Sony Recouping Hardware Losses Through Software Price-Hike

Kotaku Writes:

Late last year, SCEE pushed a new 40GB model of the PS3 onto the European and Australian markets. Around the same time, the recommended retail price of Sony's first-party titles - which had since launch been slightly cheaper than those from third-parties - quietly went up, in Britain by a few pounds, in Australia by AUD$10. In case you couldn't previously put two and two together, one is the result of the other. SCE Australia (a subsidiary of SCEE, so it stands to reason the decision came from Europe) boss Michael Ephraim:

[dale1]

its a crock got uncharted for £34.97 ,and burnt out for £37.97 at asda and 360 version for burnt out was £39.99
different story for game £44.99 ps3 version for both, super markets are exspanding there games division and i can see why with these savings you can forget npd, chart track etc as they are not privilage to this information and most consumers are switching very quickly price is key

[The Panther]

but I have to get this burnt out game, it sounds so awesome, is it the tail of one man becoming desperatly tired from working too hard and going on a holiday?

I will give you 100 pounds for a 360 version of burnt out.....

[resistance100]

Actually im sure sony said at launch that the cheaper prices were only 'introductory Prices' so is it really surprising that they have gone up to same price as 3rd party games now

[Bathyj]

$110 is still $10 cheaper than 3rd party (and X360) games which are $120 rrp.

[name]

Kotaku -_- Yet again.

[sheng long]

which console started the whole $59.99-$69.99/game trend? did such company receive criticism for it?

[Imallvol7]

Why doesn't anyone understand this. Sony's first party titles have always been cheaper than 3rd party titles. Sony simply mades them same price as third party titles like MS and Nintendo. READ PEOPLE.

[Mr Marbles]

with PS3 games costing more than 360 games in some countries? I wonder what is that about, it seems like Sony screws over the regions that support it the most, except Japan that is.

[Bathyj]

Y.H.N.F.I.W.Y.T.A

[goldenxbox]

Boy Sony sure loves thanking Europe with open arms yep, by screwing over their most successful market !!!!!

I wouldn't be shocked that 360 passes ps3 in europe this year, unless europeans are nuts and want to pay 79 euros on up for all their games !!!

I think this will be a real interesting situation all the whole year !!
http://www.kotaku.com

Sony ps3 makes the grade and shoots their own foot off, welcome to the new prices for europe !!! Expect to pay 30% higher than you normally pay for games !!!!

This is how we thank you guys, with a big fat slap in the face !!

No wonders ps3 hardware is losing tons !!!!

[Zhuk]

Who can really blame them? new consoles are a massive investment and if they are losing money on the hardware they need another revenue stream in which to offset those losses and make a profit. Anyone who has run a business would be doing the same thing, even if it sucks for us consumers

[kwicksandz]

but i failed the test =/

I figured this would attract much more flaming that it has. if sony or MS pulled the same trick in the US the internet would be on fire with hatred, but its poor old PAL getting the shaft again.... par for the course im afraid.

In Australia at least i have noticed this to be partially true drakes fortune sells for $109.99 at game and you could buy halo 3 or mass effect for $79.

This PAL price raping has got to stop. Play asia ftw it seems.Maybe sony is trying to get us PAL markets to import lol

[Mr Marbles]

Like Zhuk said they gotta make money some how, why not make it on the backs of their most loyal or stupid fans depending on your point of view. Europe got the shaft with the gimped hardware before anyone, and they got the delay, yet they still buy more PS3s than any other region, so why not keep screwing them, they seem to enjoy the abuse.

The USA is a much tougher market, consumers here are too savvy to tolerate such blatant ripoffs, and this is why we rarely get screwed. Look at what it cost Sony in the US when they tried to sell a game console for 600 bux with no games, it cost them everything, and now they will never recover from 3rd place in the US.

[Iamback]

kotaku again? Sonyphobes

[Bathyj]

Let me say it nice and clear for people who just read the headline and then badmouth Sony.

Games in Australia cost $100. Right back to the SNES.
SNES, Megadrive, PSOne, Saturn, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, all cost $100 Australian.

X360 introduced the $120 game. For a while people complained and then it was just considered normal for this gen.

When PS3 released, 3rd party games were the same as 360, but 1st party games (ie all the best ones) were $100 again. Apparently this was always supposed to be temporary or introductory but the fact remains Sony games were all at last gen, normal prices again.

Now they've put the price up again to $110, but its still $10 cheaper than the new norm. Now I dont see how you can complain about Sonys pricing when they've dropped the price of the console here 40%, in less than a year and games are still cheaper.

[Zhuk]

I remember $120 N64 games when they came out, I would argue thanks to JB Hi-Fi getting a good price on a new game has never been easier in our country

[Bathyj]

Yeah, most I ever paid was $128 for One of the Street Fighter 2's on Snes. Cartridge games were sometimes more.

And your also right about JB and places like EB that price match. If you wait a week or so after a game is out you can usually get it 10 or 20 dollars less, somewhere. Thats why I dont get the people above me trying to make out like Sony are the big bad guy in all of this.

[Bathyj]

Can some mod kick this jerk out of here please?