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Hey, The DSi and DSi XL Will Be Cheaper September 12

Save $20 off of each DS model... except the DS Lite.

Do you own a DS yet? Looking to upgrade from a Lite or Phat model to the newer DS with that great camera and all those totally sweet download games? Then Nintendo has good news for you! The company has announced today that come September 12, both the DSi and the DSi XL are receiving a price drop. 
 
The new MSRP of the DSi XL, the newest model in the family, is now $169.99, down from its current $189.99 price. The regular DSi--not quite as big, but it still has all those sweet DSiware games--will retail for $149.99, down from its $169.99 former price. That's a $20 savings on every DS... except for the DS Lite, which will retain its $129.99 price tag, if only to further nudge consumers into convincing themselves, "Well, the DSi is only $20 more, and it plays all of these radical downloadable games!"

 Get that weak mess outta here!
 Get that weak mess outta here!
So, yeah, the DS models are getting cheaper. That's all fine and good if you're just getting into the current generation of handheld systems, but what's more interesting about these price drops is that they further suggest that the 3DS is coming out soon. As anyone who has followed console pricing knows, manufacturers need to blow out their older model of hardware before the new hardware comes out. If they don't get rid of the old hardware, then the manufactures will never get rid of it, as consumers will seek out the newer model in lieu of the old stuff.
 
So Nintendo's current desire to try and cut DS prices in order to get them off of shelves is a good indicator that they're preparing for the launch of the 3DS. So, yes, you could technically wait for the 3DS to ship before you get into handheld upgrading. But you'll miss all of those rude DSiWare games.

47 Comments

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Gold Dust Boi

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Edited By Gold Dust Boi

As amazing as that sounds I have 2 DS systems in so-so condition...$149.99 is still a bit much for me :)

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LordXavierBritish

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Seems kind of pointless to upgrade now with the 3DS being imminent and the fact that YO THEY PLAY THE SAME DAMN GAMES. 
 
I mean yeah DSiware, but if I could just shove a fork in my eye for free too.

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

Twenty bucks? That's it?

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bennym6

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Edited By bennym6

on my birthday

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cowgod

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Edited By cowgod

i love my dsi xl.  the camera and audio effects are fun for the kids and i get to play elite beat agents on a gloriously large portable screen.  battery life on the xl beats the pants of the standard dsi too.

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hbi2k

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Edited By hbi2k

Yo, I noticed a bit of a typo in the article.  You refer to replacing a DS Lite with a DSi as an "upgrade."  An "upgrade" is defined as replacing something lesser with something better.  Given that the DSi drops a good feature (GBA compatibility) and adds only crap features (weak downloadables and a crappy sub-cell-phone camera), the correct word you're probably looking for would be "downgrade."

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Willy105

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Edited By Willy105

Did you just call the Phat weak!?!
 
Come here, let me punch you.
 
 @SuperfluousMoniker said:

" I think this is Nintendo realizing that the DSi wasn't such a great idea, especially after announcing the 3ds. Seriously, what does the DSi have over the Lite? A camera? The ability to download shovelware? Yeah, no thanks, I'll stick with my Lite. "

 Nah. It's Nintendo's usual way of testing out the waters for the next-generation.
 
The DK bongos and microphones for the Gamecube was testing out an audience's reaction to a new way to control games, which led to the DS. The DS was testing to see if a new way to control games would be accepted as a standard, which led to the Wii. The Wii Channels and DSi was to test if Nintendo could handle doing their own OS with online capabilities and programs, which is believed to lead to whatever they are working on the 3DS and their next console.
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penguindust

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Edited By penguindust

Maybe Nintendo is clearing out the old stock in preparation for the 3DS launch.  I have a working DS and don't need another that really doesn't offer any new benefits to me.  Like most other folks here, I am waiting for the next handheld from Nintendo.

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Bigheart711

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Edited By Bigheart711

I'd rather wait for the 3DS. I already have a DSi.

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AgentofChaos

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Edited By AgentofChaos

I won a DS from Xfire like 4 years ago. I never got it, so I figured I'd never buy a DS.

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Warskull

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Edited By Warskull
@radioactivez0r said:
" If you're really enterprising, Blockbuster is clearancing DS Lites for $80 starting today.  The catch is, you have to find a store that carries it. "
Or even just find a Blockbuster store, those things are disappearing like crab legs at a buffet.
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SuperfluousMoniker

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I think this is Nintendo realizing that the DSi wasn't such a great idea, especially after announcing the 3ds. Seriously, what does the DSi have over the Lite? A camera? The ability to download shovelware? Yeah, no thanks, I'll stick with my Lite.

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zityz

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Edited By zityz

Blah Blah 3DS Blah Blah waiting for one Blah Blah Blah Ham and Swiss Sandwich on Rye.
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PK_Koopa

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Edited By PK_Koopa

Nintendo: We gotta sell those crappy DSi's

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Faint

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Edited By Faint

ds lite still costs as much as the original ds did at launch date february 2004 here in australia. it's a joke and i refuse to buy another ds model (though i do want to get another) if they are going to be so unreasonable with their price structure.

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Hyper_Bunny_Meow

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Edited By Hyper_Bunny_Meow
@everjump said:
" @Rapid said:
" As Microsoft Raises its price Nintendo lowers its. Karma.... What will sony do!  T.T "
Sony need to ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?". "

First thing I thought when I read that was What Would Brian Boitano Do? : )
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RobbieMac

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Edited By RobbieMac

Maybe this is my calling to finally trade in my "phat" DS....  Who am I kidding no it isn't!
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Radar

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Edited By Radar

Glad to see Mr Matt still writing for GB. Seems Ryan didn't hate you THAT much

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Mystyr_E

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Edited By Mystyr_E
@everjump: 
but if Sony was smart they'd ask "what would Duffman do?"
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BestUsernameEver

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Edited By BestUsernameEver

Are they also lowering the price of the new blue XL? I am thinking about that purchase. 

