PS3 price cut evidence: perfect for GDC '09

Gamezine: The evidence is growing for an imminent PlayStation 3 price cut and GDC '09 would be perfect time to announce it.

The industry is waiting for a PlayStation 3 price cut, and hoping that Sony was able to make some kind of profit on the system in the fiscal-2008 year and is now finally ready to move into 2009 with a bang.

The timing in itself would be a sign to publishers and developers that the PS3 is still a legitimate player in the console race, instead of a luxury high-priced item. You mustn't underestimate this; what better time to give concerned publishers exactly what they want?

[ape007]

gdc 2009 about sony and ms

Ico 2?
alan wake?
infamous?
halo:odst
home,FW updates?

im very very exited about gdc

[SiLeNt KNighT]

i think sony will announce a smaller chipset in new PS3's, much of which will decrease the manufacturing cost hence passing it on to consumers = a price cut. a while back they bought out that factory (toshibas i think) in order to start producing smaller nm chips. this is perfect timing to add a new couple sku's with the new components.

they neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to advertise the price cut though or its effect wont be as great as it should. dont be vein in this matter sony. $299 will sell a sh!t ton of consoles. handle business!

"$299 are you outta your mind???"

[Naucious]

I personally dont think it needs one, just people being cheap for a great console. I understand that some cant afford it due to situations that they are facing so i expect "if there is a price drop" that they get a even more dumb down version maybe one without blueray idk....

With a price cut I do believe that there will be an increase in sales and that will only happen if theres great advertising behind it...

Im sure theres a lot of PS2 owners still waiting to turn next gen and with that price cut they might leap especially if its backwards compatible...

bottom line sony get er done!!!

[xwabbit]

I hope they show a new firmware update :o

[ape007]

I agree sony NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED to advertise the new price cut

[jams_shop]

Well all this talk about the PS3 price cut is making me believe that indeed there's a price cut to announce soon.

[techie]

The more you think it, the higher chance of it coming true. "Chocolate fudge cake, chocolate fudge cake, chocolate fudge cake..." BOOM *turns into a chocolate fudge cake* "That's not what I meant! Wahh!"

[MicroSony4Life]

are hurting Sony real bad, I have a friend that wants a PS3 but has been waiting on the price cut for a while now.

[Jack Meahoffer]

This article just takes the garbage rumor about some EB Games employee and tacks on "Its a great time". Well last Christmas "was a great time too" and it didn't happen.

Prior to this fruity EB Games employee rumor the rumors were saying around June. If the cut doesn't come for a few months all theses rumors are just goin to hurt sales in the short term.

Hype is NOT your friend.

[thats_just_prime]

There is no evidences of a price cut. Facts are the only evidences we have about a price cut says there is no price cut planned and comes striaght from sony. Not a forum run by fanboys that just make up stuff as they see fit.

Sony lost 1.65 biilion dollars last year(thats the number given by sony their self) it still cost more to make a ps3 then they are selling them for. So could they afford to cut the price even if they wanted too ?

[SoapShoes]

It says there's evidence, where is the evidence?

[techie]

All the listed, including the linked article (it's the end of the fiscal year, so Sony can cut the price at the end of March) As well as the fact that GDC '09 is the perfect time for Sony to announce a price cut

[KingKionic]

all they need to do is this

[Nineball2112]

Haha... Gotta love Foghorn Leghorn.

Bubbles for having good taste! :-)

[ape007]

hahaha

bubbles man

[miasma]

maybe the next firmware update will make the PS3 an ATM :)

[dmm5157]

If you already own a PS3 (which I do), then why all the fuss over a price cut?

I'm a little happy that it's coming down (as maybe my best friend will get one so he can play KZ2 with me), but it doesn't really directly help early adopters of the PS3.

If anything, my PS3 will now be worth less than ever.

Am I wrong in my logic here?

[eagle21]

A price cut will bring even more content (games, media, Blu-ray) to your PS3 than you can imagine. It's serious business for publishers and you should be excited for a massive install base. :)

[GotAmmo]

Ive been waiting for the price drop so I can buy my second PS3 for my room. Its a pain when my little brother comes and he has to bring his PS3 so we can both play KZ2.

