Exclusive: Sony drops price of PS3 in UK, Plus introduces 40GB model in time for Christmas

Sony will announce tomorrow that has bowed to consumer pressure by not only reducing the price of its 60GB console, but also creating a 40GB version priced at £299 to go up against the Xbox 360 Elite.

Confirmed by multiple sources in the games industry in the UK, Pocket-lint has learned that Sony Europe will officially drop the price in the UK of the games console by £56 to £369 in an attempt to boost sales ahead of the Christmas rush.

"We are currently under strict NDA, however that NDA runs out in the next 48 hours," a retail source told Pocket-lint.

"Sony is clearly hoping to make a comeback against the Nintendo Wii, which is currently outselling the PS3 four to one," an industry insider told Pocket-lint.

[krackchap]

the rise of the pheonix,the second coming of christ...oops a 399$ ps3

best thing is the ps3 is not losing wifi,very important because thats the only way a psp can be connected to the ps3 and somehow i feel that the ps3-psp connectivity will play a major role,ever since the psp sales boost.
play b3yond.

[QuackPot]

Wow. I'm totally surprised. Didn't expect the WORLDWIDE price drop till just before xmas nor the new SKU.

But CHECK THIS OUT!!

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bi...

That's in New Zealand dollars and that is a major electronics retailer in New Zealand where I'm from.

$799 NZ for 40G Ps3 - WTF. The current 60G is NZ $1199 - again, WTF.

Release 12 Oct.

Sony's no longer pi55ing around. They're in it FTW.

>>> THIS WAR IS OVER <<<<

BTW. Check out the NZ Xbox Elite price. And it has no HD player. Hmmmmmmmm?

[nasim]

It is just MS who had high hopes and Nintendo who leads the console war now and hopes to sustain.

We all knew that it would only be a matter of time before SONY deals a knockout punch against the low powered and inferior competition

an HD DVD addon costs 150 pounds in UK +plus elite has no wifi +no free online +no HDMI 1.3 support

British are not fools to buy a low powered and stripped down console for 299 pounds when they can get a ps3.

ps3 even at a high pricepoint is outselling x360 all over EU and JAPAN by big margins

[tonsoffun]

NASIM - seriously, the PS3/360 will not be able to touch the Wii this year at all in sales. The wii is apealing to an entirely new type of gamer - nothing like most of the posters here.

I am keen to see how well sony does now, but lets be fair, just how many PS3's does sony have to sell to catch up with the 360, let alone the Wii?

[MADGameR]

This is NOT EVEN the big news thats going to be announced October 12th! Told you!

[secret]

The articles headline is an interesting interpretation of the price drop. Here's another interpretation.

Sony is matching the xbox360's price to rumble face-to-face with with the dirt talking xbox360 in its own turf. Normally, if Microsoft truly (truly,truly) felt that its console can compete with the PS3 graphics for graphics, feature for feature, quality for quality, then it wouldn't be afraid to RAISE its price to match the PS3 and slug it out mano-e-mano. But Microsoft is avoiding the confrontation like a little chicken with that "BELIEVE" crap self-steam and hot air.

Now, Sony will bring the fight to the xbox360 unless Microsoft tries to flee again. Get ready xbox360. Hype and smoke & mirrors and self-steam and all other artificial-medical-life-suppor t machinery will keep you alive only for so long Microsoft. Sony is coming for you. You're hampering this generation's graphics potential, and Sony will get you out of the way. You're practice of releasing a hardware to your loyal fans that you KNOW is defective because you don't care about them is on the line. You're inflated hype and corruption for this industry are awful.

MULTIPORTS:
The graphics of most multiports are similar, so that means that for an incremental $50, you get a free xbox360 without the $100 - $500 console lifetime internet fees and that you won't have to join the red-ring-of-death-group. Coupled with the free xbox360, you get a PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSN console. And you'll be able to watch bluray movies and dvd movies, all in one quiet machine that's so high quality that it's almost indestructable. Not bad for only $50 more than an xbox360. It seems as if, because my PS3 with these multiports and pc computer versions of xbox360 games like bioshock and halo or gears, I'm getting a lot of stuff. Why not pay a one-time $50 here instead of $50 for yearly internet fees on that hunk of junk console getting in this generation's way of higher definition graphics?

For a one-time $50 fee, you get a free xbox360 without internet charges when you buy a PS3. However, when you choose to pay $50 every year on the xbox360, what else do you get other than internet access which should be free? With the PS3, you participate in folding to advance human society. You get a free xbox360 with no RROD or internet fees. You get PS3, PS2, PS1, PSN, BLURAY, DVD, SACD, CD, MP3, LINUX, Motion sensors, and on and on and on and on. With the xbox360, you participate in restricting this generations graphical potential. Here's the reason why:

The xbox360 got to the market first and has a larger market share. Developers want to eat these gullible,easy-to-fool harlem, ghetto customers like Snuka alive. Therefore, when they multiport these games, they'd focus on the xbox360, despite the xbox360's limitations and force the PS3 to look the same. Everybody, let's thank Microsoft and Snuka for holding back this generation's graphics --> AGAIN. They got to the freeway first and because their hunk of junk car maxes out at 60mph before it starts to overheat and blowup, they're slowing everyone down again. They're blocking traffic. Get them off the fast lane. They're blocking traffic and slowing everyone down this generation. Tell them to go to the middle lane or join the Wii in the slow slane. PS3's Insomniac games, Killzone 2, Grand Turismo 5, and so on have work to do.

Admit it, the reason why I have to play a short 5 hour game on GRAW2 with mediocre to slightly above average graphics is because UBISOFT wanted to develop the game to the maximum speed and limitations of the xbox360 in mind, eventhough they were both developed from the ground up rather than being ports. Don't even bother porting Ninja Gaiden 2. Even if it came identical to the PS3, we know it should've been better had it been a PS3 exclusive.

The xbox360 is a burden on this generation's graphics. The xbox360 is a liability to the gaming industry this generation. It woke up early and got the fast lane on the freeway first, but it's overheating and slowing everyone down. It doesn't belong on the fast lane. Let's move it to the middle lane or the slow lane with the Nintendo Wii. The PS3 deep black Lamborghinni's got things to do.

An ugly girl wants to dim down the lights and put on tons of makeup (xbox360 smoke and mirrors and hokus pokus). A good looking girl wants to be seen, even without makeup.

It is a fact that xbots have or will have spent the most money by the end of this generation.

1) Add the console cost
2) Add the total internet fees of $100 - $500 by the end of the console's life
3) Add the necessary Bluray player (probably a PS3 if they like games) and/or HD-DVD player (no movies)because the xbox360 comes with neither devices
4) Add the games and movies and accessories
5) XBOTS, total up the total cost that's applicable and compare that price to the PS3. Let alone mention about the headache of RROD and a confusing lineup of consoles to choose from.

The majority of people who buy an xbox360 and still try to defend the system are not impressing me at all with their harlem-ghetto upbringing and train of thought and lifestyle. Make the change and stop contributing to the hampering of this generation's graphical potential and promoting lousy business pratices seen by Microsoft. And yes, I own shares of stock in Micrsoft.

FIGHT NIGHT / PS3 BRINGS FIGHT TO XBOX360:
Because the xbox360 is afraid to raise its price to fight the PS3 face-to-face, the PS3 will bring the fight to the xbox360 by offering a $399 price tag to one of its SKU's. Get ready xbox360. Smoke and mirrors, Hype, and self-steam and all other medical artificial life support will sustain your console's life for only so long.

