Nintendo has an odd relationship with pricing. Sometimes, its consoles release at the perfect price-point—like the original Wii, for example. Other times, the company releases a product that is obviously far too expensive; the 3DS launched at $249 and underwent a steep 30% price cut within months. The Wii U arguably holds neither of these problems—it is not too expensive, but not cheap enough to act as an impulse buy.

With the Nintendo NX, however, Nintendo has made it abundantly clear that it does not want to take a loss on the console. In a recent investors’ briefing, Tatsumi Kimishima, Nintendo’s President, said that the NX would be profitable from day 1. As a result, Nintendo has a choice to make: Either the company releases a cheaper console with weaker hardware, or release a more expensive console that has longevity. For the sake of Nintendo, I surely hope the company chooses the latter option.

After all, the Nintendo NX is launching in the middle of a console cycle—possibly against competitor mid-generation consoles—the PS Neo and Xbox 1.5. If Nintendo launches a console that is affordable, but not powerful, then the company’s console is already behind on day one. If the console is already behind on day 1, where will the console be after year 1? How about year 3?

Nintendo has made this mistake before with the Wii U. As many remember, when the Wii U launched in 2012, it was the most powerful console released up until that point. For all intents and purposes, it was a console intended to last. After all, it seemed like its innards were several times as powerful as the PS3/360, and they were. However, Sony and Microsoft then went on to release their next consoles, which were several times as powerful as the Wii U.

Nintendo failed to future-proof its console. Looking forward, Nintendo must ensure that the same does not occur with the NX.

If there is anything that we have learned this generation is that consumers are willing to pay more for a more powerful console. After all, when the PS4 first launched it sat alongside the Wii U on store shelves. The Wii U, for $100 cheaper and with a game bundled in, failed to put up any sort of fight against the PS4. Perhaps the problem was the Wii U’s marketing, or its third party support, or it failure to distinguish itself from the Wii. If there was one problem the Wii U did not have against the PS4 was its price.

So, Nintendo has a choice to make. The company could create a cost-conscientious console—one which is priced below the alleged PS4 Neo and holds similar specs to the PS4. In this case, the console will surely lack longevity, and perhaps hold a lifespan similar to that of the Wii U. Is that what we really want? Or, Nintendo could make a console truly fit to last for years. This console would, of course, come at a higher price-point. But, this console could perhaps hold double the lifespan of the alternative. Would this not be the better investment in the long run?

Nintendo does have a third-option which is perhaps being overlooked, however. Instead of demanding a profit on every console sold, Nintendo could choose to sell the NX at a loss. Although this idea may sound a little bit strange, consoles actually sell at a loss most of the time when they first launch. Usually, the companies make their money back on games. This could be a strategy that behooves Nintendo.

Imagine that the NX launches for $400 shortly after the PS4 Neo. Instead of sharing the same innards as the Neo, however, Nintendo could pack in extra power into the console and take a $50-$100 loss on it. Automatically, the NX would be the hero console—priced affordably, but harnessing great power on the inside.

The company would make its money back rather quickly. The NX is rumored to have a great launch lineup and launch window. Sure, Nintendo may take a $50 loss on a person buying the NX, but the company would make its money back the second someone buys a game. And, if someone picks up three games at launch— Zelda, Mario, and Pikmin, for example—the company has already made $100 in profit.

With every choice Nintendo could make, there is a consequence waiting as well. However, with consoles competing more than ever to out-power one another, Nintendo needs to ensure that the NX is not only an affordable one, but one which will last for years and years to come.