Rumors: Microsoft Dropping 360 Premium To $299 For GTA IV Launch?

Some unnamed person has tipped that Microsoft will be dropping the price of the Premium 360 another $49 on the same day that GTA IV gets released.

[venum]

So it isn't for tomorrow!
Microsoft on that point is not doing as well as sony.

[Rikitatsu]

and a smart move also , i say the PS3 will get a price drop too

[sonarus]

this is jst speculation...what everyone is expecting...msoft needs another price drop to stimulate more sales and sony needs more games and then another price drop for mgs4

[Lifendz]

saw it coming a mile away. GTA 4 is such a mega hit in the US and it's probably the game that will bring the PS2 owners into the next-gen. When these people walk into a retailer to get GTA IV, they're going to have to choose which console they want to play it on. Are they going to make the wise choice or just go with what's cheaper?

I guess we'll find out come GTA's launch.

[mikeslemonade]

They could have made a deal with Rockstar to drop the price of the 360 in conjunction with the release of GTA4 whether it's spring 08 or fall 08. This isn't much a leg up on the PS3 because Sony can also drop the price to $350 with free online since, so it's the same price as the 360 with xbl gold. After all the PS3 system-wise is already breaking even.

[marinelife9]

Smart move. But I'm sure the rumor didn't come from Microsoft. No console maker leaks or announces a price decrease months in advanced they will kill their sales.

[Pain]

like 400 to make one now, so they break even on every PS3 now

So its a NO Brainer that Sony will have a Price drop so M$ is just trying to steel
the spot light with this rumor (i bet is true) on the upcoming pricedrop that Sony will anounce soon.

Monkey see monkey doo's

[stunt213]

that be awesome and i hope they drop the elite too

[Texas GMR]

church works indirectly with Microsoft in the Dallas area. I guess they have a store in the Microsoft building here that people with a MS connection such as himself can pick up the Elite for $279.00. So I think MS could easily give the rest of the public another price drop.

[lawman1108]

The week BEFORE GTAIV comes out the price drop is going to happen and it will be for almost $100 bucks NOT $50

[SCThor]

that only last 3 months and then you have to exchange it...is ridiculous!! First take care of RROD and then start thinking about dropping prices.

Definition, take care of RROD: means built another SKU that WONT go RROD after another 3 months.

What people dont realize is that they are buying a 3 years console, the time that the guarantee last.

[IntelligentAj]

If this is true then i'll buy a 360. I was going to get the Arcade but if the premium goes down to that price it won't make any sense.

[toughNAME]

"Ha! So much for Microsoft's Perfect Storm"

[VirusE]

Yeah we can file "the perfect storm" in the video game history books right next to "4d 120 fps at 1080p".

[InMyOpinion]

Make a 360 GTA IV bundle.

[Sez]

i hope they drop the price on all sku. not just the premium version.
the price drop will get more people to buy a 360 when GTA4 is released.

[vloeistof]

hopes sony bundels mgs4 and lowerd price around that time or somthing

[poos3]

NOOOOOO microsoft DONT it will mean game over for the console wars on the internet and 2008 i wanted to have more fun on n4g ,when this happens the 360 sales will skyrocket to millions being sold each month

[LJWooly]

What are you talking about? How will this end the console war? Please, tell me, I'm interested in hearing it.

[PStriple703]

and so will sony....

[kevoncox]

How can they. SOny cannot afford to keep dropping the price ever 3 months.

***
below
****

You can't be serious. If MS drops it's price to 199.99
Sony will not be able to respond to that. This isn't a fantasy world we live in. sony cannot keep cutting it's price.

[AceLuby]

Actually, production costs for the PS3 are dropping far faster than the 360 and while M$ is making 'profit' on the 360's sold now, it is profit to counter the $1 Billion spent on the RROD issue, so can you really count it as profit? IMO, Sony can drop a price to match any price M$ drops to at this point. Neither will be huge because the profit margin on both consoles is so small.

[karlostomy]

actually, Sony production costs are not dropping at all.

Sony has merely gimped the number of components in the 40gb ps3 to make it more affordable.

ie:
no emotionengine hardware
no 80 gb hdd, only 40gb
no 4 usb, only 2
etc...

AND:
the rsx is still designed and made by nvidia for SONY at great cost
the bluray diode is still outsourced.

..... expensive indeed.

[masterg]

@karlostomy

What you mention is about $100.

The price of the Ps3 production has gone from $800 to $400 in one year.
You do the math.

[beoulve]

@6.2 you will be surprised outsourcing is cheaper than manufactured yourself. Your comment seem clueless about Sony cost reduction plan.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/new...

[Kleptic]

the 40gig PS3 now costs the equal of 400USD to make...the 360 Premium is ~$325 as of the last update, but it has not been confirmed on whether that is the the falcon or not (the 65nm processors in the falcon will very likely be lower in price to manufacture...so who knows right now)...

the 80gig PS3, which only has 40gig bigger HDD and the emotion engine of the PS2...is rumored to only be ~$38 more to make...so whoever is saying that production costs of the PS3 "are not falling" is dead wrong...there is only a very marginal decrease in price from dropping internal components...its BD diode and Cell production costs plummeting that are seeing the biggest cuts in ps3 production costs...

in either case...Sony has always been far more willing to take a larger hit from console sales than MS...MS has been rumored to be selling the 360 at a profit for a lot of 2007...yet Sony was still paying nearly 800USD for most of the year, while having various price cuts and product phase outs (understandably so based on how poor sales were at certain points of the year)...what is obvious though is that both are going to be able to match each others price drops...a $299 Ps3 is also a very big possibility...

