The cost of a Nintendo Wii has now fallen to $170, Wii 2 expected soon

TOKYO - Though no official announcement has been made, the Nintendo Wii is now available at major online retailers for $169.99. Gamespot.com and IGN.com are reporting that online stores such as Best Buy , Target , and Gamestop have marked down the Wii by $30.

The change appears to apply for bundles with either a black Wii or white Wii, and includes Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and a Wii MotionPlus controller.

The Wii originally launched at $250 in late 2006, and saw its first price drop to $200 three years later. Rumors had been swirling that the Wii would be cut to $150 before E3 this summer, as Nintendo preps its successor.

The long-rumored Wii 2 is said to possess true 1080p HD graphics and a new controller with a small touchscreen built in. Game Informer magazine reports that Nintendo has already begun showing tech specs to game makers, perhaps indicating a Wii 2 launch sooner rather than later.

ABC Action News will have more preview coverage of E3 leading up to the show this June.