[ShabzS]

thats good news... i'll definitely b getting it if that happens... gaming is nothing without a playstation on ur shelf

[TheMART]

PS3 to 299 this Spring

360 Premium to 149 or 179 in September

Holidays/Christmas once more is full win for the 360 and Sony is seeing the competition once more pulling away in sales.

Is it that hard to understand Sony? You can't get the price advantage when you start at a price that high. You can't get down enough to compete. You integrated too much stuff that doesn't add to the game experience. Go watch the Neo-Geo, 3D0 and CD-I how a failure is born. PS3 next in line.

@ the one below

What I am pointing out is that the most expensive console in some gens, trying to do things that don't add really to the gaming experience but adding costs, don't succeed in becoming nr. 1 or 2.

Plus: the mass of people buys at a price of 200 bucks or less. So being @ 300 still doesn't make magic happen plus the fact that Sony already makes loss on each PS3 sold, so they can't cut the price any time soon after they went to 300 Euro, thus we won't see a 200 bucks PS3 before Christmas 2010 if not later.

It'll just stay PS3rd this gen.

[KingKionic]

whoa lets not put ps3 down. yes it had some faults at launch (price) but there runing on a tread mill now will see what happens.

[techie]

Have some cake Mart.

[Pennywise]

Listen to the hypocrite blabber. Get over yourself Mart, you are an ignorant hypocrite and I dont think anyone on this site takes you serious. Go play LBP, hypocrite.

[cryymoar]

you can also buy those Atari TV Games for like $20, will that outsell the xb360?

there is a point, mart, where the xb360 will appear too cheap. And it will be apparent as to why it is cheaper, especially as the xb360's graphics are becoming out of date. And Sony is pumping out classic hardcore games like God Of War 3, Gran Turismo 5, Twisted Metal, hopefully Shadow Of The Colossus 2, and then awesome new first and second party IPs. And we all know which console produces THE BEST first and second party games.

[sajj316]

writing on the wall ...

[The_Firestarter]

It won't go away!

It's An Omen

You just run on -- automation

NOW!

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

how much of a hit are they still taking on the console? hopefully it has diminished significantly before they pull this...

[MicroSony4Life]

Sony needs to realize that these rumors are hurting them and should just drop the damm price.

[lowcarb]

Sony shares are on a rise so prepare for a price drop. They've done a great job staying in the lime light so at gdc I just see it coming.

[Lucreto]

Will there be a key note or something like that. I prefer to hear it from the horses mouth than read it in an article.

[eagle21]

PS3 price cut = Goodbye to you and your false dreams!

[Socomer 1979]

you're cool.
what business do you run?

[SWANN]

Hey MART,

How does it feel to get f#$ked by M$?

[DJ]

But with Fiscal 08 coming to a close, it's definitely the right time. They need to stop hovering at 10~11 million units a year and start selling 15~17 million.

[eagle21]

If this cut is true it's major momentum, and on top of that Japan gets FFXIII. WOW. :)

[Xbots play games]

You know it's coming...

[jmare]

It still won't help it beat the Wii. And MS still needs to make a profit off of it, but who knows, maybe they'll start putting them in boxes of Crackers Jacks.

[hac-hunter]

I can see that coming....
MSFT will likely do something to minimize any type of positive momentum from Sony.
Even a small price cut on all 360 consoles ($25-$50) will be a blow to Sony's momentum.
MSFT has shown in the past that it isn't afraid to throw money at it's game's division.
They'll most likely just "OK" the decision to continue to take a hit on manufacturing costs just to curb any type of momentum from Sony.

[MicroSony4Life]

just for saying that people should keep there f@nboyism comments to there self, apparently you can say the word f@nboyism or the mods will get you.

Hope I don't get banned again. Damm mods, don't have any thing better to do than ban people.

[Naucious]

I dont think MS can keep that up any more, if they do drop the price there profit will surely decrease, so no i dont think there will be a price cut coming from the 360. If micrsoft is doing so well then why did they do a major layoff???

http://www.inquisitr.com/16...

restructing or whatever ive been a victim of a layoff and i know its mainly due to money issues

[Simon_Brezhnev]

i think it will be a price cut around E3

[free3sixty]

no marketing = no sales.. thats it.

Furthermore in NA the PS3 will never surpass the 360.

xbox = United states of America.

