[CONFIRMED] Wal-Mart Rumored to Drop 3DS Price Early

[mr_pikachu]

UPDATE 8/9: Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. are now offering the discounted rate of $170. Joey Davidson of Techno Buffalo notes that corporate headquarters waited until today to inform stores, so confusion among some employees means that not all stores have yet implemented the price cut. If you want the new rate, you may have to try a few Wal-Marts.

You may recall from our previous story that, in the wake of disappointing 3DS sales, Nintendo will be dropping the price of its new handheld system worldwide by about 30% on August 12. In an attempt to reward gamers who already own a 3DS, Nintendo is offering 20 classic NES and Game Boy Advance titles for free download until noon on the 11th.

However, according to a "trusted source" of CheapAssGamer.com blogger CheapyD, Wal-Mart is planning to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace by slashing its prices three days sooner, on August 9. If true, gamers could take advantage of the price cut (which, in the U.S., will be from $249.99 to $169.99, an $80 savings) and still get to download the free games. Presumably, gamers would flock to Wal-Mart in greater numbers for this deal that would not be available elsewhere.

Note that this rumor has not yet been confirmed, nor has any approval by Nintendo or lack thereof been reported. However, as Eddie Makuch and Brendan Sinclair of GameSpot noted, shrewd gamers can claim both the discount and the downloads even if the rumor is not true. Wal-Mart's sales policies state that, if a price reduction takes effect within seven days of a customer's purchase, the customer can bring his/her receipt to the store and claim the difference as a refund. As such, gamers can buy the 3DS now and download the free titles, then claim the discount when the price cut becomes official next week.