A reliable retail source tells us that some GameStop chains will no longer be selling the 8GB Wii U as of June 18, exactly one week after Nintendo’s big E3 kick-off event.
Our source says GameStop has contacted stores with the following message:
Nintendo Wii U Basic Recall – Two Week Preparation On Tuesday, 6/18, all stories will need to return all new/unopened Wii U Basic (020359). .. Stores that have 10 or more in stock will receive shipping cartons from the [distribution center]. .. All other stores will need to save shipping cartons for this recall.
What’s this mean?
GameStop officials have not replied to our request for an official comment; we’ll let you know if they do.
Nintendo tells us: “We do not comment on our business practices with retailers.”
That’s not helpful! Product recall for a defect? Or some pre-E3 removal of inventory to get ready for a price drop for the 32 GB model? Or just a discontinuation of the 8GB model?
We don’t know, but our retail source has a good track record. We’d love to hear from more.
The 8GB version of the Wii U costs $US300 and is white. Nintendo sells a 32GB model for $US350 with Nintendo Land packed in.
The Wii U launched on November 18. It’s a good system but has been plagued by a lack of compelling first-year games, something Nintendo hopes to change with the looming releases of Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101 and promised new Zelda and Mario adventures.
To contact the author of this post, write to stephentotilo@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter @stephentotilo.
Comments
8 responses to “8GB Wii U Basic Nixed?”
I’d imagine that they aren’t selling well, since the upgrade isn’t too much more, black is already a more popular console colour, and the 32GB white model might be released outside of Japan soon anyhow. ‘Course… I don’t have any REAL idea why…
Yeah… low sales might also mean it makes financial sense for them to concentrate on a smaller number of SKU’s, so scrap the one which is selling the least.
It’s also probably pretty cheap for them to take these, stick extra memory in and repackage them as 32gb White versions.
I doubt there is even 32gb worth of content even available on the system.
Terrible shame for the early adopters this thing is…
It’s gotta be a $50 price drop on the 32GB model and a discontinuing of the 8GB model.
I didn’t even bother with the article. I just wanted to appreciate that image.
Amazing.
They’re most likely going to reuse the shells for the production of the white 32gb models and completely scrap the Basic so that you simply choose black or white.. which is how it should have been to begin with anyway.
I, for one, wanted a Premium pack in white. They tried locking the white purchasers into a Basic pack so I said nuts to this and boycotted.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop the price too as they did with the 3ds a few years back. Nintendo seems to bounce back pretty well from initial hickups by lowering prices so fingers crossed the price drops a bit more in our favour!
Sounds like a smart move. The premium pack is pretty good value.
Because once you go black you never go back.