Nintendo today announced plans to drop the price of their 3DS handheld. Currently retailing for $249.99, on August 12 the handheld will cost $169.99.
Worldwide, the new price translates to 15,000 yen, 169 EUR, 250 AUD, or approximately £130.
“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”
Nintendo used the news as an opportunity to highlight the handheld’s current and upcoming first-party lineup. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the handheld’s current must-have. Star Fox 64 3D is coming on September 9, Super Mario 3D Land in November, Mario Kart 7 in December, and Kid Icarus: Uprising during the holiday season.
The company also announced plans to allow those who’ve registered and accessed the Nintendo eShop before 11:59pm EST on August 11 to download 10 NES games free of charge. They include Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, and The Legend of Zelda. They will be made available as paid eShop releases after the price drop on August 12. They will be distributed through a program called “Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors.”
Additionally, Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to exclusively purchase 10 Game Boy Advance games on the eShop that Nintendo “currently has no plans” on making available to the general public. They include Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Krat: Super Circuit, Metroid: Fusion, WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgame$, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
Stay tuned for future details.