wii
    Super Paper Mario
    Mario Kart (SNES)

    What else am I missing?

  • Golgo #10 1 year ago

    @9: quite a lot...

    Zak and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
    Sin and Punishment 2
    Little King's Story
    Donkey Kong Country Returns
    Punch Out!!
    Kirby's Epic Yarn

  • AcidSnake #11 1 year ago

    @Ryze:
    Eternal Darkness (GC)
    The Legend Of Zelda (anyone really)
    Okami (if you haven't played it yet and like the genre)
    Donkey Kong Country Returns

  • CrunchinJelly #12 1 year ago

    Buying Wii games?

    How quaint.

  • Scritti #13 1 year ago

    "In Europe the first Nintendo Selects games are Wii Sports, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Mario Strikers Charged Football and Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City."

    - What? So, one game that most people already got free with their console (yes, I understand it's for new Wii owners who buy the Mario Kart bundle but still), a Mario football game identical to the one I got for my Gamecube 6 years ago that I can use proper controls with, and 2 very Japanese games that any one interested in would have bought years ago.

    Where's Super Mario Galaxy, Super Paper Mario, Excite Truck or Super Smash Bros Brawl? And Mario Kart itself is easily old enough to be a budget release by now. I'm sure they're coming but when? 2012? 2013? Well done yet again, Nintendo. You really know how leave everything until it's way too late these days, don't you?!

    I'll buy Project Cafe regardless 'cos I won't miss out on a new Mario, Zelda etc but, and I don't want to sound like a childish "fanboy" here, Nintendo have become frustratingly shite from the Nintendo 64 onwards. First choosing cartridges over CD's, then the flop of the Gamecube (which I actually loved - 3 Resi games, 3 Zelda's & lots of great other games) then the Wii which is a Gamecube with a slightly faster processor and an unaccurate control system.

    I'm excited about Project Cafe but it'll probably be a stopgap. Praying I'm wrong and Nintendo get back to doing things properly again but they're such low-tech, bad decision-making, money-grabbing b*stards and have been ever since the days of the SNES. Sony showed them how to do it properly with the original Playstation and, even though Sony's name is mud at the moment, I admit that a Playstation 4 announcement (and a new XBOX or perhaps news of a proper home Apple console) in a couple of years that'll really get my gaming juices flowing. Nintendo have become, for me, very much the "third-system" company, whose console I have to buy to play their games even though I started to wish they'd give up & just become a third-party company years ago. Just like Sega.

    Please let Project Cafe be brilliant and not a terrible let-down like the Wii.

  • joelstinton #14 1 year ago

    @9 donkey Kong country returns... its brilliant! up there with the best for me. try having a look in this thread http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_po... or search around for a few similar.
    Edited by joelstinton at 04/05/11 @ 09:46

  • RobTheBuilder #15 1 year ago

    Funny, I bought Mario Strikers for about £10 a year ago.

  • sonicyoda #16 1 year ago

    @Ryze

    Silent Hill: Shattered Dimensions!

    Best game on Wii!

  • CallousB #17 1 year ago

    A shame the pound/euro exchange rate is still so shitty...a few years ago this would have been a drop to £99 . You'd think with loads of the euro zone countries having to be bailed out things would be the other way around exchange rate wise.

    Still this should push sales in mainland Europe/the US.....although you'd think ensuring a strong installed base for the 3DS was far more important in the long term than keeping the Wii ticking over.

  • Kami #18 1 year ago

    Indeed.

    And not surprised about the price cut. Although tbh, considering the buzz over the offers recently, I'd have thought it'd be £99... would be quite amusing to see a Wii sales spike again... :p

    Although cannot wait for E3 now. Details of P.C. (ucwidt?) are needed, if only so this rumour mill approach can shut up and people will stop getting worked up over a machine whose specs aren't even official yet!

  • GamesConnoisseur #19 1 year ago

    Seem this move while belatedly welcome, just reinforce for me how arrogrant Nintendo was at expecting non HD console with GC decade old tech innard to sell more expensively than X360 or just bit below PS3!

    Only taken them to reduce after pretty humbling poorer sales, but even so still quite able to rake in at profits with all these affordable reductions?

    However this is their right to decide when and how, but in the larger view of the overall market..... Seems like what a cheek?!

