Iwata hints at 3DS price

June 18th, 2010 Posted in 3DS, News, Posted by Valay

Update: According to analyst Michael Pachter, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told him that it costs “a lot more” to make a 3DS than a DSi and that Nintendo doesn’t intend to lose money on the hardware.

There were two pieces of information Nintendo failed to mention about the 3DS at E3: A date and price. It’ll probably be a few months before we hear about either of those two details, but Nintendo president Satoru Iwata provided a hint regarding how much the handheld will cost. Because of the system’s graphical enhancements over the DS, new camera, features, and improvement in overall technology, it seems logical to assume that the 3DS will be priced more heavily than past Nintendo portables. According to Iwata, it’ll cost more than the current DS, which probably means it’ll set consumers back at least $200.

“I have to refrain from talking specifically about the price point. What I can confirm is that, in terms of the production costs, it will cost more than the costs for the Nintendo DS today. Having said that, we believe we will produce enough value worthy of the production cost. We do not think we have to sell the products below cost.”


  1. 8 Responses to “Iwata hints at 3DS price”

  2. By Pokemonbrawl on Jun 18, 2010

    Who cares I’m still buying it.

  3. By opiumx on Jun 19, 2010

    $199 would be fair, but Im betting it will be $249. Which I am not sure I would pay at first.

  4. By JoshZTP2 on Jun 19, 2010

    I didn’t bother to read this & just eyed it; knowing the 3DS would be at least $200 from the start! ;)

    But if it’s coming out in 2011; by then I’ll get a job & have enough saved by then! ;)

  5. By Ponkotsu on Jun 19, 2010

    I could possibly see it being less than $200, but still in the upper $100s range. Iwata specifically cites that it costs more than it does to make the DS now – he doesn’t compare it to the costs of the DS when it first came out, however. And those have decreased, along with the standard price point over the years. Nintendo also knows the importance of a good price point that most can afford – the competition’s had a track record of hurting themselves with pricing, but Nintendo doesn’t, and I’m doubtful that they’re gonna make the 3DS price exorbitant. Though I do expect that it’ll be sold out for a long time like the Wii and DS and sell for far more than its shelf price online.

  6. By Acekard on Jun 22, 2010

    As for pricing it doesn’t make sense to have the handheld console above the price range of their flagship tv console the Wii. 200$ range sounds more likely.

  7. By superArod on Jun 30, 2010

    im pretty sure it will be between $199 through $250 if its more, then thats a problem

  8. By Frank on Jul 25, 2010

    Based solely on the facts that 1) Iwata doesn’t want to lose money on his hardware, and 2) the 3DS will cost more to manufacture than the DSi, I have a feeling that the 3DS will sell for a $249 price point. I will be surprised (but delighted) if it sells for $200, but Nintendo almost always sets its prices high initially and then reduces them after a year or two. Look at the Wii: it began at $250, and after a couple years or so Nintendo slashed its price to $200. And I don’t agree with the launch price of the 3DS being necessarily lower than its “flagship TV console the Wii.” The Wii has been out since 2006, so it should be lower. If the 3DS’s hardware boasts marked improvements over the DS line (bigger, brighter, and higher-res screens, better Internet features and connectivity, and two built-in cameras) and is capable of something as innovative as 3-D graphics without the need for glasses, I feel that the price point will be higher not only because of the sheer cost for these features, but also because Nintendo will want to capitalize financially on its groundbreaking hand-held. By the same token, I won’t be surprised if the 3DS games sell for $40 initially. Regardless of cost (we’re talking about a difference of $50 either way for an awesome system), I’m pretty excited for the 3DS and its launch titles Kid Icarus and Resident Evil!

  9. By youngnoize on Aug 1, 2010

    the only thing i know regardless the price is that when 3ds is released a LOT of people will get instantly 300-400 euro poorer guess the reasons!!! :P

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