[eagle21]

You can't be serious. Did Sony have to advertise Wal-marts $299 PS3's last June when they SOLD OUT?

xbox = RROD is a better equation.

[dredgewalker]

I hope this price cut is true cause we can scratch "Teh PS3 is sooooo expensive" off the negative list on the PS3's image even though that it really isnt cause ive got tons of collectible stuff that costs more than my ps3 and with less features and usefulness.

[KingKionic]

i have a feeling it will still be viewed by the most expensive console. you do know how people are attracted by 199 right?

[jmare]

This is starting to feel like right before E3 2007 when rumors were flying around and Sony kept saying no up until they started saying yes. Sony needs a price cut to spur sales as even though it's a good value, most people don't realize it. They also need a price cut because they don't market for sh1t. Think about it, Lexus and Infiniti both sell cars that are much more expensve than other options and they do it by marketing them. Sony needs to pony up somewhere, either with marketing or a price cut or preferably both.

[ForROME]

Well sigh, its going to be 299, which Im down with, now satin silver I need and Ill grab one............

[Figboy]

since i'm thinking of getting my fiance a PS3 and an HDTV for her wedding gift in May (then i can get my damn PS3 back! we battle over it all the time!).

i'm 100% positive a price cut is happening soon, i'm still not sure if it'll happen before their fiscal year ends at the end of this month.

i'm expecting a price cut to happen in April asap, however, maybe the first week of April. it'd be starting off their new fiscal year with quite a bang.

i think Sony will definitely announce the price cut at GDC, after announcing that they've reduced the Cell to 45nm, and have done other cost cutting measures ( like removing Blu Ray! i kid, i kid, i couldn't help myself).

[bobdog626]

Wii=48.10m/ 360=29.22m/ PS3=21.07m .Sony better do something?

[StephanieBBB]

Well VG charts doesn't have a clue on anything outside the NPD, basicly no one does.

It could be more or less on Microsofts part but im pretty sure Sony and M$ are neck in neck given the latest software sales of both systems.

[KingKionic]

usually vgchartz are off by only thousands im just saying. :)

[HDDVD_for_the_win]

Good news then since vg just announced RE5 sales worldwide were 55/45 for PS3, which means either piracy is hurting 360 a lot or the install base gap is much closer to zero than expected.

[donnie-2105]

allthough i think the ps3 is great value i think it may be too little to late to save sony this gen from a somewhat lackluster performence esp when compared to the ps2 era.i cant see blu ray being a big enough incentive for people to buy the ps over the cheaper xbox360 as most people i know arent interested in the format.also i cant see the ps3 getting to the current 360 price for at least another 18 months.microsofts plan of rapid price drop this time round will win them this generation as i think not including a an hd disc format bhas benefited them enormously.there is talk of blu being superseaded by better formats allready and remember it isnt the same as vhs vs dvd as there are plenty more options than back then.

[HDDVD_for_the_win]

Too late for what ? lol at the MS fanboy analysis on this site.

- better RE5 sales for PS3, more software profit from PS3 according to publishers

- worldwide hardware sales on par with a twice bigger price (lol)

- no exclusives anymore for 360 / no announce from MS for ages, every major exclusive is PS3 exclusive now (Killzone 2, LBP, MGS 4, Infamous, Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, God of War 3, now Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma, which used to be published by MS lol)

- 360 exclusives now going PS3 one after the other (bioshock, ninja gaiden 2 sigma, soon mass effect according to rumors)

- PS3 now the lead platform for nearly every multiplat

Don't fool yourself, the one about to loose is the 360. Any PS3 price cut and it's game over, a fate that was temporarily avoided in september only because of the desperate MS price cut.

Funny thing is the same stupid comments were made at the beginning of the PS2 story... How many were sold ? Well, more than 100 million :))

[free3sixty]

Nice joke..

RROD owns the PS3.. selfowned?

[KingKionic]

no microsoft isnt losing anything nor sony...yet will see what happens you make assumptions and they never turn out how there suppose to be.

[Bladestar]

Sony leg humpers attacking TheMart are so stupid...

If you read what they are saying... basically they believe that:

* Only Sony drop the price of the PS3 and Microsoft can't do the same for the xbox 360 to maintain the xbox 360 price advantage.