    I have been a long time Nintendo gamer but the Wii era is a very tough time for me to like the company or the platform, DS and 3DS the only saving graces and 3DS still not yet proven but far better potential as Ninty belatedly coming back to hardcore gamers.

  • sfp_noodle #20 1 year ago

    Sorry Nintendo, way too little too late. Console should be £100 maximum, cheaper when you consider how old it really is. A budget range 5 years after the console released? Ninty are really taking the piss now aren't they.

  • Jonny5Alive7 #21 1 year ago

    Wow, I can't wait to buy Wii Sports for £20, its not as if it came with the console or anything.

  • WinterSnowblind #22 1 year ago

    I hope Nintendo learns to do more discounts on their games after this.. If I don't want to buy a game when it's first released for £35, I'm not going to suddenly break down and buy it months later for that same price. Their digital content (what little there is) is even worse for this.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #23 1 year ago

    i actually thought it was already £130 for a Wii, thats a lot of money for something thats gonna be dead in the water by the end of the year if its not already, Nintendo dont have a very good record at supporting there old platforms when the new ones are out and 3rd party certainly wont be.

    Still if youve never owned a wii there is some first party titles that are worth playing, but still i think id wait for the wii2 presuming its BC or just pick up a second hand wii, there pretty damn reliable so wouldnt be worried about getting an old one.

  • Gojiratron #24 1 year ago

    That's quite a poor showing Ninty with your budget games.

    That list (UK) should include Twilight Princess, the first Mario Galaxy and Smash Bros as they've been out for years. I suspect you could probably pick them all up for £20 or less if you shop around anyway.


    EDIT:

    Recommendations for Ryze:

    No More Heroes 1 & 2
    Okami
    Sin & Punishment 2
    Edited by Gojiratron at 04/05/11 @ 11:19

  • StuDevo #25 1 year ago

    Nice currency Conversion by Nintendo

  • callum9999 #26 1 year ago

    Kami - The Euro did weaken a bit at the time, but you need to take the size of the EU into account. It's almost like the UK bailing out Kent - not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.

  • alimokrane #27 1 year ago

    No thanks.

  • MakeYourself #28 1 year ago

    Is Project Cafe definitely going to be backwards compatible with Wii software?? I'm sure I've read this before but can't remember whether it was definite or not. I've been holding on to my Wii for the last year only so I can play the new Zelda game when it's finally released, but if I can just play it on the new system instead then I may as well get rid of it now before the prices get slashed any further.

  • bit-crusheRRRR #29 1 year ago

    @Ryze

    Resident evil (either the wii archives or GC version)
    Resident evil zero
    House of the dead overkill with 2 guns :o)
    No more heroes 1 & 2
    Tatsunoko vs capcom
    Madworld

  • zedzee #30 1 year ago

    Never mind all that, I'm now waiting to see whether EG will ask the next Nintendo rep they interview, all the hard questions, such as:

    1. Why is the exchange rate for the price drop different between US and UK?
    2. Why is there a difference between the budget line-up in US and UK?
    3. Why isn't Twilight Princess part of the budget line-up in UK?

    But somehow, I doubt very much they'll have the balls, although I'd be quite happy to eat my words.

  • DeadLeafMantis #31 1 year ago

    it's usually £179.99 but in HMV (possibly others) it's been £129.99 for a week already, guess it'll go back up soon and then get lowered again permanently.

  • systems #32 1 year ago

    Game had it for £99 with Wii Sports plus during the Easter break.

  • oceanmotion #33 1 year ago

    It's been that price for yonks.

  • FogHeart #34 1 year ago

    Red Steel 2 - the game that would convince a die-hard gamepad fanatic that there's something to be said for motion control.

  • orborborb #35 1 year ago

    For those just coming to the Wii (and Gamecube) wanting recommendations, in addition to the Marios, Metroids, and Zeldas, any true fan of videogames should have Resident Evil Remake (GC), F-Zero GX (GC), Donkey Kong County Returns (Wii) and Zack and Wiki (Wii).

    Luigi's Mansion (GC), Pikmin (GC), Super Monkey Ball (GC) (the original is the ONLY good Monkey Ball game) Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii), Punch Out (Wii), and Kororinpa (Wii) ( the original one) are some more of my favorites.