MS more or less has to have a price drop...the PS3 is relatively different...Sony has a very big trump card with "you can play both GTAIV and MGS4 within a month of each other only on this system"...MS has absolutely no leverage in that regard...if Sony does in fact match a MS price drop, and confirms KZ2 for a mid summer release like some are rumoring, there is a big doubt that MS's drop will have the impact they are hoping...

[Genuine]

I don't believe for a second that sony cut their hardware cost $400 in a year. They struggled just to get the 40gb to the price they have for it now. I would be more apt to believe that sony lied about the $800 hardware cost than what your assuming. It's not like the ps3 sold like hotcakes last year, and it's software sales are laughable. If there is another ps3 pricecut this year, imo at the earliest it will be late fall or early winter.

[FF7numba1]

lol sony is making money off ps2. They have 2 systems out unlike the other two guys. They will drop the price to get the ps3 selling. M$ dollars love money so I dont know why that fool thinks they would drop their price to 199.

[wind_dragon]

u mean 3 systems, dn't forget PSP(which has been selling rly well as of late)

[Relcom]

I'll wait for better sources.

It would be smart though. With all of Sony's games i can see why

[wageslave]

I concur, it would be smart to wait for a better source. Sure, the price will be dropping (as will the PS3), and it would be smart to do it with one of 2008's sure-fire biggest sellers, especially since only the Xbox 360 will have the complete GTA game.

That said, MS has plenty of great games lined up. No one's worried in Washington I'm sure.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

[kevin1122]

people who buy it for the xbox will have the complete game a year after it is released, i really doubt the extra content will push that many people.

[Relcom]

Sure they have games, but i'm talking about MGS4. While i'm sure you know nothing about Playstation games. Metal Gear has sold consoles for Playstation everytime a new one released. Microsoft has nothing as creative or as deep a story, that could compete with Metal Gear. So what could they do to compete with that? Drop the price so people will get GTA4 for there system instead of the PS3.

As a side note, while its amusing that your so insecure with your consoles line-up that you post a possible games list every other post. Maybe you should try a new a approach. . .

[rhood022]

It cracks me up when 360 Fanboys say, the "Complete GTA Experience," or any one of its numerous descriptions.

I would gladly, pay $60 dollars for a game like GTA for the Ps3 because it is, by itself a massive game with tons to do. However, to get the "complete experience," you could be paying, if Oblivion is any indication, upwards of $20 dollars per episode. Now, if they are worth it, great, but I don't see this extra content getting top priority. I mean, the studio is still slated to work on 3 PS3 exclusives, which means that a secondary dev. team might be building the content, or even another studio.

More importantly, when the add-ons finally hit, will it even matter? More sandbox games, such as Infamous and Prototype, will be available by then and, as big of a hit GTA is, its appeal doesn't last long in the general gaming world. But it's like that with any big name release. Hype until it drops, then nothing.

Yet 360 fanboys laud the "extra content" as if it will be available immediately upon purchase. It's that logic that makes me laugh.

[Kleptic]

way to go Wage...you posted that list yet again...

and its funny how you think a list like that gives confidence to people questioning the 360's 2008 lineup...

it doesn't have one single big exclusive on there, aside from possibly NG2 (and I am talking only on the 360 exclusive, not coming out on the pc also)...there are some hopefull "likely in 2009" descriptions on some (Haze being primarily the big one)...and 90% of the "only on xbox" titles are also on the PC...

they didn't even mention Gears 2...which, while not announced, is truely the only exclusive title that the general public will even know about...

one system is offering MGS4 and GTAIV within roughly a month of each other...and please remind me of what franchises helped fuel the death that came to competing consoles from the business end of Sony's gun last generation...GTAIII and MGS2 were in a huge portion of PS2 owners library back then...what PS2 owner looking forward to GTAIV is going to pick up a 360 "for the full experience" when it immediately leaves them lacking any way of enjoying MGS4?...if you think the exclusive'ness of MGS4 won't play a big part of which console people buy for GTAIV, it will soon be apparent...

[fresco]

Arcade will drop to 229, elite to 399 or 379..

Sony will respond and the price wars shall commence!

[Meus Renaissance]

Everyone on N4G has been predicting this for almost a year now lol. But it's to be expected, if anything, it'd be a surprise. Microsoft need to drop the price of their one of their popular SKU's. People would argue they should have done in time for Christmas but they need profits for their gaming division.

But this rumour doesn't have weight in terms of source, it's just "unnamed person". That could be anyone of us here!

[gunnerforlife]

im the unnamed person:D

[Relcom]

No way man. I'm the unnamed person!!!!!!!!

[decapitator]

NO both of you are lying. I am the Unamed dood.

[EZCheez]

And I'm Surfer Girl.

[LJWooly]

And i'm the disagree bandit. So STFU all of you, or you get the disagree treatment. You've been warned.

I have my six different accounts ready... you don't believe me? Just try me...

[shelbygt33]

you seem to like "iffy" sources when they support your viewpoints.

