This is certainly a first in history, and it points to the state of the retail and set-top console market, said Steinberg. The retail struggle in a soft game market is more intense this year than ever before.
#Toys r us wii u games software
"If they get you in the door to buy Wii U software at a discount, chances are you're going to do all your Wii U shopping at that specific retailer" If they get you in the door to buy Wii U software at a discount, chances are you're going to do all your Wii U shopping at that specific retailer. It's going to be a tough retail season, and given the increasing Black-Friday driven shopping culture, this is a tactic designed to ensure that the store in question is the primary shopping source for the Wii U, said Scott Steinberg of TechSavvy Global. Does this mean these retailers are trying to attract hardware buyers for the Wii U? Or are the retailers just concerned that Wii U software isn't going to sell all that well, and worry about being stuck with hard-to-sell inventory? Those prices mean the retailer is essentially giving up all profits on the software it is selling. Target is running a similar sale: Buy two Wii U titles, get the third at 50 percent off. Toys R Us is running a sale: Buy one Wii U title, get the next at 40 percent off. This has never happened before at the launch of a new console, according to industry veterans. Something unprecedented has occurred during this new console launch: Two major retail chains are offering discounts on Wii U software.
The (then) $250 Wii console was selling for well over $1,000 on eBay well into 2007, and it was many months before supplies caught up with demand for the Wii. This sounds like there's solid demand, yet it's not as fevered as the demand for the Wii after its launch in 2006. Over 2500 units have appeared on eBay already, though, at prices from $400 to $500 as some early buyers attempt to cash in. Some things are already happening, though, which may give some indication of the Wii U's future prospects.įirst of all, the Wii U is already sold out at retailers across North America, according to reports. The future of the Wii U is still wide open, with much depending on Nintendo's ability to improve the system's software, release compelling games, and convince third party publishers to support the console with impressive software.
The launch of a new console provides a moment of clarity and reality after months of pre-release hype and speculation.