Prepare to rumble for your life.

You may not realize it, but the dividing line has been drawn, ladies and gentlemen. Everything to the left is the the xbox360 and xbox360 multiports. Everything to the right will be the PS3, spearheaded by Sony first party developers, Insomniac games, and other Sony loyal developers. Please take a look at this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

Thank you.

[secret]

The articles headline is an interesting interpretation of the price drop. Here's another interpretation.

Sony is matching the xbox360's price to rumble face-to-face with with the dirt talking xbox360 in its own turf. Normally, if Microsoft truly (truly,truly) felt that its console can compete with the PS3 graphics for graphics, feature for feature, quality for quality, then it wouldn't be afraid to RAISE its price to match the PS3 and slug it out mano-e-mano. But Microsoft is avoiding the confrontation like a little chicken with that "BELIEVE" crap self-steam and hot air.

Now, Sony will bring the fight to the xbox360 unless Microsoft tries to flee again. Get ready xbox360. Hype and smoke & mirrors and self-steam and all other artificial-medical-life-suppor t machinery will keep you alive only for so long Microsoft. Sony is coming for you. You're hampering this generation's graphics potential, and Sony will get you out of the way. Your practice releasing a hardware to your loyal fans that you KNOW is defective becuase you don't care about them is on the line. Your inflated hype and corruption for this industry are awful.

MULTIPORTS:
The graphics of most multiports are similar, so that means that for an incremental $50, you get a free xbox360 without the $100 - $500 console lifetime internet fees and that you won't have to join the red-ring-of-death-group. Coupled with the free xbox360, you get a PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSN console. And you'll be able to watch bluray movies and dvd movies, all in one quiet machine that's so high quality that it's almost indestructable. Not bad for only $50 more than an xbox360. It seems as if, because my PS3 with these multiports and pc computer versions of xbox360 games like bioshock and halo or gears, I'm getting a lot of stuff. Why not pay $50 here instead of $50 for yearly internet fees on that hunk of junk console getting in this generation's way of higher definition graphics?

For a one-time $50 fee, you get a free xbox360 without internet charges when you buy a PS3. However, when you choose to pay $50 a year every year on the xbox360, what else do you get other than internet access which should be free? With the PS3, you participate in folding to advance human society. You get a free xbox360 with no RROD. You get PS3, PS2, PS1, PSN, BLURAY, DVD, SACD, CD, MP3, LINUX, Motion sensors, and on and on and on and on. With the xbox360, you participate in restricting this generations graphical potential. Here's the reason why:

The xbox360 got to the market first and has a larger market share. Developers want to eat these gullible,easy-to-fool harlem, ghetto customers like Snuka alive. Therefore, when they multiport these games, they'd focus on the xbox360, despite the xbox360's limitations and force the PS3 to look the same. Everybody, let's thank Microsoft and Snuka for holding back this generations graphics --> AGAIN. They got to the freeway first and because their hunk of junk car maxes out at 60mph before it starts to overheat and blowup, they're slowing everyone down again. They're blocking traffic. Get them off the fast lane. They're blocking traffic and slowing everyone down this generation. Tell them to go to the middle lane or join the Wii in the slow slane. PS3's Insomniac games, Killzone 2, Grand Turismo 5, and so on have work to do.

Admit it, the reason why I have to play a short 5 hour game on GRAW2 with mediocre to slightly above average graphics is because UBISOFT wanted to develop the game to the maximum speed and limitations of the xbox360 in mind, eventhough they were both developed from the ground up rather than being ports. Don't even bother porting Ninja Gaiden 2. Even if it came identical to the PS3, we know it should've been better had it been a PS3 exclusive.

An ugly girl wants to dim down the lights and put on tons of makeup (xbox360 smoke and mirrors and hokus pokus). A good looking girl wants to be seen, even without makeup.

It is a fact that xbots have or will have spent the most money by the end of this generation.

1) Add the console cost
2) Add the total internet fees of $100 - $500 by the end of the console's life
3) Add the necessary Bluray player (probably a PS3 if they like games) and/or HD-DVD player (no movies)because the xbox360 comes with neither devices
4) Add the games and movies and accessories
5) XBOTS, total up the total cost that's applicable and compare that price to the PS3. Let alone mention about the headache of RROD and a confusing lineup of consoles to choose from.

The majority of people who buy an xbox360 and still try to defend the system are not impressing me at all with their harlem-ghetto upbringing and train of thought and lifestyle. Make the change and stop contributing to the hampering of this generation's graphical potential and promoting lousy business pratices seen by Microsoft. And yes, I own shares of stock in Micrsoft.

FIGHT NIGHT / PS3 BRINGS FIGHT TO XBOX360:
Because the xbox360 is afraid to raise its price to fight the PS3 face-to-face, the PS3 will bring the fight to the xbox360 by offering a $399 price tag to one of its SKU's. Get ready xbox360. Smoke and mirrors, Hype, and self-steam and all other medical artificial life support will sustain your consoles life for only so long.

Prepare to rumble for your life.

You may not realize it, but the dividing line has been drawn, ladies and gentlemen. Everything to the left is the the xbox360 and xbox360 multiports. Everyting to the right will be the PS3, spearheaded by Sony first party developers, Insomniac games, and other Sony loyal developers. Please take a look at this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

Thank you.

[secret]

FIGHT NIGHT / PS3 BRINGS FIGHT TO XBOX360:
Because the xbox360 is afraid to raise its price to fight the PS3 face-to-face, the PS3 will bring the fight to the xbox360 by offering a $399 price tag to one of its SKU's. Get ready xbox360. Smoke and mirrors, Hype, and self-steam and all other medical artificial life support will sustain your consoles life for only so long.

Prepare to rumble for your life.

You may not realize it, but the dividing line has been drawn, ladies and gentlemen. Everything to the left is the the xbox360 and xbox360 multiports. Everyting to the right will be the PS3, spearheaded by Sony first party developers, Insomniac games, and other Sony loyal developers. Please take a look at this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

Thank you.

[darthv72]

If you have the ps3 connected to a router with wifi then the psp and ps3 will still talk to each other. I am betting those 20gb users are still able to do remote play and such with their PSP's using a wireless router instead of the built in wifi of the 60gb ps3. So even if sony were to cut it, it wouldnt matter in this day and age when most homes with broadband and more than one PC can support wired and wireless. My wii is wireless in the front room and my 360 is wired in the game room. My ps3 will be wired as well instead of using wifi.

[QuackPot]

Looks like the website removed their Ad.

Mark my word it did show the 40G Ps3 at $799 NZ - when first posted about 2o hours ago. But now it has been removed.

Possibly a staffer troll or accidentally put on their site before confirmation.

My appologies for premature posting.

Makes u think though:

* if it was a troll then that's understandable.

* if it was accidentally put on their site then it probably is coming. Sooner than later I think.

[Antan]

Still left with 2 usb`s which is fair enough i guess, not that many 4 player split screen games in the world! And losing the memory card readers, will the mass market/casal gamers be disaapointed at the loss? er, no........For 299 its still a bloody good price, and hey....it plays blu-rays as well!!!!!

[Bordel_1900]

I didn't get this part -> "Still left with 2 usb`s which is fair enough i guess, not that many 4 player split screen games in the world! "

What do you mean?

