Target, Walmart Drops 3DS Price to $169 Early
Walmart knocked the Nintendo 3DS pricetag down to $169.99 on Tuesday, and Target has now done the same on Wednesday.
Just recently Nintendo shocked the gaming industry with a $80 price reduction of its 3DS handheld system, bringing the hefty $249.99 pricetag down to $169.99 just six months after the device's initial launch. The news arrived after a disappointing quarter and a sudden revision of the corporate year profit forecast.
Naturally those of us who haven't already purchased the Nintendo 3DS were elated over the new pricetag, but early adopters who shelled out the full price weren't all too happy. Thus, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata released an open apology and said that the early adopters – AKA Nintendo's new 3DS Ambassadors – would receive twenty free games if their device connected to Nintendo's network before August 12.
"We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginning may feel betrayed and criticize this decision," he wrote. "Those customers who purchased the 3DS at the very beginning are extremely important to us. We know that there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early."
Which now brings us to the current headline: Target is now offering the Nintendo 3DS handheld for $169.99. Not on August 12, but starting today. That means Target customers can waltz right into the store, pick up the handheld device for the cheaper pricetag, jump online and activate the device, and then gain access to the free 20 games. Not a bad deal to say the least.
The free games will come in two waves. Starting September 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will offer ten additional, exclusive GBA Virtual Console titles including Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
So far Target hasn't announced anything official, but one Target employee said that "there is a message board out to every store that the price changes are active today. Price changes must be activated by corporate." The move is an obvious response to Walmart's cutback seen on Tuesday showing that America's super-store was knocking the 3DS pricetag down to $169.99 a few days early. That said, if there was a time to purchase Nintendo's new handheld, today and tomorrow would be ideal.
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Wait so Target did it Wednesday and.
Wal*Mart did it Tuesday, then how did Target do it early?
Topic for this article is misleading.
another nail in Vita's coffin? it's a great deal now if you get it at Walmart or Target. You get the price cut and the 20 free games. amazing deal!
@TheWhiteRose000 The price drop is suppose to happen on Aug. 12th and it currently is the 10th so both Walmart and Target dropped the price early.
Great time to buy so you can activate the Ambassador program and get the 3DS cheaper. I'm sure that makes early 3DS adopters cringe though.
I won't buy this, not even at $1.69 AND free games.
Wait so Target did it Wednesday and.Wal*Mart did it Tuesday, then how did Target do it early?Topic for this article is misleading.
No it isn't. It's early because Nintendo dated the price drop for August 12, and they dropped it August 10th. Not misleading at all, you're just failing at comprehension.
I went to target and they had no idea about the price drop >
Interesting move by Walmart and Target to kickstart sales. They must be expecting people to put 2 & 2 together and figure out this tidbit. Still, I can't see it being worth it unless you were contemplating a 3ds anyway.
That said, if you're planning on getting one, NOW is the time.
It is confirmed in my area. I went to Target after work and saw $169.99 and got it. I guess I'll find out Sept. 1 if I get the free games as well! Thanks for the story Tom's!
@outerheaven That I understood.
@gnookergi Not failing at comprehension just winning at noticing details.
If Wal*Mart did it before Target, wouldn't it have been better if Wal*Mart drops price's early.
Given they could have written, "Wal*Mart & Target drop price's early"
Which they both did ahead of time, It just makes more sense to write Wal*Mart first, instead of Target cause Wal*Mart dropped the price first.
I don't have a DS... but now I could get a 3DS, a whole bunch of games and being able to try all the games that I missed during this 5 years...
The world end with you is the game I want the most on DS.