By HANS GREIMEL, Associated Press Writer 22 minutes ago
TOKYO - Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). said Friday it will lower the price of its much-anticipated PlayStation 3 video game console, heating up the competition in the next-generation gaming war against rivals Microsoft and Nintendo.
The announcement comes just days after Microsoft Corp. announced that it would roll out an external high definition DVD player for its Xbox 360 in an effort to match the PlayStation 3, due to be released in November with its own Blu-ray DVD technology.
Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi, speaking at the Tokyo Game Show in Makuhari, just east of Tokyo, said the move was in response to consumer complaints the upcoming console was too pricey.
Sony will cut the price of its basic PlayStation 3 model in Japan to 47,600 yen ($410), from an originally planned 59,800 yen ($515). That puts the PlayStation 3 in the same range as the combined basic Xbox 360 and HD DVD player in Japan, where the duo will sell for 49,600 yen ($427).
In Japan, the PlayStation 3 will hit stores on Nov. 11 and in the United States on Nov. 17. Sony spokeswoman Nanako Kato said there were no plans to lower the price in other markets.
The PlayStation 3 launch, initially planned for earlier this year, has been postponed twice. Sony now expects to ship only 2 million units by year's end instead of 4 million as originally planned.
Earlier this month, Tokyo-based Sony said it would delay the European release by four months until March.
The announcement could give the PlayStation 3 a badly needed boost in Sony's home market at a time of embarrassing delays for the highly anticipated upgrade. Rival Nintendo is also scheduled to release its next-generation Wii gaming system by year's end, while Xbox 360 has been selling in Japan since December 2005.
The price cut affects the basic PlayStation 3 model, which comes with a 20 gigabyte hard drive. Another upscale version of the PlayStation 3 will have a 60 gigabyte hard drive, but Sony is leaving its pricing to retailers.
Xbox 360 was rushed to market last year to get a headstart on its rivals, but it has seen sluggish sales in Japan, which is one of the world's biggest video game markets but one in which players have a deep loyalty to homegrown Sony.
U.S.-based Microsoft's decision to launch an HD DVD peripheral in Japan on Nov. 22, based on a rival format to Sony's Blu-ray, is seen as one attempt to eat into that base. The basic Xbox 360 doesn't come with any high-definition DVD capability.
Nintendo said last week its new Wii game console will arrive on schedule in the final quarter of the year, priced below both rivals, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.
OH yea, I'm going down to the local game stop and putting in a reserve for one as soon as I can. OOOOOOOO I can't wait until it lauches.
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Last edited by Double_Life; 09-22-2006 at 03:28 AM.
My guess is it will still be a 20G and a 60G but the prices have been dropped. I'm reserving one tomorrow, whether I will get it or not is another question. I always knew it would happen, just not this soon.
*Hold-up a second*
I read over it a second time and noticed that it will be selling lower in Japan only. it was only using dollars as a comparison. Ohhh, I got excited.
Yea my Mom told me about this about 30 minutes ago because she knows I want one.
I read up on it, and its only for Japan, and I think only for the 20GB version.
I think they also announced today that they are putting HDMI in the 20GB versions, world wide. Maybe that's wrong? I don't know, haven't got time to research.
EDIT - Just did a bit of quick searching on IGN, the following explains what I just said in "black and white".
Quote:
Originally Posted by IGN
But this upgrade in specifications is nothing compared to what Kutaragi had in store next. The 20 gigabyte PS3 model is going to break new ground by seeing a price drop before it's even been released! Kutaragi announced that the 20 Gig model, HDMI port and all, will now cost 49,980 yen. This is a drastic drop from the previous 62,790 yen.
The 60 gigabyte model is still set at open pricing, meaning retailers are free to price it as they please. However, given that the price drop for the 20 Gig model, the actual retail pricing of the 60 gig model will likely change accordingly.
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Last edited by BoyEngland; 09-22-2006 at 05:40 PM.
Reason: Found Info
Sounds like a marketing scheme. Tell everyone it is going to be really expensive, then make a huge last second price drop to make it seem like some amazing deal.
Someone told me they went to EB Games to ask about the PS3.
EB said the PS3 would burn out ANY TV after 2 years, and games would cost 80$+. And, the 600$ you have to pay for it, is just the system itself, no remotes, no games..just..the system.
just so everyone knows..if you reserve Ps3 and lets say you go in to get it and there out, you have to wait for the next shipment to come...its not like games..they don't hold one for you...
just so everyone knows..if you reserve Ps3 and lets say you go in to get it and there out, you have to wait for the next shipment to come...its not like games..they don't hold one for you...
I've heard from more than a few places that they are NOT taking reservations for the launch date PS3s. It's going to be a "first come, first serve" type of thing... much like the PS2 was at its launch.
So this little nugget of information throws your post right out of the window.