That you need 1 usb pr. player?

PS3 has up to 7 wireless Bluetooth devices remember.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

umm you don't need the usb ports to play a game, you only need them to charge the controller.

[anh_duong]

no card reader:

you can use a usb memory card reader

not enough usb (although no idea why you would want more than two when you can support 7 bt devices):

you can use a usb hub.

end of argument

[jlytle1234]

the ps3 supports 7 controllers regardless of the number of usb ports.

[Antan]

Doh! my bad, some things u just forget about! sigh.

[cheatmaster28]

THank god! the 360 is going down. now it begins. *stripper music starts*

[Bordel_1900]

When I hear stripper music I imagine Kim Basinger in 9 1/2 weeks. Yum!

[Sez]

what makes you think the 360 is going down. if anything they will just make MS drop the price of their system and we will be back where we started with the ps3 being more.sony will drop their price in oct. MS will drop their price in nov.

[Bathyj]

Vega could be right. Afterall thats the way is usually goes, Sony acts, M$ reacts. Guess we have to wait and see, but I dont think M$ will drop again this year unless they really start losing ground, which is possible too.

[Synex]

Sony isn't stupid they know MS will have a price drop now since they have a cheaper SKU. But the thing is Sony knows the games coming out this Fall/Winter will put it over the edge and give it a huge advantage over to 360 even if it is cheaper.

[lawman1108]

and if only $ony could get them out on time so that the 360 version is not $30 bucks cheaper. I bought Fall of man which is a really good game but it could have been GREAT if the control had rumble. I have each system and I play and buy more 360 games.If you like shooters forget ps3 until rumble comes back.

[MANTIIS]

...but it won't be right away. It would be foolish to do so without observing the trend at which the current price structure for the 360 fairs against PS3's new price. That trend? Not good for MS. Especially considering that with the modest price difference that the 40GB PS3 will have (laying between the 360 Premium and Elite), consumers will be forced to look at what that extra 100.00 dollars or so is getting them-a blu ray player, built in wi fi, free network play including HOME, access to key exclusive titles/franchises...then they will look at what the 360 or WII offers...none of those things (or if they do provide one or two of those attributes, you have to pay for the them). MS can reduce the price of the 360 all they want, but there is a cap to that, as they are already losing over 150.00 on each 360 sold and have lost over 4 billion as a game division since the original xbox launched in 2001 (the xbox brand hasn't made them one red cent yet). As long as Sony maintains the 100-150 gap with MS, the value of what they offer more of will dominate the sales minds of consumers. There is nothing MS can do about it but rebuild a new system, as PS3 is not only the most stable, high-tech, and powerful hardware-but thanks to the new price/hardware structure, the best value in consoles, as well.

[Snukadaman]

with halo 3 selling consoles right now....but i do see a price drop...how dramatic i dont know but i hope its better then the piss poor 50 dollars.

[DaddyDC650]

if the price drop and the introduction of the new model boosts sales enough for Sony to even attempt a comeback against the Wii.

[mighty_douche]

sonys compition isnt the wii, its the xbox.

the wii appeals to a completely different type of consumer compared to the 360 or ps3.

the best thing M$ and sony can do is try and get their machine into the best possible place it can be in a year or two as by then the price of both will fall and wii owners will probably looking to upgrade to a bigger badder machine. well thats how i see it!

[NeonSkull]

i believe ps3 is in competition with the wii, buzz and singstar appeal to the same people that want the wii. but the price is probly to high still to make any real head way in the wii casual gamer market. I also believe that wii owners looking for somthing new would favour the ps3 over the xbox360. this is just my opinion. dont flame.

[Ju]

Hm, the Wii in Japan is pretty declining. Down to 23k weekly now. That was a number the PS3 has already matched in the past. We don't know anything about price in Japan so far, but in general I'd expect sales to increas 2-4x with the new price (currently, e.g. Japan: 13k. That would certainly move it above 23k, but I think for Japan, the titles are more important...see nothing coming, yet).

A 4x could even move it to the top in the US - however, I don't think that's gonna happen anytime soon (UT3...could have helped, but against Halo, no way).

But $399 will have a dramatic impact for the holiday business, I believe (and even more so in Europe).

[felman87]

Memory cards are useless and I only use 2 USB ports myself. (keyboard and controller, though I can go wireless and use a mouse too. Hurry and come out UT3!!1!!)

[SmokeyMcBear]

memory card reader is simply awesome.. you did know that the ps3 is not just a game machine right.. i download all my digital cam photos into the ps3 by just popping in the memory card.. cool huh

[DJ]

but I have all 4 usb ports in use. One even charges my PSP. =P

[Devr]

Yeah, I'm buying this.

[CBaoth]

Finally, some great news for Sony. And actually, this is good for the ENTIRE industry. MS will no doubt lower the elite to $299 and Nintendo likely will follow suit and lower the Wii to $199. Maybe that article predicting crazy sell-thru numbers for all the systems this Xmas wasn't that far-fetched afterall.

[mighty_douche]

this should sell like hot cakes.
i know people will say you get a 120gb HD with the elite and only 40gb with the ps3 but you can pick up a external HD or even replace the internal with a larger one for peanuts, just go ebay and look for a 100gb HD, cheap as chips!

im pretty hungry, you may be able to tell by all the references to food in my comment.... uuhhhh hot cakes....

edit @ Mark, the console will be supplied with a normal six-axis to use, also the rumble isnt even coming out till early 2008 so that give you plenty of time to put a few £'s away if you really want runmble.
personally i could just place the pad on my stomach that seems to be providing all the rumble i need... =)

[Mark 1]

£299 + £35 for rumble controller.

[resistance100]

@Mark 1

When does it say you have to buy a rumble controller when it comes out?

I will be importing one this year, but thats because i need a second controller and player 2 can just use sixaxis.

[riksweeney]

Wow, they kept in the Wi-Fi too. Good on them, I guess a major complaint about the 360 is the lack of built in Wi-Fi.

Glad the see they chucked the memory card readers, they're gimmicky at best. 2 controller ports is OK too, the PSOne and PS2 only had two anyway.

Looks like the BC is still in there too, mind you, it'd actually be more trouble than it's worth to take it out / disable it...

[mighty_douche]

you mean USB ports, the controllers are wireless so unless you ever want to charge 3 or more at the same time then alls fine.
2 is the optimum number anyway for several reasons. usb keyboard and mouse together.... singstar- one for camera one for mic, stuff like that. i gotta admit i dont think ive actually used more than 2 of mine at any given time.

[Jdoki]

Now that's more like it...

Looking back through my console purchases I've pretty much paid £299 or close for everything back to the PS2.

So a £299 PS3 suddenly becomes a great proposition, especially as there's one or two games finally starting to appear that I want to play. Just a shame they aren't bundling in DualShock 3's - that would make things perfect as I really hate the idea of buying more controllers next Spring (and even more if Touchsense ever gets implemented).

My only concern is whether it will be a 'barebones' SKU or bundled with games like the outgoing Value Pack...

[mighty_douche]

wont come with a game, possibly a blu-ray movie or to. remember tho the the on-line is FREE so thats £50 saved straight way so theres some money for a game or 2. plus theres plenty of free demos and movies on the PSN to keep your entertained for a while!

i like you think £299 is around the perfect price for a console, i believe i managed to talk my parents into paying that for a SNES!!

edit @ Mark, regardless of what people may have you believe (myself included) there is infact a large selection of demos avaliable and its inproving every week. its also very easy to sign up to foreign networks and download demos and trailers off there, taking that into account id say sony are currently offering as much in the case of demos as microsoft.

