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Sony drops PS3 price by $100 in United States, Europe next?Dela @ Jul 09, 2007 03:27 | 77 comments Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has made a smart move on Monday by dropping the retail price of its PlayStation 3 (PS3) console by $100, to $499, in the United States. The move comes just two days ahead of the E3 games conference in Santa Monica, California. The PS3, which features a 60GB hard disk drive (HDD), has had a very shaky start since last year's launch in North America, marred by poor sales performance and production problems.
The price drop puts the PS3 price just $20 ahead of Microsoft's most expensive Xbox 360 model (Elite). "Our initial expectation is that sales should double at a minimum," Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in an interview. "We've gotten our production issues behind us on the PlayStation 3, reaching a position to pass on the savings to consumers, and our attitude is the sooner the better."
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter does not believe the price drop will double hardware sales, but could instead reach increases of about 50%, to 120,000 units per month. While a great improvement, it would still look bad in comparison to the sales performance of Nintendo's Wii console, which still only costs half the price of the PlayStation 3.
"The greater significance is that Sony is signaling to the market that we're coming down the cost curve pretty fast in making this thing. It's a pretty consumer-friendly move," Pachter said. Rumors are now surfacing that Microsoft will quickly respond during E3 to the PS3 price cut, by making the first official cuts to the price of Xbox 360 units.
Sony is also preparing to introduce an 80GB version of the PS3 which includes a copy of Motorstorm, a million-selling off-road racing game. That model will cost customers $600. Sony also hopes to try appeal to customers who have considered an Xbox 360 as their best option. Microsoft recently set aside $1 billion to repair early Xbox 360 units that have a very high failure rate.
UPDATE: GamesIndustry.biz has been contacted by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) informing them that a major announcement will be made regarding the PlayStation 3 this Thursday at the E3 Media and Business Summit. While a spokesperson would not elaborate any further at this time, it was revealed that it is related to the announcement of a PS3 price drop in the United States made earlier today. New European deals coming?
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Comment by: anubis66 (Jul 10, 2007 01:05) amazon.com is reporting ps3 as #1 with a 2800% sales increase.
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Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 10, 2007 01:10) Originally posted by anubis66: |
Comment by: anubis66 (Jul 10, 2007 02:15) huh? you saying a price drop is a bad thing? any price drop is a good price drop. |
Comment by: kyo28 (Jul 10, 2007 03:44) A lot of people complained about the price of the PS3 compared to the Xbox360, but I for one would prefer to pay more to get a decent working console, with everything in the box that I'll need for the next few years, then faulty system with add ons and hidden costs. Just my two cents ... |
Comment by: BIGnewb (Jul 10, 2007 10:10) well put kyo!plus the price drop.what else can you want?plus 5 free movies and 2 games.THATS 123123123 times better than suxbox360 |
Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 10, 2007 11:09) you PS3 nutters are missing a glaring point,its liek the 360 fools that think nothing of the fail rates or the fact the 360 steals PC games.
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Comment by: BIGnewb (Jul 10, 2007 12:09) " without the 3rd party games what dose the PS3 because? a GC thats what it becomes,it will have a few good titles but bear bones if any really good 3rd party support since everyone is goign to the WII. "
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Comment by: ChromeMud (Jul 12, 2007 07:45) $100 price drop for PS3...big deal.
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Comment by: SProdigy (Jul 12, 2007 08:40) Originally posted by kyo28: Good luck with that. You still have to buy a remote for Blu-Ray, an HDMI cable to watch it and let's not forget a game, since there isn't one packaged in. It doesn't even come with component cables like the Premium. In fact, component cables are the only thing not in the Wii box that should be. You can take a Wii home for the base price and start playing right away.
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Comment by: glanzone (Jul 12, 2007 08:47) It is just another failed media by Sony. Remember back in the day Sony came out with Betamax then VHS came out. Betamax dead, Sony came out with the cassette tape the CD came out, Cassette dead, Sony came out with Mini-disk then the iPods and other harddrive devices came out, Mini-Disk Dead, Now Blue-Ray what is the future? Sony stick to making components and leave the media to someone else. |
Comment by: SProdigy (Jul 12, 2007 08:52) FYI: Sony helped in the development of the Compact Disc.
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Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 12, 2007 09:55) SProdigy
FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A. |
Comment by: SProdigy (Jul 12, 2007 10:07) I think people are just sick of buying the same movie over and over again. Should they pay to see it in the theater, then DVD, then HD-DVD/Blu-Ray, and then again UMD for PSP or from iTunes for their iPod? DRM really hassles all of the portability for Joe Consumer and from Sony's piss poor attempts with UMD, I think people woke up and smelled the roses. |
Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 12, 2007 10:19) Originally posted by SProdigy: there some advantages to re buying but not at the current bloated prices, Hdef is nice but a niche its not on my radar because of price and the reason why UDM moives have failed 15$ jsut to get it to play on the PSP what where they thinking? 9.99 no more no less and start adding UMD to normal DVD releases, it seems sony has forgotten a brand is not made cheaply or overnight.
FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A. |
Comment by: SProdigy (Jul 12, 2007 11:31) The prices are bloated! And for those of us that know better, they sell the same stuff over in China or India, or another other "piracy infested" nation for pennies on the dollar compared to our overpriced crap!
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Comment by: ChromeMud (Jul 12, 2007 11:49) This thread's gone AWOL so I'll add:-
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Comment by: spydah (Jul 12, 2007 13:29) This thread has a lot of mad people. haha All I will say is the bloated prices dont stop with media. Its just the US way. |
Comment by: dorkydork (Jul 12, 2007 15:17) i want to know what this announcement is sony is going to make? anyone have any good links good sites that are reporting on E3? |
Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 12, 2007 15:41) Originally posted by dorkydork: http://www.gamepolitics.com/
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Comment by: johnblaze (Jul 12, 2007 15:52) Joystiq and IGN are both covering it as well |
Comment by: wade951 (Jul 12, 2007 17:31) Now what is sony going to do for all of us that paid $100.00 to much??? |
Comment by: hughjars (Jul 12, 2007 21:31) It's a lot of empty PR.
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Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 12, 2007 23:31) Originally posted by hughjars: Yes and no the 60GB becomes 499 the 80GB becomes 600,its stupidity in motion and wastes production costs on units that wont sale, sony is just begging for the "Saturn" to happen all over again. |
Comment by: borhan9 (Jul 17, 2007 03:17) This is needed for them to stay competitive. |
Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jul 17, 2007 08:47) Originally posted by borhan9:
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