[ddamaged1]

so xbox 360 will be 300 + the 50 online and only for 50$ more you get the better system with allot more features? ahahah

[Genuine]

The 360 is the best game console on the market. So why not get a premium and a year of Live, instead of getting a ps3 that has inferior 3rd party titles, less games, and a inferior online service? If gaming is the reason to buy a game console, then 360 is the best choice hands down. Also, you can rent HD movies from the Marketplace, so it's not like you can't watch HD movies on the 360.

[LJWooly]

The 360 is not the best gaming machine, it's actually the worst (I'm talking about the actual hardware, here). However, it does have the most (and arguably the best) games. Therefore, if the only thing you ever do is play games, then sure, the 360 is the console for you. But you can't say it wins 'hands down'.

Firstly, both the PS3 and Wii, are better machines than the 360, in terms of hardware quality. Now that's a fact, and it's undebatable. however, the Wii doesn't really fot the bill for the 'hardcore gamer', and the PS3 happens to have less games.

The big problem for the 360, however, is that a lot of gamers are stating to care about tons of other features, such as HD movies, multimedia capabilities, Linux compatability, media sharing, and a lot of other features that the PS3 happens to excel in.

Couple the PS3's advantages with a rapidly improving free online service, not to mention a superb games line-up for 2008, and the 360 looks to have a bit of a fight on its hands in the coming years.

I'm confident Microsoft will find a way to compete, like making Live free, and taking care of some other problems, but you can't deny that the PS3 has made one hell of a comeback, especially considering the crap it got when it was first realeased.

Personally, I don't really want any console to lose, because when a console loses, gamers losse with it. And we happen to be gamers. Gamers forst, and fanboys last.

I just hope everyone enjoys 2008. It looks to be pretty awesome for the 360 and the PS3.

[Genuine]

That may be the case for you regarding the ps3. But your in a small percentage of the gaming market. The majority of people buy a game console first and foremost to play games. The 360 performs as a game machine much better than the ps3. The game library for 360 is of higher quality (according to metacritic), and more diverse than the ps3's current meager offerings. And comparing the online services, Live is far and away better. Anything that I can think of involving gaming, the 360 does better than the ps3. And yes watching HD movies is something you can do on the 360, and it's as cheap as renting a movie at a videostore, but it's more convient. Why would someone looking for a game console want to pay more for a lower quality gaming experience?

edit-@LJwoolyvvv

I wasn't giving an opinion. The 360 versions of 3rd party titles are superior in arguably 90% of releases. The gaming media has reported on the differences in quality all last year. As for having more games, diversity, and higher quality titles I used metacritic. They take scores from a multitude of pro-media gaming websites. Here are the 360 and ps3 pages:
http://www.metacritic.com/g...
http://www.metacritic.com/g...
As you can see the 360 has 321 total titles while the ps3 only has 127. The 360 has 11 AAA titles, the ps3 has 3.

Lastly, yes PSN is free, and after using Live it's obvious why. If a person wants the best online gaming available then a measly 11 cents a day, or $4.13 a month is a small price to pay for the quality of the Live service. Actually, the only people that I ever hear crying about it are rabid sony fanboys, grasping for anything to justify their purchase of a ps3.

[LJWooly]

There's nothing you said there that I can logically disagree with (since it's your opinion, it wouldn't make sense to disagree) apart from the PS3 costing more.

You will find, in fact, that the PS3 is only £20 more than the 360 (I don't know what it is in USD) and has free online, whereas it's £40 a year for the 360. The 360 also uses batteries for the controller, and there are other little costs that I'm not going to list, because that would be picky.

While most of these costs are a bit piddly, after a year, you will have already spent around £80 more (this will vary) on your 360 than you would on a PS3 after a year (provided you bought the Premium system) so in the end, these costs all add up.

If we're talking value for money, the PS3 blows the competition out of the water, and that is mathematically undebatable. The only thing is, if you are a gamer with essentially Western tastes, and always go where the most games are, that's where the 360 draws customers.

The only problem with the wealth of games is that this may end after 2008, as the PS3 starts to gain more third-party support, and Sony have had, for years, the best first-party developers in the business.

The good news for you is that this should push Microsoft to up their game a little, in which case that's a win for 360 owners, as it can only result in a better experience for you.

So, whether the PS3 or 360 is the better console is purely a matter of personal tastes and preferences. There is no clearly 'better' console, as they both gain in some areas that the other does not, and lack in others.

In the end, owners of both consoles win, as the 360 and PS3 are both amazing consoles, and that is one fact that you can't argue against :)

[robbo918]

I would hope the X360 has a bigger game library its only been out an entire year longer than the PS3 has.

Edit: Lol a disagree for stating that? Thanks for the love!

[Meus Renaissance]

I'm sure Sony would drop the price then as well. If they did, I personally feel that its more likely we'll see a bigger spike in sales due to that price cut with the PlayStation 3 instead of the Xbox 360.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

But all those saying Sony will follow suit...dont count on it. Sony needs to have a stable price for a bit. They have been dropping prices and losing money left and right to get the PS3 going in the right direction. They have finally found a price point that seems to be getting traction. You couple that and the upcoming big titles which are expected to sell units and I think Sony will be waiting to see how the consoles sales hold up. I highly doubt Sony will price cut in March. If anything I think it would come around E3 and if not then, for sure at the holiday time frame.

[Darkiewonder]

He wants to get a 360 because I won't let him take mine from my room lol.