[Mark 1]

"plus theres plenty of free demos and movies on the PSN to keep your entertained for a while!"

Good joke!

[sajj316]

Where the humor is in that Mark1? It has a good number of demos + movies. Not films, but movies. It would be more accurate to call them videos.

[Bathyj]

Mart, Bloodmask, Bladestar, etc, etc....

Its time for you guys to join in.

Play nicely now.

[sajj316]

They are actually busy checking with their parents to see if its ok that they buy a PS3.

They are on the verge of 'Jump Out' and 'Play B3yond'... I can feel it!!!

[Shadow Flare]

If i ever, ever saw anyone by the name of theMART, Bladestar, Bloodmask, PowerofGreen or firstknight on Warhawk, i would literally chase them round the whole map in a 4x4 trying to run them over, and at failing at that, i would throw a bear trap in their face and then shoot a TOW missile directly into their cranium

oh wait, you don't get bear traps in warhawk do you...oh well, here's hoping for Warhawk 2

[Shankle]

More likely timesplitters 4. They've already used bricks and fire extinguishers....

[sak500]

@sajj "They are on the verge of 'Jump Out' and 'Play B3yond'... I can feel it!!! "

What the hell are you talking about we had more AAA games in sept than ps3 has in entire 1st year of launch. Better games, better online features, rumble controller, more demos, more games etc and you want us to throw 300 quids so that we also join the waiting game.

[pandabear]

Well I've had mine since launch but this is great news & I'm not sour that I paid more cos I wanted to have it at lauch and paid a premium for it and it's the same for all electronics - the 1st DVD player for £1000 (yes DVD).

Anyway the more system sales this christmas the better for online community, the better for sony & the better for game developers who will commit more games with the bigger install base - which is then good news for gamers - everone wins!!! :-)

[EasilyTheBest]

Nice to see a PS3 at £299 in the UK. Im sure this could really be a huge boost in sales for Sony.
Its now up to Microsoft to respond.
The core with a memory card should be £149.
The Premium no more than £199
The Elite no more than £249
Thats my opinion on it, even throw in a game or 2 with each console too.
Will Microsoft do it? Time will tell but its my opinion they have too. Sony has the brand in Playstation, once the price is cheap enough people will buy it even if they aint sure why they are doing so.
Its all down to how much Microsoft wants to win. Coming back with a tidy size price drop soon after Sonys will give Sony major head aches.

It has to happen a month after Sonys price drop too.

[dragonJP]

I agree wholeheartedly. Microsoft must respond to this $399US/£299 Sony price drop immediately this holiday season, even if they predicted it and somehow don't think they have to respond. Bundling Forza 2 & Marvel Ultimate Alliance just isn't going to cut it when that cheaper PS3 (rumored to include a Spiderman 3 Blu-ray!) hits the streets. 2008 looks to be a tremendous year for PlayStation, and basically Sony is trying to hold on until the cavalry of killer-apps MGS4, FFXIII, & GT5 gets here. This price drop will do just that. I'm an MS fan who loves his 360, but I would snap this $399US PS3 up. I was at Best Buy yesterday and saw well over 100 PS3s just sitting there... MS had better be paying attention....

[DeadIIIRed]

I know they are a mega-billion dollar corporation, but that only goes so far. They have yet to turn a profit with the 360 (it was announced to all shareholders) and I'm sure the Board of Directors will be looking after their a**es. Also, not to be a troll, but what were the failure rates, like 30%? I think they've dropped, but thats still almost 1/3 of their total products that they will have to replace in the future. Point is, Microsoft, at this period in time, would surprise me with a price drop.

[HarryEtTubMan]

The PS3 is a much better buy before the price cut and especially now. The only people that will disagree are people that havea a 360 and were hoping they wouldn'y have to buy a PS3. PS3 IS the future of gaming. It will never die. HALO SUCKS. I cannot wait to get my Playstation 3.

gamertag: get shank d

[Bullseye]

you have been haven't you

[Shadow Flare]

The 40gb ps3 will be the point in history that will be remembered for saving the ps3

Xbots would never realise how much this effects the 360. All people are waiting for is for the ps3 to drop in price. And this is a huge pricedrop

Xbox 360, i hardly knew ye
(No seriously, you was in the repair factory half the time)

[Pika-pie]

I wonder how long it will take for MS to react. Im guessing they will drop the price of the Elite/Prem/Core by another 50 bar.

Anyway its great for Playstation fans currently with a PS2 waiting to make there purchase. Now lets just hope that we will not see any more delays.

[QuackPot]

When was the last time we heard news of Microsoft reducing the production costs of the xbox 360? It's an important part to decide when to lower the price else you'd be making losses on every console sold.

It took Microsoft over a year and half to reduce the price of the xbox 360 by $50. They were likely making losses already per console sold combined with the 30% failure rate costs. If they reduce it any further - and so soon - it'll be a real sign of desperation.

BTW. The Wii will be the top console seller but is not next gen except for the wii-mote.

[Ju]

I think they even took a big hit on their previous price reduction. They just added $100 to the production costs with their 3 years warranty. That price drop was necessary to move boxes, but not really a good idea from the business POV. I would be very surprised, if they'll do it again in such a short time (but maybe that was the plan anyhow). But say you profit forecasts for 2008 goodbye, then.

[Bazookajoe_83]

Realy good offer, that might boost it a couple of hundred thousands..

[Real gamer 4 life]

at 300 hundred the Playstation 3 is a steal. you getting a blueray player plus a console for 300. I might pick up a second one now. And they lowering the price of the 60gb aswell. I cant see people complaining no more about the ps3. The Ps3 will sell like crazy now. And on top of that christmas is around the corner.

[resistance100]

Dont forget wifi aswell.

My mate picked up a 20GB 360 and a wifi adapter for £310quid [250 for console 60 quid for wifi adapter] as he couldn't afford a ps3, he will be kicking himself now as for a tenner less he could get a 40quid ps3 with wifi built in and will have a blu-ray player for his hdtv

[QuackPot]

Microsoft will pull out of the console market and focus on just making games.

C'mon Microsoft. You lost money last gen and likely to lose money this gen. Enoughs, enough. Throw in the towel and port your IPs to the Playstation.

I wanna see Halo 4 on the Ps4.

[Shankle]

I too would like microsoft to stop making consoles, as long as another company took their place. I'd feel very uneasy with only 2 competing game consoles.
Now who would be the ideal company to create a new console for the next gen? Sega? Apple? IBM?

[Xbox is the BEST]

like desparation on our part. Microsoft predicted this either another SKU or another price drop by November. And if they knew this was coming believe me they got a plant too. What people fail to realize that gamers want games not movies.

[EasilyTheBest]

You guys seriously think Microsoft are now stuffed?
Come on!!!
Sony lose more per console than Microsoft ever does. This could well be the turning point for Sony but who knows, with a tidy sized price drop from Microsoft this could cause even more and bigger problems for Sony.
What if it still doesnt sell!
Microsoft wiped its hands with the original Xbox in hindsight this may of been the right thing to do, could this be the reason the PS3 isnt selling, meaning every casual gamer is quite content with the original PS2.
The next 3 months are going to be telling for sure....

