link
August 23, 2006 - Though Nintendo has yet to announce final pricing or release timing for its Wii console, the company has at least committed to an upper limit: Nintendo has said its new system will cost less than $250 in North America and no more than 25,000 yen ($215) in Japan.
While many expected Nintendo to use this week's German Games Convention to announce a final price, the company remained coy. One tidbit did surface, however: according to Reuters, Bernd Fakesch, head of Nintendo's German operations, said he expects the Wii will sell in Europe for less than 250 euros (about $320).
Converted to dollars, the price looks steep, though consoles in Europe are typically more expensive, partly due to taxes. For instance, the Xbox 360 Core System retails for 299 euros, or about $385 - whereas the system is $299 in the States.
Interestingly, Fakesch said that Nintendo had not decided the exact date for the Wii launch, though that would come "in due course." The company hopes to sell 4 million units by the end of the year, and 6 million by March 2007.