If this is true, then WOOT!

[kingboy]

Both ps3 and xbox 360 will get some kind of price cuts during GTA IV launch window or at least bundles deals

[kevoncox]

Do you really expect to see a Ps3 price cut by march?

[Jandre02]

Expect the PS3 to be at $349 atleast, but maybe even as low as $299. Sony has cut prices in half, so they would have a lot more to lost not saying within range of the Xbox360 price.

I dont think they will drop the 80gb price however. They will probably bundle 2 games with it, and maybe an extra controller.

I wonder what the Wii will do? With prices being in range and below, I think they will ahve to drop price to keep momentum. Otherwise they might lose momentum with GTAIV release

[mighty_douche]

Drop the price by 50 and throw in GTA and then your talking!

[kingOVsticks]

well if M$ do this sony is probably going to do it 2 there was already talk about another Price drop after they cut Production cost in half. I can see a new 40gb for $350 or maybe $299 and the 80gb for $450 or 399.99. I kinda doubt it will be in spring though cuz sony hasn't turned a profit on the PS3 yet.

[Genki]

It would be sure to snake a lot of sales away from potential customers of the other brand.

Then again, by that time I expect the PS3 to be above 10 or 11 million, with the 360 at 18 or so.

Either way, it's a safe bet that this will be a million seller for both install bases.

[fanboyssuck]

Really lower the price of the 360 which means Sony would have to follow suit. Which means I would buy a PS3 to go along with my 360. I can't believe people actually paid like 800$ for a PS3 that is ridiculous, if that was me I would feel like an idiot.

[mighty_douche]

i paid £435, roughly $800.

i was happy to pay it then, im i still happy now. If you want tech first you have to pay more, simple.

i paid £2000 for my HDTV, now its £1100. yes its a pain, but thats the price you pay.

[urban bohemian]

Sure it cost way more than it should have but still everyone who saw it was like, OMG a PS3 WOOT FTW FTMFW LOL ROFL AWEZOM N00B Kill3r how L33t.

[Ghoul]

that wont matter since gta is a playstation brand ever since, people waiting for gta will buy a playstation to play it.

[XLiveGamer]

( that wont matter since gta is a playstation brand ever since, people waiting for gta will buy a playstation to play it. ) JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA ... WAAAAA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA JA
First and Second GTA ( PC ) Third one and so on also on PC. Sooo? Well... Super, Great, Excellente they lower the price, more players online = more people to kill in FPS = more FUN! d^_^b_m Im getting a PS3! in 2009... NOT !!!

[Plasmana]

You're assuming that all GTA fans are also Sony fanboys. If GTA is all you are looking for, then the 360 is just as compelling (if not more for this purpose) a platform to buy as the PS3.

[Jason 360_Niglet]

Thats 150 quid!!! ohhhhh! i'm buying a second!

[titntin]

If they were going to cut a price that would be the time to do it.

however this is just a rumour from an unamed source. We've had a lot MS fanboys on this site predicting a price cut for a while, but that wasn't news!

I had heard that further cuts were not likely, as there was presure on the division to actually make some cash. Given that Sony's costs are continyually falling, and they would likey respond, it probably doesn't make a lot of sense if you do a financial analysis, but you never know!

I'll nver moan if machine prices come down!

[mighty_douche]

maybe im wrong, but i think im right in thinking M$ farm out their hardware production to 3rd parties, surely that puts them at their mercy?

[karlostomy]

sony's costs have remained relatively constant:
see my post 6.3

Doesn't Sony farm out their rsx to nvidia?
heck, doesn't nvidia own the rsx design?

Crikey, Does that mean sony is at the mercy of nvidia with regard to the cost of the gpu for the entire life of the ps3?

hmmm.. questions questions....

[Plasmana]

mighty_douche:

Microsoft outsourcing the 360 hardware is not relevant here. The 360 was designed with components that have historically followed a natural cost reduction curve.

Cost cutting was a primary consideration during the design cycle for Microsoft, whereas Sony's primary considerations were bleeding edge technology and Blu-Ray market synergy.

[Jandre02]

$400. Thats how much its estimated to cost, maybe less. Why speculate when we have numbers? Citibank was the one who estimated this, so saying "I DONT THINK..." blah blah blah is irrelevant. You obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

[robbo918]

Do you read only what you want to read Karl? It was announced a little while back Sony CUT production costs in half. This is one of MANY links on the issue.

http://gamer.blorge.com/200...

[resistance100]

Sony cutting the cost of a Ps3 to $400 probally means now they are in a better posistion for another price cut that MS are. I mean sony make a profit per unit now in there largest current market [Europe]

[Genuine]

After a fire sale, a price drop, and a hardware downgrade all in it's first year, I doubt sony is in any shape for a pricecut. They struggled just to get the prices where they are now.

[clevernickname]

Maybe Microsoft could lower the price in Canada to match the value of the American first before any price drop.

[bootsielon]

Launch a 20 GB PS3 with 65nm cell and RSX, No WiFi and no BC, drop the 40GB price to 350, and drop the 80GB to 400. They will break even on the 80GB model, and they will take a small hit by then on the other two models, but it will be worth it by not letting MSFT be so far away when it comes to price, by increasing install base even more, and by cementing Blu-ray in the market; the relatively small loss will only be temporary, as many games will be coming soon, and costs will also keep decreasing; my bet is that we will see smaller, redesigned PS3s with 45nm RSX and Cell by the end of the year, effectively allowing PS3 to further become cheaper.