[jlytle1234]

cnet and amazon always feature the ps3 as one of the top most wanted items. its going to sell dude.

[Ju]

Sony is a HW monster. They always were. They can drive costs down pretty fast if it has to be. Maybe not what they wanted in the first place, but as a necessary counter measure, sure. They reduced the board size of the PS2 just recently to half of the previous size (or 1/3 less or so).

Probably reducing 2 USB ports and removing the card reader can reduce a lot of space on the board. Heck, Sony even did a complete re-layout of the PS3 between US (Nov) and EU (march) launch - they didn't just remove the EE, the board layout is completely different.

And even if they make a loss, they still make a money with the PS2. I haven't heard anything about when M$ will make a profit with their gaming division. They never did since its inception. The plan was to break even in 2008. I am curious if that includes another price cut and the 3 years warranty (I think that doesn't count, because they invented a booking stunt to pull this into the 2007 budget - which will have no effect on the 2008 reports (why does "cheating" all of a sudden pop up in my head?)).

But sure, making a profit with a $399 PS3 is a challenge - but what choice do they have, except leaving the gaming business, or dropping it completely.

[Bazookajoe_83]

They still have to send a third of every sold console back for repairs, imagine only the delivery cost. Not untill they fix that with there new falcon chip will they start makeing money. As for Sony they have reduced the cost of production so they should make a small profit on every console, but they need and probably will reduce their price to get the install base up. The only company that´s bringing in the big bucks right now is Nintendo. Well Except Sonys ps2.

[goodganja]

The impression I get is Sony loves it's customers. Not like greedy a$$ micrso$hit. If I were those Microboys I'd be defending my XBOX 360 to death to seeing that I paid so much money for such a crap system.

Naive360 boys get ready to turn in your system and PLAY B3YOND

[Mark 1]

"The impression I get is Sony loves it's customers"

Lair
Rumble not for filthy foreigners until 2008
PES08 Demo?
European PSN store = Bad joke
Lair
EU games delayed
backwards compatibility
Phil Harrison
European launch delayed
Lair
Lair
Expensive
Reducing price and screwing existing customers
Lair

[Meus Renaissance]

Alot of the members who have been giving the console hatred for the past year, did so only because they realised they couldn't afford it, now they can they will most likely being purchasing it.

Personally I want a N4G friends list. All of us on a Warhawk server playing. Trash talk will be on a new level never seen before in gaming e.g. with Mart and Nasim in there.

How does that sound?

[SupraDOHC]

Sounds good, I'll be there

PSN ID: supraholic

[NewZealander]

Its a good move but here in nz u can get a 60 gig model with motorstorm and resistance fall of man and an extra controller as a bundle 4 $1199 yeah I know its a rip off, and the 40 gig model is going to be $799 with out any games or extra controller, now if u add those 2 games and in nz they cost $100 each and an extra controller which cost again another $100, that adds to $1099 plus take into count your loseing 20 gigs less of hard drive space, is it really a good deal? I think its still a rip off if u look at it like this. They need to add games and a extra controller.

[PopEmUp]

That quite a rip off I got my 60g in AUS which is starter pack which it come with two game rFOM and motorstorm and with extra sixaxis controller with a price of AU$979

[sonarus]

wii sales have been declining world wide. Could jst be lack of compelling software or maybe people have gotten tired of their wii's or both. I personally think its both. Its hard for developers to make mind blowing games for wii because of the backwards technology and since mostly casual gamers own it and they generally are pretty fine and dandy with wii sports. Maybe wii might not win this generation after all. If PS3 price drop and new 40GB console meets with strong consumer demand then expect things for the ps3 to light up once again. There will offcourse be increased sales but how far will the sales increase. It is quite possible and even likely the xbox will react with another price drop. Ps3 has quite a few key exclusives coming towards the end of the yr, uncharted, haze, ratchet and clank and hopefully unreal tournament. Plus its still the cheapest blu ray player. I still believe a 350 dollar blu ray player will comeout by xmas possible 300 though.

Regardless of the outcome ps3 sales will go up.

[PimpHandHappy]

MS will drop the price of the new elites and i hope its under 350bucks. Thats what i told myself i would pay for a system with the issues it HAS had.

I have my PS3 so i just need a cheap elite

[Genki]

MS has seemed pretty reactionary to Sony lately, IMO anyway, and I'd like to see them do something similar.

Bring on the price wars, they only help out the consumer in the end. Yeah, so I bought my PS3 for $600, maybe I'll get to save money on a 360 later on down the road then. We'll see.

[Ju]

I'm still hoping for a $199 core model. With wireless controllers, please. I don't care about HDMI nor the HD space. I just want AceCombat6, that's all. But I won't spend more the $200 for it (a 360, that is).

[DeadIIIRed]

Is if they truly want to lose even more money and want to replace their BoD and the lovable Steve Ballmer.

[goodganja]

Paid 600 for my ps3 and aint looked back since.

PLAY B3YOND

[THE_JUDGE]

and like LL said "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years"

[LOFT316]

And who ever buys the 40g PS3 will be getting the best home entertainment system out there and not only that they will be gettin one helluva bargin

[stevenhiggster]

MS haven't made a profit on the 360 at its current price, they cant afford to make it cheaper, they might as well throw in the towel, its game over for the xbots. LONG LIVE PS3

[jcgamer]

the price cut is a great thing for PS3...to the misinformed, this is to combat the worldwide sales spike a little more for the Wii than MS...the Wii is the only system selling, as of now, at an uncomfortable rate for Sony (MS could become uncomfortable, the rest of the year will tell)...in fact, the Wii is selling exactly like the PS2 (however, Nintendo has a LONG way to go to even THINK that the Wii will sell well over 100 million units like the PS2)....honestly, I'd much rather see Sony in the top position than Nintendo...the games industry has always been very healthy with Sony in the lead...Nintendo and MS have to get their shipping game up if they want to compete with Sony regardless...Sony is the only company who have proven that they can ship and sell through over 20 million home consoles a year...the Wii isn't doing a good job (next to terrible) with giving hardcore gamers comfort in a varied selection of AAA titles in EVERY genre...MS is trying hard to...Sony is the only company who have proven it...so let's just see how this plays out...isn't that the fun? Microsoft is creating far more excitement in the games selection than the Wii, you have to admit that...and I LOVE the 360, by the way, I'm just saying that all competition is good, and Sony has proven that they can lead the games industry in a way that includes every type of gamer...

[P1MPDADDY]

For those people who wanted a PS3 and either couldnt afford one or just didnt want to pay that much money for one, $400.00 US is a good price. I didnt even fill my 60GB HDD, so 40GB is fine, plus its easily upgradeable. Even if they remove backwards compatability hardware, USB ports, and card media ports its worth it for the price drop. I never used the card media ports, and only used 2 of the USB ports anyways. For charging my 6-axis controller and Bluetooth headpiece I got with Warhawk.

For people who like the 360 its good news because it forces Microsoft to compete. Now Microsoft must react and drop the price of thier consoles which means more people will buy 360's.

I still think that only hardcore gamers are going to spend anywhere from $300.00 - $600.00 for a new HD videogame console. Honestly I think thats the biggest reason the Wii is spanking the 360 and PS3 right now. Plus HDTV's and Broadband internet are still a few years from mass market penetration.

