NoE Executive Expects Sub-250 Euro Wii Price

While Nintendo proved unwilling to share either the launch date or price of its upcoming Wii console during its press event at the Leipzig game conference in Germany, a statement from the company's head of German operations has indicated an expected price of below €250 ($321.50) in Europe. According to questions from Reuters, Nintendo's Bernd Fakesch commented that "the price has not been decided yet, but I expect it to be ... less than 250 euros." Earlier this year, Nintendo indicated that the Wii would not sell for more than ¥25,000 ($223) in Japan and not more than $250 in the U.S., with a similar price being promised for Europe. The executive also added that the exact launch date for the Nintendo Wii has not been finalized either, but would be "in due course." Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented in June that the company will announce the console's release date "before September." Fakesch also echoed Iwata's comments in June regarding Nintendo's expectations to sell six million Wii consoles worldwide by March, adding that company expects to move 4 million units by the end of the year. While Nintendo has continued to remain coy regarding the eventual launch date and price of the Wii platform, some have come to expect the Wii to launch sooner rather than later, with some analysts claiming a release to come as early as October, a full month ahead of Sony's expected launch of the PlayStation 3.