I mean... I now based on scientific research it's already proven that people that favor Sony are stupid, uneducated and blind idiots. But it shouldn't be that hard to understand that there is no reason in terms of production cost, business strategy or gain by Microsoft to allow Sony to price the PS3 like the xbox 360.

I mean come on idiots! it does not matter much Sony reduce blu-ray cost it will never be as cheap as a DVD player... Microsoft owns the xbox 360 GPU design which means they can control the price... and the CPU is x86 which means production is mainstream and cheap.

Stop thinking with your testicles!

[HDDVD_for_the_win]

Ah ah ah ridiculous claim, thanks for the laugh.

Of course if MS cuts the price again, Sony will be able to do it too... You have to compare console sales at the same price.

When PS3 will be at 100$ one day, do you think MS will give 360 for free ? Will they give us money to buy the console ? lol

MS 12 year-old fanboys for the win.

Do you study maths at school, Bladetard ?

[Man_of_the_year]

How long did it take for the Ps2 to hit $99? When the PS3 hits $100 then we will talk...i am sure your testicles will have dropped by then, graduated from highschool and been promoted to head supervisor at chuck E cheese.

Becasue the PS3 has more within the system (bang for your buck comments ring any bells) the price of the PS3 can only go down so far. However becasue the 360 doesn't have all the extra bells and whistles that are un-needed for a gaming experience, the price can be much lower.

Think of it like a car. The more options in the car, the more the car is worth...the more the car will cost.

[food86]

I don't have stock in sony or microsoft for the matter but its still interesting to know some numbers and see the support of the consoles because in the end better sales and better numbers equal out to better support and more content for us as gamers. Please avoid the fact that I enjoy reading numbers and being update on sales for the simple purpose that I want the best for console of my choice not simply because you the web considers people as myself fanboys for keeping up with sales. btw I have both consoles and its a sad day when someone has to state what consoles you have as to not be under the wrong light for many fellow commenters

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Sony announces new bundle sku for PS3 80GB packed in with Motorstorm and Resistance (this is confirmned to be coming) for $399.00

In the same announcement they will announce a price cut to the existing supply of the 80GB only sku's from $50 to a $100 to get those moving. Once they run out they are gone and the price will stay at $399 for a bit.

They pulled this same manuever a year back at E3 if I recall correctly

[Leogamer]

I think Sony is being pressured by developers to lower the prize, and due to this they may just do this sooner than what they were planning, which was probably sometimes in the 4th quarter. I think once Sony starts using the newer/smaller chips in their PS3's then we'll actually see a price drop of about $100.00. Sony is doing fine in Europe, excellent in Japan(their home turf), and not too shabby in North America. They don't need a price drop! Think about it. 360 sales 100,000 units of their $200.00 basic model. How many does Sony have to sale to equal MS sales? Yeah, ya guess it, only 50,000 at $400.00 a pop!!! And guess what, Sony is selling decent numbers.

I think at $300.00, the PS3 is a steal. I got my 60 gig at target when it first came out, $649.00 after taxes. OUCH...

[badbond1]

Let's first check out the pricing the two systems. One Elite Xbox 360 is going to cost you $299.99 to begin with. The 80GB top of line PS3 will cost you 399.99. The Xbox 360 elite doesn't have built in wifi (30-50.00), the hard drive upgrade is expensive, the disk drive is not HD, xbox live costs you. Now for the PS3 = built in wifi, hard drive inexpensive (just bought a 300gb for 75.00), free online PSN network, Blu ray. Last but not least, it has less of a hardware failure rate. Sony should not drop the price but to 349.00 and let it ride. If consumers are not ready to enjoy a high premium video game console/blu ray playback system, then I say the hell to them. It is much better than xbox, I own KILLZONE 2, UNCHARTED, MGS4, AND LBP (RESISTANCE 2 was weak after renting it I passed). Xbox 360 is on the decline and PS3 is just getting started. So I plead Sony, DON'T LOWER YOUR PRICE, AND IF YOU DO, BE CONSERVATIVE! YOU HAVE A HIGH END PRODUCT AND YOU ARE MUCH BETTER THAN YOUR COMPETITION!!!

[coolkid94]

$299 is a pretty good price.

[OGharryjoysticks]

Rumor has been turning this possibility around for over a week now. I was skeptical and figured the price drop would be at E3, but if this happens watch Microsoft announce another price drop at GDC as well.