The real console war wont start till Christmas of 2008. By then people wont still be buying PS2's in large quantitys and most if not all developers will have fully adopted all 3 new consoles and dropped support for the older consoles, and all 3 consoles will have at least 2 years of gaming library established...

Till then the next year and 3 months is going to be very interesting.

[Shankle]

Oh god please don't say that. I thought the fanboys were bad enough now! You're telling me they haven't even started yet?!

[P1MPDADDY]

I meant the PS3, 360, and Wii wont be truly mainstream till Christmas 2008. As we can see fanboys started along time ago... What I am saying is that we wont have any idea who is winning this thing till the end of 2008. Personally I plan to own all 3 consoles by then. While I prefer the 360, I do like some of the things the PS3 brings to the table and look forward to quite a few of thier exclusives. As for the Wii, I am a sucker for MarioKart. MarioKart and SSBM were the reason I bought the Gamecube and will be the reason I buy my Wii(2nd Gamecube) :p

[Jandre02]

The PS3 could easily sell 20 million before next summer. The PS2 could do it so at arond the same price point, so can the PS3.

The PS3 has complete changed its SKU's and price point. This is like a relaunch for the console this Christmas. No one says that last year had to be the beginning, and since the 360 hasnt taken advantage at all sales-wise of this year its like a launch all over again. No REAL games have flopped and actually only Lair has been a failure (i thought it was good, but whatever)All they have really dont this year is test out some new titles, and complete rework its whole approach.

Except the PS3 has games and a more reasonable price point. The games people want are still PS3 exclusives too. I can walk down the street and ask any casual gamer if they know what Mass Effect or BioShock is, theyll be like "what the hell are you talking about."
Now if I say Final Fantasy, Grand Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, Halo or Grand Theft Auto, theyll know. Thats about it though. Only one of those mainstream AAA titles has come out yet. You have one left, we have 4.

[damnwrx]

SONY-KICKS-URANUS

[SuperSaiyan4]

If the PS3 is £150 at the end of the day it has poor looking ports, a very old GPU that is no match for the 360 GPU, a processor that is a pain to make games for, has no decent games, poor online etc.

At the end of the day the 360 has more games to offer and the Elite has a 120gb hard drive, headset and HDMI cables.

[resistance100]

This dude trolls the offical Euro PS boards aswell.

The sad thing is he has a PS3 and still feels the need to slate it.

And no matter how much people tell him how the Graphics system on the 2 consoles are diffferent(i.e. 360 GPU performs all the calculations, PS3 GPU only performs some with CELL doing rest so hense theres not the need for the same standard GPU (saying that the 360 GPU is only marginaly better)) he won't listen

[SageFrancis]

I love it when fanboys have no clue what they're talking about.

[jahosive]

I am just curious to find more early adopters who are completely frustrated by the crap that Sony has sent our way. I bought a PS3 on launch, with promise of games and great movies. I have waited close to a year for any of these promises to come true, and now it just seems like my whole year was in vain. I bought the PS3 in hopes of supposed launch game Lair and 4 month away Heavenly Sword, as well as the advertisements showing Spiderman 1 & 2 on BD. I soon found out that HD-DVD LOOKED BETTER ON MY 133" SCREEN, due to Sony using the ancient Mpeg formatting, and when the games I wanted so badly were finally released in Sept, they were so disappointing (12 hrs of gameplay for H.S. and Lair - meh) that I have yet to own a single game. Now Sony continues to screw the early adopter, both on stand alones and on the PS3. Two price drops in one year? I owned a first gen LD, first gen DVD as well as a first gen SVHS and I have never felt so violated for being that support out of the gate. The early stand alones can't work with BD-J, firmware updates are lacking on anything other than PS3s and the latest debacle has only the PS3 able to handle yet another sony propietary BD+ security encryption mechanism for anti-piracy. This means the people who spent 1000+ are now sitting on drink coasters instead of BD players, as they won't even play BD+. This is nuts, but I would like to get an email chain started, hopefully followed by a website and maybe even some paid advertising against all this forceful, decietful propaganda that has left so many of us out to dry. You can email me at [email protected]. I will send out weekly updates letting people know how many have signed up, and actions that can be taken. I would also like to find others that are willing to help (my main reason for not already setting up a website). I am sick and tired of being lied to, and hopefully some others are too.

[GeneYus]

I'm sorry, but I just dont agree with what you are saying... I can see you being frustrated, dissapointed... but to go on a crusade against Sony for reacting to consumer demand is just... lame? I mean do you seriously have enough time to start this crusade to bring down Sony? If so then I feel sorry for you. There have been many great games released on the PS3, especially if you dont have a 360 to have played all the multi-plat games. You're saying there are no games which casts a huge light of suspicion on you cause I've had mine since January and I've been playing religiously ever since. I've got a 360 as well and I still dont feel ripped off by my PS3. Its a great system and I think its good that they've dropped the price so more people can enjoy the technology. The fact that you feel screwed over by them is ridiculous. Any company that goes out of their way to screw their consumers is a company that is going to fail. Sony has a long proud history of producing quality for their consumers. They have one of the most trusted brands in the world for a reason. Get over the sour apples man. More great games are on the way and if you look at what they've put out in the first year versus the first year of ANY other system then you should quickly realise that you're being pretty ridiculous. If they have not met your expectations then I suspect you were thinking the PS3 was capable of getting you laid, healing you wounds, and raising the dead. For the rest of us I think its met and exceeded our expectations. But then again, thats just my opinion.

[Ju]

I don't get that. Did anybody hold a gun to your head and force you to buy a PS3 for $600 or what ?

[jahosive]

@33.1
I mean do you seriously have enough time to start this crusade to bring down Sony?
I do have time as I travel for work and spend my nights in hotels 35 weeks out of the year, but am home every weekend, giving me time to play games on my consoles (all 3 next gen, as my ps2s, two of them died on me so I sold every ps2 game I had a year before the ps3 came out.

If so then I feel sorry for you.
Don't, I make enough money to support my habits and those companies that treat me well.

There have been many great games released on the PS3, especially if you dont have a 360 to have played all the multi-plat games.

What Resistance, motorstorm? Resistance, don't like FPS. Motorstorm got old after playing it more than 20 minutes. The best game on the PS3 is God of War 2, and it was made for the PS2. Lair was disappointing, and I won't even start on the one night rental of Heavenly Sword. Any multi-plat, I will always go with 360 for the online support.

Its a great system and I think its good that they've dropped the price so more people can enjoy the technology.
Been there before and haven't cared as I didn't feel I got ripped off, as I got much enjoyment out of the products before that happened. Within 1 year 2 price drops, increased performance and nothing to reward the few people who actually paid the high cost for supporting them when they rushed out their platform with little support for developers and little or no games (EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE PROMISED)

Sony has a long proud history of producing quality for their consumers.
Obviously you have not dealt with their customer support. I used to sell electronics and I can tell you the company with the worst support at that time was Sony. This was in 2000. For a simple remote control repair on a DVD player that had no controls on the front, consumers were forced to send in their entire units ($399 at the time) for over 8 weeks due to Sony not allowing third party repair vendors to purchase propietary parts. And don't get me started on their TVs.
They have one of the most trusted brands in the world for a reason.
Trusted, that's one for you. Why can't they ever let someone make something without trying to force people into their own copyrighted formats. Come on, DLP anyone.
Get over the sour apples man.
Show me a reason why.

