Nintendo Cutting DSi Prices In Japan, Europe

Nintendo announced its first price cuts for DSi and DSi XL hardware in Japan, and has adopted an open pricing system for DS Lites there, as well. It's also reducing the price of standard DSis in Europe. Nintendo DSi XLs, or DSi LLs as they're known in Japan, will sell for ¥18,000 ($196) instead of ¥20,000 ($217) starting June 19th. The price reduction will coincide with the debut of three new color versions of the plus-sized system in that region: Blue, Green, and Yellow (pictured). Standard DSi models will drop in price, too, from ¥18,900 ($205) to ¥15,000 ($163). As for DS Lite systems, previously marked at ¥16,800 ($181), Nintendo will allow Japanese retailers to price the hardware at their discretion. Some speculate that this hints at the company soon discontinuing the four-year-old model as it prepares to launch the Nintendo 3DS. Consumers in Europe can also expect to pay less for the standard DSi model, as Nintendo is slashing the price there by an unspecified amount. The price change in that region isn't scheduled to officially take effect until June 18th, but some UK retailers are already selling them £20-£30 lower than its current recommended retail price of around £150. Nintendo hasn't yet announced any plans to reduce pricing for any of its DS models in North America, or to release its new DSi XL colors outside of Japan.