Nintendo has today officially announced a price drop for the DS Lite handheld to just $99. With the new 3DS now the primary focus for the company in the portable space, Nintendo decided to slash $30 off the popular handheld's MSRP. The new price goes into effect on June 5.
Additionally, Nintendo is looking to make several DS titles standout at retail. Specifically, Nintendo has designated six Mario games to sport the new "Mario-red packaging." These titles are New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 64 DS, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! and Mario Party DS. "These games represent some of the best-selling fan-favorite Nintendo DS games of all time, and demonstrate the well-known 'evergreen' sales trend of Nintendo games," Nintendo remarked.
The six titles have all sold in the millions in the U.S. Here are their sales through the end of April 2011 according to the NPD Group:
• New Super Mario Bros.: more than 9.25 million units
• Mario Kart DS: more than 7.40 million units
• Super Mario 64 DS: more than 4.34 million units
• Mario Party DS: more than 3.27 million units
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: more than 1.98 million units
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!: more than 1.01 million units
"From the moment it launched, Nintendo DS Lite hit a sweet spot for consumers in terms of value, experience and fun," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "This new price point will introduce Nintendo DS Lite to even more consumers, and the new red packaging will make it easy for them to find their favorite Mario titles."