More great games are on the way and if you look at what they've put out in the first year versus the first year of ANY other system then you should quickly realise that you're being pretty ridiculous.
I know you are nothing but a fanboy now. Within the first year 360 had Dead Rising, Dead or Alive 4, Gears of War, LOTR II as well as a lot of FPS that I didn't like. The Wii has sports, Metroid Prime, Zelda and Wario Ware even though many of them weren't great, they served the purpose of what the console was made for. The only consoles that had such bad launches where Ps1 (exception Destruction Derby), Ps2, Dreamcast and Jaguar. Going back to Odyssey, which I owned, 2600, NES, Genesis, SNES, GC, Neo Geo all had titles available upon launch and more within the first year. Before you start preaching and spewing a bunch of crap, know your history.

If they have not met your expectations then I suspect you were thinking the PS3 was capable of getting you laid, healing you wounds, and raising the dead.
Lol, hope you can take your hands off your PS3 long enough to get laid. For a company that pushed a game system to sell a movie format, they should have at least had a superior looking format and used at least an up to date encoding method. Give me a break, I owned a Video Production company that did mostly weddings, and we at least used Mpeg 4. Lol.

@33.2
I don't get that. Did anybody hold a gun to your head and force you to buy a PS3 for $600 or what ?
No they didn't, but they did lie to me about many things to make their product seem like more than an oversize paperwieght for an entire 10 months.

[SuperSaiyan4]

They will not see reason, it doesnt matter if they get 1 game for the whole year they will still buy into Sony's lies.

I have no intention of selling my PS3 it looks good in my room I use the internet on it sometimes and thats about it.

I do look at the PSN and its rubbish! there is no decent content!

As a games console sorry just face it the 360 is better.

Look at all the RPG's the 360 has! Shooters and racers and other!

You want a game like PGR? 360 only, you want a game like Ninja Gaiden? 360 only, you want a game like Mass Effect? 360 only.

Please tell me what Sony has that can at least beat Mass Effect, nothing.

[QuackPot]

They will not see reason, it doesnt matter if they get 1 game for the whole year they will still buy into MICROSOFT's lies.

you fans still keep forgetting the Ps3 is 11 months old.

you fans still keep forgetting that the xbox 360 23 months old & therefore had more time to build up a decent games library.

you fans still keep forgetting that MICROSOFT rushed a half-a55 product onto the market just to get that years head start - ROD.

you fans still keep forgetting that MICROSOFT has done nothing to FIX their half-a55 product - except extend its warranty.

you fans still keep forgetting that MICROSOFT is a cash rich monopoly and can buy exlusives and the favour of 3rd party developers

you fans still keep forgetting that bad ports are due to lazy developers who don't bother to learn how to fully utilize the system - or worst still have been paid to do a bad port.

you fans still keep forgetting that PSN is new and getting better and better compared to XBL which is a veteran.

And of course as a early adopter that has been scr3wed, you would be happy for the ps3 to remain at $600 even though Sony has reduced the production cost. Whatever.

Be gone, Troll. You're not fooling anyone.

[Marona]

I call bullshit, sorry Super. The only good thing about LIVE is the dashboard, demos, gamerscore/profile and thats about it.

The Entertainment(music, game videos, movies, anime, etc) is crap.
Paying for Gamer Themes/Pictures is crap too? I ain't paying sh|t for an Avatar or just a plain theme.

[Tryst]

SuperSaiyan4: wow, you really are a muppet.

I am a gamer, and have been waiting for this price drop to come. I will def be getting the PS3 now. Will probably get the PES8 bundle.

Happy days! :)

[Mc187]

i don't have the time to type all that is superior on theps3 compared to th 360. PGr4 (who cares) GT5 . Ninja gaiden will be ported . Mass Effect. a silent prayer for you. peace

[Jandre02]

Wow you cant be serious. Its funny watching these Xbox owners panic. If you really think Mass Effect is the limit of this gen then maybe you dont deserve to own a PS3.

Watch everyone, as Sony does a pile driver on the XBox lol.

New SKU @ 399 will set up the last problem with people buying the PS3.

Xbox can drop all they want. Basically everyone that even wants one, has one. Proven by the sales on Halo 3 release week. went up a HUUGE.....................19% LOLOLOL. Umm and if Halo cant do it, no one can. Console war is about to eliminate one of the competitors by the end of this year. Xbox wont sell any more than 1.5million more by years end. Any bets?

[PopEmUp]

Haven't you heard the news that PGR 4 is gonna be their last exclusive game for x-box 360 after that it gonna be multi platform by the way GT will dust PGR and FOrza any time

[damnwrx]

Sony Kicks Uranus!

[skynidas]

360 end is near

[hotshot1237]

so now sony is supposed to keep the console 600 so other customers can be happy they didnt get ripped off. its PEOPLE FAULT WHO BUY SYSTEMS EARLY. prices always go down. and if more ps3's are sold, MORE GAMES. so there is NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. PEOPLE JUST WANT TO FIND SOMETHING-ANYTHING TO BAG ON SONY. THE REASON MICROSOFT KEEPS LOWERING ITS PRICE AFTER THE PS3 IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW AT AN EQUAL PRICE, THEY WOULD LOSE.

and yes, there couldnt be another answer to it because there is know other reason to keep lowering the price of the system when sony does.

now buying a defective system is being screwed because it doesnt amount to more games but just more angry customers. and i GURANTEE 11.5 MILLION 360'S WERE SOLD TO SEPERATE PEOPLE. SO MANY PEOPLE BROUGHT 2 BECAUSE THERE FIRST ONE DIED

[0LDSCH00L]

Yeah.. Ill trade in my system that sells more software than the PS3 & WII combined, (* According to U.S. NPD data, gamers have bought more software for the Xbox 360 (24.3 million units), than software for PS3 and Wii combined (19.8 million units) for an inferior system that devs have consistant problems with! Your about as rational as every other Sony fanatic in this forum.

[0LDSCH00L]

"360 end is near" That makes just as much sense as the XBOX catching the PS2 last gen after it's huge head start! all you people need a huge dose of reality! Im realy convinced that the majority of Sony fanatics on this site are nothing more than a bunch of 12 year old's!

[damnwrx]

Stop FORNICATING YOURSELF!
Your like a B!tch gossiping on a mission and on denial.

[vaan]

Put I'm still glad I got my 600 dollar monster, complete with full PS2 chip set and 3 different memory card readers. Yes I lined up on day one, and I love it! My wife uses the photo viewing capability allot and the Blu-Ray player.

Having said that, reduced price SKU will shift systems. No doubt about it. Over 75% of console gamers are NOT hardcore like myself.

[Wii60_FTW]

two years too late

[0LDSCH00L]

If I could want 1 thing right now, it would be to be standing right in front of you.. then we would find out who the b*tch really is! as for the denial thing.. I think that the MAJORITY of gamers would agree that the Sony fanatic is the one in DENIAL!!!

[0LDSCH00L]

But.. I can understand the Sonyboy frustration in this forum, If the system I loved sucked so bad.. I guess, that I would be taking bubbles from me as well to shut me up!!!

