Price cuts and new games may have helped Sony's beleaguered PlayStation 3 console to turn the corner, say analysts in Japan.
Sony Japan released a cheaper PS3 last week with a slightly restricted feature set, including a 40GB hard disk drive.
"Although Sony's game business has not been performing strongly, the first indications of the new lower-priced model's sales look likely to alleviate overly negative impressions of the business," said Nomura Securities analyst Eiichi Katayama.
Early sales figures for the cheaper PS3 are extremely encouraging, market watchers say. The cut price 40GB unit is currently selling for about $340 at online retailers based in Japan, compared to $466 for the older 60GB model.
