Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Nintendo CEO Apologizes To Early 3DS Adopters

Nintendo CEO Apologizes To Early 3DS Adopters

None

Recently Nintendo announced a massive price cut for their Nintendo 3DS that launched only four short months ago, bringing the console’s price from $249.99 to $169.99. A price cut this severe is pretty unusual, but this also means Nintendo is actually losing money on each console sold right now with hopes that they’ll recoup their money as the install base grows.

Obviously, a price drop like this is going to have mixed reactions. On one hand, the gamers who haven’t been able to get the 3DS might be more willing to take the 3DS’ new price tag. But on the other hand, there are those who purchased the 3DS for $249.99. The latter group is understandably a little miffed, and Nintendo realizes it.

In a letter posted on their web site (and translated by Giant Bomb), Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata wrote, “In the past, there have been price drops for video game systems some time after their release in order to broaden the user base further. However, never before has Nintendo chosen to issue such a dramatic price drop less than 6 months after a system release.”



Iwata continued, “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. 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.” But that doesn’t mean Nintendo can’t try.

In hopes of making amends, Nintendo is offering 20 free games to those who purchased the game before the price drop as a part of their Ambassador Program. Half of the titles will be Virtual Console NES game, with the remaining half made up of Virtual Console Game Boy Advance games. In order to get these freebies, 3DS owners will have to log onto the eShop to be able to take part in the Ambassador Program.

To top