  • natureboy #36 1 year ago

    It is common for companies to slash the price of their systems and offer budget games when a new system is approaching (PS2 etc) If Nintendo plays her cards right just like Sony, she can carry on supporting the Wii for the next ten years. (You can still buy new PS2 games in some places)

  • Ryze #37 1 year ago

    Thanks guys!

    I'm bookmarking this article!

    @orborborb

    Kudos for reminding me of Pikmin and ESPECIALLY F-Zero GX on the GC.

    I'm off to look for a decent price on F-Zero right now!
    Edited by Ryze at 04/05/11 @ 13:20

  • kingbelly #38 1 year ago

    @Ryze

    Red Steel 2 is excellent and only about a tenner is you buy it on its own without a wii motion plus.
    Muramasa is beautiful and great to play in short bursts (anything over an hour can get a little repetitive).
    Monster Hunter Tri is incredibly addictive if you can forgive its grinding (and is much more playable with a classic controller).

    Of these new budget games, WarioWare: Smooth Moves is hilarious and ingenious. Uses the wii remote better than almost every game since (sadly).

  • kingbelly #39 1 year ago

    Oh and the gamecube has some fantastic games if you can track them down, Zelda: Wind Waker, Fire Emblem and Beyond Good & Evil are some that spring to mind. And if you are interested in Paper Mario, personally I found Thousand year door (GC) and Paper Mario (N64 via Virtual Console) both superior games to Super Paper Mario (still great fun though!)
    Edited by kingbelly at 04/05/11 @ 13:32

  • Spooke #40 1 year ago

    £20 for Wii games is too much, make it a tenner and I'll buy some.

  • Yodith #41 1 year ago

    Ah Nintendo, never missing a chance to shaft the European gamer.

  • sonicyoda #42 1 year ago

    @EddieMink

    While Sin & Punishment 2 is incredible (and why wouldn't it be; it is a Treasure game after all) I still prefer Silent Hill.

    Silent Hill has the most unique and well-thought-out use of the Wiimote, an amazing soundtrack, a really deep plot and some brilliantly written characters that you actually care about. It also has some of the best graphics of any game on the system. There's absolutely nothing like it. Not even other Silent Hill games are similar.

    The only problem I have with it is it is a little on the short side, but that really is it. It's also the only game I've got on Wii that I've wanted to play multiple times. Near perfection.

  • KayJay #43 1 year ago

    Erm...
    http://www.shopto.net/WII/VIDEO%20GAMES/...

  • mrblonde #44 1 year ago

    Im sure the retailers , especially on line will drop these bundles to well below £99, not bad really but putting SD games on my TV is a no no after years of hd goodness.

  • twh104 #45 1 year ago

    It's good there's finally a price drop. Now it's the same price as the GameCube was on May 3, 2002!

  • thedriffter50 #46 1 year ago

    Ryze - You have already mentioned most of the best games but you could try Goldeneye.

    Then theres old skool games like Super Maro 64 to download online.

  • Basoy #47 1 year ago

    Boom Blox
    Boom Blox Bash Party
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Wii Sports Resort
    A Boy and His Blob
    Wario Land: Shake It!
    Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep
    Muramasa: The Demon Blade
    Just Dance 2...

    There are others worth considering but I do not want to go through them all. There are many on WiiWare such as:

    The LostWinds games
    The Bit.Trip games
    The MegaMan games
    The StrongBad games

    Et Cetera.
    Edited by Basoy at 04/05/11 @ 19:30

  • twh104 #48 1 year ago

    @iKnow:

    Nah it was £129.99 on launch day - it dropped to £79.99 in October 2003... shocking that the same timeframe for Wii would have been a price cut in May 2008!

  • 32768Colours #49 1 year ago

    Funny, I've been toying with the idea of buying a Wii recently after only just realising how many cool games are on the virtual console. Pilot Wings, Dragon's Trap and Alien Solider on one console? Yes please!

  • Ryze #50 1 year ago

    Thanks peeps! This'll keep me going for the next couple of years, and the prices are DIRT cheap!

    I reckon my timing has been perfect, price-wise!
    Edited by Ryze at 05/05/11 @ 20:35