Tokyo ? Nintendo is slashing the price of its popular Wii game console in Japan and the U.S. by 20 percent, part of a global strategy to spur sales ahead of the crucial year-end shopping season.

In Japan, the Wii’s price will be cut to 20,000 yen ($220) from 25,000 yen starting Oct. 1, the company said Thursday. In the U.S. the day before, Nintendo said the console’s price will be lowered by $50 on Sunday to $200.

Prices in Europe were also expected to be lowered, but details were not announced.

The reductions follows similar moves by archrivals Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. Console price cuts are customary for the video game industry after the systems have celebrated a birthday or two, because they help lure in mass audiences who don’t want to spend large chunks of cash on them.

Nintendo had earlier said it had no plan to slash the price for the Wii. But company spokesman Ken ToyodaÍ said the company hoped to “spur sales” with cheaper Wii consoles.