They better make a marketing campaign for "Free PSN" on that to make PS3 seem like a better value.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

its the only system where you can spend the less and play GTA...I want a xbox but that isnt the price i want yet

[sak500]

Software/accessories is where the money is cutting price on hardware will make more people buy games for 360 and inturn make profit for devs and MS on the other hand sony's another price cut will increase not only their loss per unit (they still r not making money on existing prices - tnx blu) but since people aren't buying the games, they will not be making any recovery anytime soon. And what would dropping price 3rd time will show for their precious brand name?

[Jandre02]

No one is gunna say "hey its a PS3, oooh but wait, they dropped price 3 times, think ill get a Xbox360 instead."

And also, if your just counting making money off consoles, you do know that the PS2 and PSP are still around right? Its not like those consoles have disappeared. They still make money off of both of those, so it will balance out fairly shortly.

The Xbox was making money in the gaming division last report, due to Halo 3. People do buy PS3 games, and worldwide more Playstation brand software is sold than Xbox360 software.

[Spike47]

what happened when 360 fanboys said a price drop would not happen in july- june?

They made a price drop and a new sku.

what happeend around the holidays when xbox36- fanboys said sony could'nt afford another price drop?

They made a new sku for 400 bucks.

And now most of you are STUPID ENOUGH TO BELEIVE THAT SONY WON'T TRY TO COUNTER MS'S STARTEGY?

BESIDES IN 2008 WHO KNOWS IF SONY WILL MAKE A PS3 MGS4 BUNDLE?

AND "UNNAMED SOURCE"should be really reliable.

[Kain81]

For Europe and Japan
Who diagreed with me this is Fact ( maybe Trolls Xbugstrolls).
and here is the link:

http://ps3.qj.net/MGS4-Dual...

[Spike47]

In 2008 games like mgs4 and ff13 will make people buy a ps3 and buy the games.

you act like this is still 2007.

Whe ms drops the price sony will too, when sony does it ms MIGHT counter it.

IN 2008, IT'S NOT GONNA BE ABOUT THE PRICE ANY WAY IS GONNA BE ABOUT THE GAMES.

[eddierivera]

The 360 should have dropped its price last year around christmas. It isnt worth what microsoft is selling it for right now. The ps3 comes with a blueray player, wifi, bluetooth connectivity, and free online gaming. The only thing xbox has is western Dev support, which is good, but its not worth $360 dollars,,, oh yeah,, Oh yeah i forgot to mention, the xbox comes with a 70% failure rate. So you get the RROD with the xbox,,,, i guess it is worth $400 dollars, lol.

[Close_Second]

Sony's best response to this would be to ensure that Rockstar are making the best version of the game on the PS3 due to its larger storage and ability to install content on the HDD.

We all know that the 360 will get more game content however, will the PS3 version be gimped because of the storage limitations on the 360 or will this be yet another case of the PS3 merely look as good as the 360 version.

What is the point of Blu-Ray if it cannot be used to make a title like GTAIV really sing on the PS3?

[Plasmana]

The point of Blu-Ray was to help win the HD media market. That strategy is working.

Increasing the media size so games can have more content isn't as viable a stategy. Game content is very expensive and most game studios don't have a good reason to create extra content for the PS3 just because it's possible.

Even facilitating cost reduction for content generation wouldn't be compelling because the cost reductions would apply to 360 content as well. Only financial incentives from a platform manufacturer would be a compelling reason to create more content than the market expects.

[masterg]

I think both will drop a couple of days before (not more because this would give them the upper hand if the other company does not do it) the GTA4 release.
Simply out of fear that the other one will do it and they will not have time to do it, before release if it's not planned ahead.

[heyheyhey]

wow there is no shortage of "unnamed sources" on this website is there?

i don't doubt that this will happen, but personally i don't care if they drop it by $200- im still not buying it

[unjust]

Why does everyone insist on talking about this game being some big crazy game like Halo 3 or any of the Halos for that matter. MGS has never sold millions or broke records its not that kind of game. It has its cult following, but most gamers are not going to run out and buy this.

[Death]

Nintendo prints money with each Wii they sell. They are the only ones maing money on hardware right now. I am sure SOny has lowered the cost on making PS3's, but they have also lowered the retail price. It is extremely uncommon for any manufacturer to turn a profit on hardware this early in the consoles life cycle. This is true for the 360 as well. Unless someone can post a link by a credible source stating otherwise...

Sony lowered the price of the PS3 by creating another SKU prematurely to give people incetive to buy the system since less compelling software was available for the system compared to the 360 strong Holiday lineup. With 2008's releases, it is unlikely that Sony will feel the same pressure. I doubt Sony will lower the price again if Microsoft does. The only way they will is if it is a reaction to slow sales again.

-Death

[polow got sol]

simply put

[CrazzyMan]

did 99$ helped HD-DVD?
did GC and xbox price cuts helped them?

p.s. i will laugh, if Sony will reduce PS3 40GB price to 299$.

[TheMART]

You talked wise there.

It's price in relation to content. The 360 with a pricedrop is scoring on both of those. The HD-DVD could have won with the low pricepoint if Warner wouldn't have been paid off by the BluRay camp.

