Pachter: 3DS can help Nintendo steal the show at E3, DS price drop expected

“[Nintendo may] steal the show with its upcoming new handheld (scheduled for release by March 2011), the 3DS.” – Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter

“The only price cut that we expect is for Nintendo’s DS in the U.S. (following recent price cuts in the UK and Japan). Nintendo is unlikely to drop the price of the Wii below $199 as it recently introduced a new bundle that includes Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and the Wii Motion Plus. Similarly, Sony is unlikely to announce a PS3 price cut, as we believe a price reduction below $299 may lead to a loss on each unit sold. Microsoft is not expected to drop the price of the Xbox 360 below $299 either; instead, we expect the company to bundle the Natal motion controller with a redesigned (slim and black) console.” – Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter

The 3DS is definitely one of the biggest mysteries of E3. Even though we know it exists and that it can play games in 3D without glasses, a flood of details are expected to be unveiled next week. If the system turns out to be innovative like past Nintendo handhelds and a few noteworthy titles are shown, gaming fans will probably look back fondly at this year’s conference.