Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo 3DS is to receive a price cut next month, with those consumers who have already bought the console set to own 20 Virtual Console games for free.
The company revealed that the price of the handheld console will be slashed from its current suggested retail price of $249.99 to $169.99 from August 12 in the U.S.
The console's price will also be reduced in Japan, down from ¥25,000 ($317.70) to ¥15,000 ($190.62), and Nintendo of Europe confirmed with Eurogamer that
it will see a price reduction in Europe of "around a third."
However, there is also incentive to buy the console before the August 12 date. Anyone who has already bought the console, or buys it before August 11, will receive 20 free downloadable games before the end of the year.
Those consumers who purchase the console before that date are classed as 'Nintendo Ambassadors', and on September 1 will receive 10 free NES games via the Nintendo eShop.
These games will include the likes of
Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and
The Legend of Zelda, and will then later be made available to purchase for all other 3DS owners.
Before the end of 2011, 10 Game Boy Advance titles will also be made available for free for Ambassadors. These will include
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames and
Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
However, these games will be exclusively available for Ambassadors, with no plans to release them to the general public.
Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime explained, "For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now."
"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."
