Nintendo announces price drop on DSi and DSi XL to $99.99 and $129.99

Nintendo will be lowering the price of its DSi and DSi XL effective on the same day as the Midnight Purple 3DS hits stores: May 20th.

The announced price drop from the current retail price of $149.99 and $169.99 to $99.99 and $129.99 is likely a way for Nintendo to liquidate the remaining stock of the older handhelds.

It is also a perfect opportunity to purchase one of these systems on the cheap.

The DSi, released in 2008, was the first Nintendo handheld to feature a camera and comes pre-loaded with a variety of software like Flipnote Studio, DSi Camera and DSi Sound.

The larger DSi XL, released in 2009, comes with the above software and also includes pre-installed games like Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock.

The timing of the price drop makes both handhelds tempting gifts, and corresponds with the summer graduation season.

Those looking for a Father’s Day gift could do worse than the DSi XL, which features a larger display and comes loaded with two of Nintendo’s most popular games for the older, casual gamer demographic.

Both the DSi and DSi XL have access to the DS’s library of over 2,000 games, the latest of which - Pokemon Conquest – will be released on June 18th.