Nintendo may be the reigning video game hardware sales champ, but you may be surprised to learn it’s also the record-holder for longest rock steady pricing.

That’s about to change, at least in Japan. Nintendo says it plans to slash the price of the DSi by one fifth on June 19, according to Bloomberg, to revive sagging domestic sales.

Expect a DSi price drop from 18,900 yen ($205) to 15,000 yen ($163), or 21 percent, reports Bloomberg, adding that the Japanese DSi LL – equivalent to the U.S. extra-large DSi XL (PCW Rating: 3 out of 5) – should see a price cut of 10 percent, landing at 18,000 yen ($196). Sales of the DS have fallen in Japan since last year, down 1.5 percent to 4 million for the 12 month period ending March 31.

The original Nintendo DS launched in the U.S. back in November 2004 for $150, then dropped to $130 in August 2005. It’s held there since, even after the slimmed down, camera-clad DSi launched at $170 in April 2009.

[ Source: PCWorld ]