360 best game content, most game content, best online system

And price drop

Will take the lead compared to a system that lacks on or over 90% average rated AAA exclusive games and mostly is sold as a cheap BluRay player

[Skaterboy Tell Em]

Warner was not paid off by the BDA And you cant prove that they were, so please stop making things up.

[CrazzyMan]

that this year strongest Lineup is on PS3.
that is a fact.

i mean, most people, atleast i don`t care, if console cost 299$ or 249$ if i want to buy FFXIII or MGS4.
i mean 50$ is NOTHING, when you want to buy your most anticipated game. While 100$ is a difference.
so, if potential x360 owners didn`t buy x360 at 349$ with 2 games, why would they buy now for 299$, does those 50$ means so much? NO. The only conclusion, x360 don`t have games, for which people would buy it like hot cakes for 349$ neither for 299$. The end.

[robbo918]

First off if the X360 didn't have a larger game library considering its been out a year LONGER than the PS3 I would worry for you and those who bought it.

Secondly as to "Will take the lead compared to a system that lacks on or over 90% average rated AAA exclusive games and mostly is sold as a cheap BluRay player", I find that funny. To take the lead means they lost the lead and lost it to what you consider a vastly inferior and poorly rated system, what makes you think X360 can take it back when PS3 has a superior lineup this year (not saying X360 doesn't have a good lineup like a lot of Sony fans, but at least the currently released names are less than Sony's announced). In taking the lead back I am referring to total WW sales in which PS3 has won for going on 2 months now.

Lastly, I laugh when you say Blu bought Warner. Nobody knows that for a fact and Warner denies it but you being the source of all information of course have that fact in the bank. Even if they did, Billy and M$ bought out a movie studio too but when they do it you call it good business.

[sonic989]

how they can do price cut .
and losing money with each console .
oh and the red ring of death
sorry but i think no price cut

[Jandre02]

They force Sony to atleast drop price to $349 for 40gb. Its just putting the PS3 closer and closer to that mainstream price point. It will have a larger increase for Sony than Microsoft.

If the PS3 is already outselling MSFT I dont think a price cut will save them. They need more software exclusives like Halo 3, and unfortunately all those big exclusives remain with Sony.

Right now, RFOM2 looks bigger than Gears2. Hopefully the rumors about the first Gears pushing the limits of the 360 are false, but time will tell.

[Ureval]

Whuuuuuut?

[Salvadore]

It's all about making sure PS2&XBOX users migrate to the correct console.

[TheMART]

Well yeah the pricedrop is going to happen soonish.

And GTA IV would be a very, very good moment to do so.

Imagine all those GTA fans, that want the most complete GTA, will want the 360 version with those 2 episodic downloads exclusive, and if they can buy the console for 299 Euro/Dollar compared to the 399 PS3 the choice is easy.

And GTA IV will move a massive amount of hardware, so if the 360 could get momentum at that point it would be a very good point to do so.

[Kain81]

and i bet Sony will cut the price of Both SKUs (40GB and 80GB)

[TheMART]

Well I guess from 600 to 400 Euro within a year (and Europe even within 6 months) is enough money to give away.

I don't expect the PS3 pricedrop untill fall 2008 for the PS3.

[cr33ping_death]

hhhmmm interesting....... if they dropped the price for GTA 4 and then perhaps another drop for GEARS 2 i might have to buy another then......but for now i have GTA 4 on reserve for the PS3.

hasnt SONY cut the cost of what it takes to produce a PS3? SONY may very well counter what MS does.

edit: at whoever disagreed....... so i should buy another 360 now?....with a great chance of it crapping out on me? arent 360's being made more reliable? so why not hold off till gears 2? or are you just some rabid fanboy who i pissed off and are going to disagree with whatever i post.......if its the latter you are truely pathetic.

[power of Green]

Would help...

LOL At the Sony fanboys making excuses bringing up PS3 games and saying Sony will match the move.

Even if Sony dropped the price 4 times in 13 or 14 months the 360 will be so close to mass market range none of it will mattter.

What part of not everybody is a foaming at the mouth rabid fanboy do you not understand?.

GTA fans will buy the game for what ever platform they can get.

[Jandre02]

The Xbox360 has huge barriers to break down to replace Sony as the mainstream console. It is still entirely possible that most people buying Xbox360's are past owners.

With the lineup this year, any true fan of a PS2 doesnt have a reason to hop on to the Xbox360 bandwagon. $50 is definitely not enough to make someone switch consoles. The Xbox needs the PS3 to fail to win, and its jsut not happening. The PS3 is winning worldwide, and mainstream still sees it as the most advanced, feature filled console. No one gives a damn about XBL but shooter fans, and once Sony finally releases a known AAA title it will show.

GTA fans put GTA together with Sony. Hardware boosts for PS3 will be HUGE while the 360 will see less than a 1/10 of the percentage.

[LJWooly]

"GTA fans will buy the game for whatever platform they can get".

You hit the nail on the head right there, PoG. ps3 owners will buy the game for PS3, and 360 owners will but the game for 360. in short, everyone's happy, because they're buying a game that looks to be damn good.

So why are we arguing about which console is better? Beats me. I mean, i used to think this was a site for gamers. Guess I was mistaken.

Everyone should just enjoy the game when they get it, regardless of platform. we're gamers first, and fanboys second. That's the way it should be, and that way, everyone's a winner.

Enjoy yourselves when you get this game, people. That's all I have to say.

