Nintendo is looking to make their Wii U console a bit more attractive (and affordable) this holiday season by slashing the price of the deluxe set. The changes will be accompanied by a new limited edition bundle aimed squarely at fans of the Zelda franchise.
Effective September 20, consumers will be able to pick up the aforementioned Wii U deluxe set for $299.99, effectively knocking $50 off the total price of the bundle and bringing it to the same level as the basic set.
The biggest difference between the two is in hard drive space - 8GB versus 32GB - but there are also some other included accessories that have made the deluxe bundle more desirable up to this point. With both sets now priced identically, there's no real reason to opt for the entry-level kit now.
Nintendo is also releasing a limited edition bundle on the same day (at the same $299.99 price point) that includes black console hardware and accessories, 32GB of storage and a custom GamePad with Zelda lettering. Elsewhere is a digital download of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and a digital copy of the Hyrule Historia book.
The holiday season will no doubt belong to Microsoft and Sony but Nintendo isn't deterred. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime acknowledged that sales have been slow since the console hit the scene late last year but a price cut as well as a solid software lineup should make them more competitive and prove they are fighting for market share.