Tokyo, Aug. 5, 2009 (JCN) -- Nintendo Co. and Sony (NYSE:SNE) Corp. are facing mounting pressure to cut prices after sales of the motion-sensing Wii fell for the first time and PlayStation 3 shipments tumbled to a two-year low.

Nintendo shares fell the most in three months after the Kyoto-based company said Wii sales plunged 57 percent and profit dropped 61 percent. Sony reported a second straight loss after PlayStation 3 shipments fell 31 percent.

Microsoft Corp. said last week it sold 1.2 million Xbox 360 consoles in its latest quarter, the lowest in two years. Sony Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer and Nintendo President Satoru Iwata have spurned calls by game publishers and retailers to cut prices as the global recession drives down consumer spending.

The stronger yen is also eroding earnings at Japanese electronics makers, making them less competitive relative to overseas rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co.

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