Lack of Wii U sales not due to pricing

Some analysts have insisted that the pricing of the Wii U is what is hindering Wii U sales, and that a price cut should bring about more sales. Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo, disagrees. In an interview with CVG, Iwata insists that, “If the price is actually an issue [with Wii U], then there is some contradiction between the current sales balance between the Basic and Premium versions of the Wii U. The basic version should have sold a lot, but the fact of the matter is that people are buying more of the premium version. So the issue is not there.”

According to Iwata, the problem with the Wii U isn’t pricing. It’s compelling software. “I understand that the real issue is the lack of software, and the only solution is to provide the mass-market with a number of quality software titles.” He likened it to the 3DS, a system that originally was selling poorly, but because of the likes of Animal Crossing: New Leaf  and Luigi’s Mansion, is now at the point where it is outselling all home consoles and portables in the UK.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Iwata had previously dashed all hopes of a Wii U price cut, saying that the Wii U is still being sold at a loss. Plus, with the amount of games show at the last Nintendo Direct, such as Wind Waker HD or Sonic Lost World, and the knowledge that Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are to be released in 2014, it’s understandable that Nintendo does not feel compelled to give a price cut.