I Just Want Players to Save Money, They Insist on Giving Me!
Chapter 480 - 164: The Center of Attention! The Launch Event of the Handheld Console That Got a Head Start!_1

Chapter 480: Chapter 164: The Center of Attention! The Launch Event of the Handheld Console That Got a Head Start!_1

Zhou Weiyi was very efficient at getting things done.

After returning to the East Intelligence headquarters in Shanghai, only three days had passed.

And he had brought back a response to Ke Jin.

Following a high-level meeting, East Intelligence decided to resume the soon-to-be-discontinued East Intelligence 550 production line.

And they came up with a set of schemes that were compatible with the design framework of the Switch.

After integrating all of Ke Jin’s design concepts into the actual production, they came up with a preferential price point of 5,000 yuan.

Admittedly, a handheld console at the price of 5,000 yuan is quite expensive if you look at the console itself.

But it came with a processor comparable to the Tianji 13th Generation, equivalent to a 2080+i5 13600 configuration.

Moreover, beyond the specs, it included a series of features such as a direct-connect fast-charging dock, joy-con, motion-sensing chip, amiibo sensor, and all were bundled together.

This price point, honestly, was already quite favorable.

And there was no worry about scalpers inflating prices after release.

Because the 550 chip implanted by East Intelligence into the Switch was the final modified iteration that had no market to penetrate, made specifically to fit.

To put it simply,

Even if a computer processor is phased out by current mainstream standards, it can still be modified for use in a mid-tier mobile phone.

And when a mobile chip is phased out, it can still be dismantled for use in car navigation systems or in some high-end toys.

This means that computer and mobile processors have a downward market.

If there is a downward market, the value of its electronic components is not just reflected in the computers or mobile phones themselves.

But Zhou Weiyi stated that every end-of-life product from East Intelligence would undergo a technology lock, and the 550 chip, after modification, could only fit the Switch, not being transplantable or able to enter the downward market.

So, there is no need to worry about scalpers targeting the Switch for its overly powerful chip performance and thus inflating the price to a premium.

Yet, Ke Jin still posed a dilemma for Zhou Weiyi.

"A console that costs 5,000 yuan, gamers might not be able to afford it."

Unable to afford it.

Three words that seem simple, but when spoken, they convey an inevitable bitterness.

Even if the game industry’s development path has gone askew, with a heavy spending culture taking shape.

The concept of spending money for happiness had been accepted by the gamers.

But a 5K-priced console that can’t make calls, serve as an alarm clock, engage in regular communications, or take photos – there are too many things a 5K phone can do that a 5K handheld console can’t.

Buying a 5K handheld console would undoubtedly be a bit of a luxury.

The leading gamer’s development philosophy has always been to target all gamers as much as possible.

5K is easy for tycoons, but for the ordinary people, it’s quite a burden.

"Can’t we drop the price a bit more, maybe reduce the specs slightly? And have a correspondingly lower price."

"You’re giving me a tough time, kid; this is already the lowest-end production line at East Intelligence..." Zhou Weiyi said with a wry smile upon hearing Ke Jin’s words.

Other companies usually seek the highest quality possible, wishing they could earn more money.

You, on the other hand, seem fearful of making too much money.

"How about this – we keep the configuration of this 5K model and make it the Switch Pro edition, with 2K resolution and 120 frames per second."

"Then there’s the Switch OLED version. Uncle Zhou, help me find a way to downscale it a bit more; it doesn’t need such high specs, just 1k+ at a stable 60 frames per second will do. Let’s see if we can lock the costs around 2,500."

"Finally, we make a Switch Lite version, with non-detachable controllers, no accompanying dock, then 1k+ at a stable 30 frames and overclocking to 60 frames in certain conditions, with costs controlled as much as possible around 1,200."

"Just these three sets, thanks Uncle Zhou."

Zhou Weiyi: "..."

You little rascal, you don’t ask for much.

’Just these three sets’?

As if it’s that simple – you have the final say!

These configurations, if East Intelligence really had to work on them.

Picking some old buddies that were eliminated from the production lines could get the job done.

But if done, East Intelligence would practically make no profit.

And from the sound of Ke Jin, their leading gamers didn’t plan on making money from this handheld console, likely selling it at cost right out of the factory, at most collecting some after-sales and export taxes.

It seems that they were hell-bent on driving the price down to compete with SE in terms of functionality.

"Alright, I’ll discuss it further, wait for my call." Zhou Weiyi hung up and quickly dialed the number of their company’s chairman.

Yuan Wencheng was still abroad, having just finished a meeting.

He received a video call from Zhou Weiyi.

Yuan sat down in the rest area before calmly pressing to answer the call.

Zhou Weiyi roughly reported the situation to Yuan Wencheng.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Wencheng smiled and asked back.

"What do you think about this kid?"

Looking at his boss’s smiling face on the video screen, Zhou Weiyi couldn’t fully grasp his thoughts.

He could only speak the truth.

"From the design concept to the functionality of the handheld console, both are far ahead of the current mainstream handheld console industry, in my personal opinion... extraordinarily talented. He is a target worth making concessions for in order to cooperate deeply."

"Combined with Ke Jin’s previous level of game production, I believe he has a promising future."

"I didn’t expect our company’s own princess to dig up such a treasure for East Intelligence..."

"Haha, the little girl has the same eye for people as I do," Yuan Wencheng laughed heartily upon hearing this.

To Yuan Wencheng, such small fry production lines were hardly worth mentioning.

Not incurring losses was already a good thing.

After all, to grow East Intelligence to its current scale, with its extensive business operations, casting a wide net was normal. Some projects may fail, and it’s common to incur losses of billions in investments.