[Ureval]

I like Xbox. Im a person. Dont make stupid comments.

[HarryEtTubMan]

Either way the PS3 is gonna pwn the Xbox and everyone knows it.

[pshizle]

and umm when will this ever happen~

thats right NEVER

[DuneBuggy]

Seems like a no brainer to me.Were talking about a game that WOULD have decided MY hardware choice if it was a exclusive.
Next best thing is offering the (much?) lower cost system with the must have game!
Ive already reserved a copy for the 360.Ive never reserved a game before.

[DTClown]

and I STILL wouldn't want that POS in my house! why buy software for a system that won't work in mere days/months after buying it. (or getting it for free for that matter!)

[Samer305]

OMG I AM SO SURPRISED!!!......NOT. Who cares its expected to happen.

[Zinger]

It will be funny because MS will make this big announcement and everyone on here will be like "360 price drop - the console war is over." MS will act all high and mighty until a week later when Sony drops a bomb on MS by either reintroducing a 20GB model for like $250 or taking the 40GB down $100 to $299.

That would make the choice easy for most consumers. At the same price level i would easily make the choice to buy a PS3 since it has Blu-Ray. Heck, even if it was only dropped to $349 ($50 drop) I would still get the PS3 over 360. Only $50 extra for a Blu-Ray player. I mean come on, what choice is there.

Of course this would exclude those who already own Blu-Ray and you would have to take into account the drop in price on Blu-Ray players. In that event, the PS3 would also drop as well anyways.

[DFresh]

Dropping the price on the 360 this year won't help out MS that much they need to find someway to comeback Sony's 2008 line up on the PS3 which I know will be a huge challenge.
GTA made it's start on the PS2 first and with a bunch of PS2 owners out there just waiting for the PS3 to go down it'll sale like crazy.
Think about that fact for a minute now.
In March before Killzone 2 and MGS4 Sony are going to have price drops on all their consoles.
PS3
40GB=$300
60GB= $400
PS2= $99

[DuneBuggy]

Your under the assumption someone CARES about starting a NEW costly upgrade to their movie collection for one.
For two, I dont see Sony dropping the price AGAIN so soon.

The 360 didnt drop last Xmas season did it? I mean they did offer the "Holiday" bundle with 2 games like I got (well one game and one coaster called "Marvel Alliance").

[DJ]

Reason being they want customers to ignore all aspects of the PS3 and 360 and simply look at entry price. "Get a 360 for $299 and GTA, or a PS3 for $399 and GTA."

It might not work though, depending on both parties lineup for 2008. Consumers normally don't buy a console for just one title; they often look at what else is coming out in the near future.

[DuneBuggy]

But you also need to keep in mind someone new to the "next gen" consoles will find LOTS of 360 titles to choose from,and they are all NEW to them.Many of those are bargain priced too.

IMO,theres more interesting games coming that are multiplatform anyway.

[Nevers]

A prediction that electronic hardware will continue to drop in price years after its release... STOP THE HEFFING PRESSES... NO WAY.

real news please

[Iron Man 2]

Microsoft is so desperate it's unbelievable,Who care's if they do drop the price of the Xbox 360,it's not like they have any good games in 2008 compared to the killer 2008 PS3 lineup anyway,I am expecting Sony to drop the price of the PS3(maybe $299?)around the same time those heavy juggernauts start kicking in(MGS4,KZ2,LBP ect.)

[TwissT]

Wow a price cut with GTA4 coming just around the corner shocking. /end sarcasm

[Rice]

This might bring down the failure rate of the 360, if most 360's have a falcon chip installed.

[DJ]

of just under 10%. Much better than the Xenon motherboard, but still pretty high.

[tordavis]

KZ2 is not on the hot list anymore after COD4. I mean, how can you still be excited about KZ2 when COD4 came and stole all of it's thunder? Did anyone even buy KZ1? Let's see, the original Killzone sold 750,000 to a 100million userbase. Killzone Liberation sold 200,000. KZ2 looked awesome and blew all of us away...until COD4 came out. So what does KZ2 offer that COD4 hasn't given us?

While it may be a good year for PS3, it will also be good for 360. You know what's really funny though? How PS3 fanboys laughed at the 360 for having so many shooters yet these same fanboys are banking on KZ2, Haze, MGS4 and Resistance 2. They are all shooters!

[moparful99]

Thats not all folks..... Metal gear solid isnt a fps einstein, its a 3rd person action/stealth game.... We're aslo banking on Little big planet, Final fantasy XIII, Gran turismo 5, afrika, GoW3 (hopefully this year but doubtful), white knight chronicles, infamous.... and so many more. Not to mention all of the killer cross-plat games set to release this year....

[mr_potato]

You guys are so boring Zhuk plz come in here.

[FirstknighT]

Microsoft is easily in a better position on getting a price cutt. The 360 has been making serious $$$ on software sales and accessories. On the other hand Sony cannot afford a price cutt. The multiple downgrades and price cutts in the first year was definitely a desperate move by Sony that finally got them on par with the 360 in equal sales but unfortuneatly is bringing Sony more in the red. Plus low software sales isn't helping either.

[joeynox]

you people are making it like sony has a list of 20 monster hit games coming out this year. They have like 7 at most really great games.