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BoneChompski

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Edited By BoneChompski

I just bought a DSi w/ Bowser's inside story packin for 179.99 Canuck bucks.  FFIX was $35 as well.
 
Figures the price would drop.

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AuthenticM

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Edited By AuthenticM

I'm getting a DSi XL so I can modchip it. :)

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sparklykiss

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Edited By sparklykiss

Now I can finally upgrade!
 
And then a few years from now I can get a 3DS that isn't one of two colors or something silly. Whoop!~

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GeekDown

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Edited By GeekDown

I just might actually buy one now...although it is pretty tempting to wait for the 3DS instead.

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FateOfNever

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Edited By FateOfNever

I'm still rolling with a fat DS, but I'll probably still just wait for the 3DS to come out.  Or, the 3DS lite, or what have you.

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guilherme

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Edited By guilherme

There are some pretty good DSiWare games, the trick is to know which ones. I recommend Starship Defense, it's awesome.

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SgtReznor

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Edited By SgtReznor

oh thank god - because god knows I'm sick of writing my notes with paper and a pen, like some punk bitch.

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Hector

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Edited By Hector

Meh..I'll wait on the N3DS

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Asadasa5

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Edited By Asadasa5

Mynotebook is quite rude.

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Rhombus_Of_Terror

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i think almost everyone will be waiting for the 3DS explosion.

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dvdhaus

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Edited By dvdhaus

I was actually thinking about picking up a DSi XL.  Now I'll wait till September.

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Skillface

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Edited By Skillface

Still got a DS fat. Love it. The screen is scratched a bit, but damn is that thing ever durable.

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everjump

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Edited By everjump
@Rapid said:
" As Microsoft Raises its price Nintendo lowers its. Karma.... What will sony do!  T.T "
Sony need to ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?".
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Robitt

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Edited By Robitt
@xthemusic said:
" *bangs hands on table*  WE WANT 3DS. WE WANT 3DS. WE WANT 3DS. "
*joins in*
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rapid

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Edited By rapid

As Microsoft Raises its price Nintendo lowers its. Karma....
What will sony do!  T.T

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CoolDrMoney

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Edited By CoolDrMoney

Great write-up, Jeff Jr.

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ajamafalous

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Edited By ajamafalous
@radioactivez0r said:
" If you're really enterprising, Blockbuster is clearancing DS Lites for $80 starting today.  The catch is, you have to find a store that carries it. "
I should hit up my local Blockbusters.
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xthemusic

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Edited By xthemusic

*bangs hands on table* 
 
WE WANT 3DS. WE WANT 3DS. WE WANT 3DS.

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radioactivez0r

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Edited By radioactivez0r

If you're really enterprising, Blockbuster is clearancing DS Lites for $80 starting today.  The catch is, you have to find a store that carries it.

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xthemusic

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Edited By xthemusic

KESSLER WILL NEVER LEAVE!
 
He knows that the second he runs away, we will come and find him.

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finstern

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Edited By finstern
@moelarrycurly: Matt Kessler: Freelance Writer 
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moelarrycurly

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Edited By moelarrycurly
@FinalDasa said:
" @moelarrycurly said:
" Matt Kessler!?  I thought the intern was no more! "
The Kessler passion never dies! "
After the Surstromming, forever in Kessler shall I trust.  Drew too for that matter.
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Fallen189

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Edited By Fallen189

Why are you so cynical, it's sickening

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FinalDasa

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Edited By FinalDasa  Moderator
@moelarrycurly said:
" Matt Kessler!?  I thought the intern was no more! "
The Kessler passion never dies!
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moelarrycurly

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Edited By moelarrycurly

Matt Kessler!?  I thought the intern was no more!

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peteycoco

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Edited By peteycoco

Oh boy, like it matters now anyway... I want the 3DS :/

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mattbodega

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Edited By mattbodega

Do you own a DS yet? Looking to upgrade from a Lite or Phat model to the newer DS with that great camera and all those totally sweet download games? Then Nintendo has good news for you! The company has announced today that come September 12, both the DSi and the DSi XL are receiving a price drop. 
 
The new MSRP of the DSi XL, the newest model in the family, is now $169.99, down from its current $189.99 price. The regular DSi--not quite as big, but it still has all those sweet DSiware games--will retail for $149.99, down from its $169.99 former price. That's a $20 savings on every DS... except for the DS Lite, which will retain its $129.99 price tag, if only to further nudge consumers into convincing themselves, "Well, the DSi is only $20 more, and it plays all of these radical downloadable games!"

 Get that weak mess outta here!
 Get that weak mess outta here!
So, yeah, the DS models are getting cheaper. That's all fine and good if you're just getting into the current generation of handheld systems, but what's more interesting about these price drops is that they further suggest that the 3DS is coming out soon. As anyone who has followed console pricing knows, manufacturers need to blow out their older model of hardware before the new hardware comes out. If they don't get rid of the old hardware, then the manufactures will never get rid of it, as consumers will seek out the newer model in lieu of the old stuff.
 
So Nintendo's current desire to try and cut DS prices in order to get them off of shelves is a good indicator that they're preparing for the launch of the 3DS. So, yes, you could technically wait for the 3DS to ship before you get into handheld upgrading. But you'll miss all of those rudeDSiWare games.