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Wii U has struggled to find a foothold among the other home consoles and Nintendo has relied on the success of their handhelds to help offset Wii U's woes. The 3DS gained a great deal of steam since its first year, and Nintendo is looking to spark some Wii U interest with exciting news out of the GameStop Managers Show. In addition to announcing a price cut for the console, Nintendo also announced a special Zelda-themed bundle and a new handheld, Nintendo 2DS.

On September 20, 2013, consumers will be able to purchase a Wii U Deluxe Set for $299.99, a $50 price reduction from the current set. While it is uncommon to see a console price drop within its first year, such a cut is needed to help the underperforming Wii U. Nintendo used a similar strategy when lowering the cost of 3DS by $80 in the Fall of 2011.

A special The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Bundle will also release that day.  The $299.99 bundle will include: A black Wii U Deluxe console, A Zelda themed Wii U GamePad, a download code for Hyrule Historia (Zelda's giant history/art book), and a download code for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. All at no additional cost.

Nintendo is emphasizing the value of their consoles and is giving gamers more affordable options to play. "Today we’re making those unique Nintendo experiences more accessible and affordable. However you play and whatever you play, Nintendo has you covered," Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime announced today in Las Vegas.

Following Reggie's statement a new handheld, the Nintendo 2DS, was unveiled with plans to hit store shelves this Fall. The 2DS is designed to play all 3DS and DS games, albeit without 3D visuals.  The new handheld will employ a more streamlined "slate-type" design, instead of the common clamshell. All other hardware functionality will remain the same.

The Nintendo 2DS will launch on October 12, 2013 at $129.99 MSRP and is branded as an "entry point to the world of Nintendo hand held video games," designed for a younger audience, even if its price point can benefit anyone looking to play 3DS games.

With the release of a new Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong titles this holiday, Nintendo’s fall lineup is looking better and better. A price cut could help facilitate sales growth and provide consumers with the necessary purchasing power to buy it. At $299.99, the Wii U will be the least expensive "next-gen" console on the market this holiday. Price cuts of this magnitude have worked for Nintendo in the past, so there is hope that Wii U will land on its feet.