KZ2 - hated the firstone and so far this doesnt impress me
mgs - I loved the others and am excited for this
R2 - thought the first games was OK nothing special
LBP- in my opinion looks to be a flop like that viva pinata thing
Home - a second life ripoff that wont add anything to the ps3.
GT5 - I always hated these games, but it does look pretty
FF - I think they died after 7

other than this theres nothing to make me( average gamer ) ( I have 1 ) wanna runout and buy a console. I am looking foward to MGS but 1 game isnt gonna do it for the average person. Also I dont see the ps3 dropping in price and theres no way the ps3 is making money. At $500 they were losing like 300 and now 100 cheaper they are making money i doubt that.

The 360 is making money and I see the 360 dropping to $250. If MS can get it to the price lvl of the Wii than thats is a good thing.I also see the wii dripping to like $175. If they do that they will get all these fools who want that stupid lil system to eat it up.
Also like someone said the ps3 is a major factor for bluray winning but I dont see people wanting to invest the money on rebuilding another library of films like we all did from vhs to dvd when DVD is still the best and most affordable format. You can buy a dvd player for $20 bucks and the quality of a dvd is way more than enough for %80 of the people in the world. These companies are forcing consumers to buy this new tech. Look at HD tv I live in NYC and we have like 40-50 HD channels and more than half are stupid sh!t channels.Watching regular tv ona 42" hdtv is poop.Bluray wont kill the dvd and I'm glad MS went with a dvd9. Also before any fanboys say anything I have a ps3 and a 360. The ps3 was a gift and its collecting dust. Lair let me down :(

[FirstknighT]

MGS and GT will be sellers but all the others are still up in the air. These sony kids like to boast about how 2008 is full of great exclusives. Well I always tell them what is the difference between those games and the games in 2007? Lair anyone? They were excited about 2007 also before and we all know what happend. Lair, Heavenly Sword, Folklore, Eye of Judgement, TIme Crisis, etc... were all a dissapointments.

So like you said...I only see a handful of games in 2008 for the ps3 that might make an impact.

[light]

sounds like you dont like ps3's Game. Well, You can sell me at 250, it will shine in my house..

[ROCCOZILLA]

even a game like GTA 4 cant save the system.its just old tech,and wont survive the years to come.PLAY B3YOND!

[Bastard 360]

I mean let's face it when the console was released it was ridiculously overpriced, not it's just stupidly overpriced, people aren't gonna pay money for sh!t and the Xbox 3260 is exactly that, PS3 took a sh!t and the Xbox 360 came out.

[Primetimebt]

Anyone reminder last generation when Sony was tipped off about Mircosoft cutting the price on the original XBOX what happened? Sony actually price cut first and left the XBOX out in cold. This article may be true but if mircosoft didn't learn from past history its doom to repeat and having some guy screaming out about there plan isn't too smart on M$ part.

[thekingofMA]

I know the GTA franchise is mega popular, but i think the majority of players are fairly up to date gamers, so i don't see hundreds of millions of people lining up to buy a current gen system...

[FF7numba1]

GTa+ 299 xbox 360+rrod+$50 live= sounds good.

[HCS]

is a premium console almost as low priced as the Wii and it WILL SELL LIKE GANGBUSTERS.

It has had an unmatched and stellar game library since it was released in 2005 and 2008's lineup should not be underestimated. It would be hardpressed to find somebody that won't get one.

[joeynox]

you ps3 fanboys always bring up the rrod. Yes the xbox had its problems but its being fixed and M$ did a great job fixing them quickly. I have a launch model that is working fine. The ps3 had major laser problems when it was being produced but sony fixed the blu ray problem. So its 2008 I think its time to get off the rrod. Even with the RRoD the xbox is still selling well.

[light]

360 is piece of junk. Even if it was for free, i wouldn't bring it home. Only people who don't know any math or logical brain, who lives in basement of their mama's house, would buy 360.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Do not believe this!!!

It's a hoax!!!

It's been cleverly planted by Sony fanboys. (Trust me; I am one.)

They want people to hold off on buying a 360...and buy a PS3 instead when they find out there is no pricedrop...because "Microsoft said there would be".

Catch m'drift?

[Trick Nolte]

would be a suitable price for that faulty POS and Microshaft should throw in the hd dvd player for an additional 10 bucks. it would make a neat collectors item and would look retardedly lovely sitting beside a bricked 360

[Skynetone]

is a years free live with the 50 drop and ms might be in the land of the living

[DarkSniper]

PLAYSTATION® 3 will undeniably become the market leader once Microsoft announces this price drop. XBOX 360 has shown through numerous price drops that consumers have no interest in purchasing a console with poor reliability issues. Dark Sniper fully expects Sony to counteract with a price drop of their own with possibly a GTA IV bundle set for the mature, hardcore gamer which will still be more economically sound for the fence-sitter to purchase PLAYSTATION® 3.

$niper

[GameHero]

Sounds like microsoft is dropping their pants to do whatever it takes to push their console, riding this last desperate wave, because people are aware that the 360's technology is just about maxed out.

[etownone]

they should have lowered the price long time ago....

you just cant have th 360 priced competively against the ps3 when its got blu-ray/wireless included.

lower the price $80 on all sku's making the arcade under 200 means the massmarket will be jumping in

[mario888]

If MSft lowers the price and Sony follows. As far as sales this will defintely help Sony. I know alot of people that just can't afford 399 and they are still waitng for the ps3 to drop.