Nintendo Co., the world's biggest maker of portable video-game players, said Wednesday it plans to cut the price of its DS hand-held device for the first time in Japan on June 19 to bolster stagnating domestic sales.
The recommended retail price for the DSi model will be reduced 21 percent, to ¥15,000 from ¥18,900, according to a statement on the company's Web site. Nintendo also said it will lower the price of DSi LL, which has a larger screen, by 10 percent, to ¥18,000.
"This price reduction is aimed at spurring demand and bringing us closer to our goal of a DS in every home," said Yasuhiro Minagawa, a spokesman at the Kyoto-based firm. The company's earnings outlook for the year ending next March takes into account the discount, Minagawa said. He declined comment on overseas pricing plans.
Nintendo, forecasting lower profit and revenue this fiscal year, is counting on renewed demand for the touch-screen DS to offset declining sales of the Wii home consoles and software.