[Mc187]

just go buy a ps3 (shhhh its okay its okay) then u would be B3YONDHappy70

[doublertist]

wow it sure is easy taking bubbles from people when they are stupid

get real this generation just began and with the financial situation M$ is in, sony truely has the upper hand right now

[doublertist]

yes ps3 under $400 is awesome!!! 360 wont even make another price cut yet since their gaming devision is soooo far in debt that they wont even see a penny of profit for another 6-7 years. they cant affort a price cut with all the things they need to save the money they make in order to fix the problems they are having. basically $10 billion invested into making the system then $2 billion into giving everyone a 3 year warranty, HALO was the only system seller which made microsoft money and gave it a chance to get out of the poor house...
so sorry to say that with this move, sony will begin to take the market back over

[Martini]

How much do you think Sony spent on making the PS3 ?? The "Cell" was very expensive to develop.

[doublertist]

thats true the cell processor cost quite a bit for sony, however sony has also turned a profit in their gaming division although going back in debt with the release of ps3 they are no where near as in debt as 360 even at this point after halos release sony is in less debt than M$ because of the continuous sales of ps2 which make up quite a bit of the production costs for the ps3 therefore enabling sony to cut the cost of ps3 even more...

[DJ]

So hopefully this is true. My neighbors Gary and Cam have been waiting for a big price drop after hearing the rumors; Gary's a huge Warhawk fan.

[Ortiz83]

xbox can't lower their price now. It will be too early. Besides, they still have not made a profit out of the 360. If they lower it again, it will take even longer to make a profit. And thats counting the games sold too...

[OatLoops]

Steve Ballmer has already expressed dislike for the gaming division for not yet turning a profit since its inception. If they don't turn a profit (which they definitely won't if the crazy sales of Halo 3 are used to cover the cost of countering Sony's price drop again) who knows what their future will be like.

[jaja1434]

Actually they could easily lower the price, its MS remember. It really just depends on what MS long term goal is. If its to get a fair share of the market, which it has done, then no they really don't need to lower the price. But if they are trying to push Sony out, then yea they need to lower the price.

Ohh just another point of view, as fair as companies go, Sony is the one who really can't afford to keep lower the price. They are in far far worse shape than MS is in financially.

Again that as a whole company. no their individual gaming divisions where both are losing money. Kind of makes you wonder why they even bother to make game enh?

[OatLoops]

Yup, but they sell the most consoles when the prices are like $199 or so, so by then they should both be making money.

[Wii60_FTW]

360 is like 250 new. owned.

[xplosneer]

$279.99 Core, with no hard drive, and no Wifi, and no HDDVD player, and no HDMI, and (?) no component cables, but Arcade includes 2 games(when it comes out(?))
Owned.

Edit: you talking pounds?

[Maldread]

I`m still not sure if i`m going to buy a PS3 this year, but it should help Sony attract more buyers, and it will help me if i do decide to pick one up, so i`m all for it ;)

[SofaKingReetodded]

being thrown at sony, they move at their own pace. If anything it looks like this was Sony's plan all along. Sell at least 5 million consoles at the $600 tag and then start dropping the price in steps. They know they won't hit 100 million until the console hits about $200.

the thing that cracks me up about xbots is that they have convinced themselves they are on equal footing with the playstation brand and dropping the price is all that's needed to win this console war.

LMAO

like I said before, stop taking credit for sony's work. THEY were first and SECOND to sell over a 100 million consoles. They did that on name recognition, brand reputation and a never ending lineup of extremely diverse games for every age. What does MS have?? a reputation for gouging markets and monopolizing them??

hahahahahhahahahahahha@ xbots thinking their 3stinkme is on the same playing field as THE MIGHTY PLAYSTATION BRAND.

[supnub5]

360 just got owned.wii you're next.

[MrWeymes]

apply to Canada as well? If so, would it be $399?

[UJUSTLOSTONE]

Good job SONY

[Kuest]

Guys this is a serious question- so don't flame me! If you take a peek at gamespot and gameinformer- the PS3 is being dropped to a price point of 399 EUROS.

http://www.gamespot.com/new...
http://www.gameinformer.com

Am I missing something? Is the PS3 already at 399 Euros and is simply getting dropped to 299? If so, then I'm buying.

Edit:

Uh, look- forget my last sentence ok? It doesn't matter, what I'm asking is- does the PS3 cost 299 or 399 Euros BASED on these two sites.
Tell me, please. Hurry.

[resistance100]

You serious? Everywhere i go it's 599euros

[bluhefner]

Now finally my cheap ass can get a PS3. Thanx Sony.

[Martini]

Sony will now be at a price point they should have begin with in the first place . Good job on that !
I still believe that hardware won't really move untill the price get's in the $200-$300 range.

[Abu]

... is Sony loosing on each console it produces? How much does the new 40GB console cost Sony to produce? This may be great news for Sony fans, but the price cut will hurt Sony's share price if they loose too much per machine.

[SageFrancis]

Well they've taken out the USB's, the EE chip and are using 65nm processors so the price to produce a PS3 is a lot less than it was on launch.

The PS3 is going to sell a BUCKET LOAD now this christmas, with some great games coming out between now xmas, this is a great move by Sony, they will shift units because of the name PLAYSTATION and people will think "PS3? £300? WOW!" and buy it.

PS3 is on the UP and there's no denying it.

[Dogswithguns]

price dropping or what?

[Jinxstar]

Off topic. can someone PM me with where this site is based. I see alot of people from around the world and am just curious.

[Unknown]

I'm very happy about this price drop. This will most defintely give MS a swift kick in the a$$ to get some new stuff moving. F#ck heads please shut the f#ck about the ps3 is the future and crap. Sure the ps3 has more crap in it but that doesn't translate into a console that is light years better than the 360. Look at the orig. xbox. It had way more crap than the ps2. You can say the difference the company...SONY...but I beg to differ as of now. Because to me, they are in the same position MS was with the orig. xbox. But, on the flip side...this IS SONY...and they have arguably some of the best 1st party studios and unlike my home team(360 lol), meaning they CAN turn this around.
To 360 owners-
Please don't come on this thread and bash the ps3 owners...pleasssse. This is a very good thing for gamers! It allows several things. If you wanted to get a ps3 but couldn't afford it or didn't want to pay that "high" price for one then now its cheaper and you can go get one. By SONY dropping the price, this makes the ps3 even MORE competitive so that means that MS has to you their brains to combat SONY moves, benefiting 360 owners and ps3 owners in the process(because SONY is going to come right back on em'.)
Don't know about you but I'm ready to "jump in" and "play beyond".

[The Milkman]

Thats great man! I dont realy need all that space on my console. So thats great that they came out with a 40gb version also. Thats a great deal Sony is offering. But Im personally not going to buy one for awhile. The game I will mostly be playing for quite sometime is going to be Halo 3. Until I want to explore some I want be investing any money to Sony.

[SuperSaiyan4]

There are far more PS3fanbabies on this site I wonder why oh wait I know its because playing Resistance has finally made you realise its boring considering its a crap game to begin with.

Well PS3fanwhores just sit back and watch Xbox 360 gamers get all the decent stuff and get all the content and you can play with your thumbs instead.

And oh PGR4 isnt the last one, the franchise belongs to Microsoft and someone else might take it over.

And oh Ninja Gaiden 2 will not be ported - didn't you hear? Microsoft is now the publisher.

Sorry PS3fanbabies you have lost this gen.

[Figboy]

i'm not sure what Microsoft's shareholders are willing to sacrifice to counter the PS3 price drop.

i mean, MS stated, categorically to their investors that they planned on turning a profit in 2007. as far as i know, they've succeeded at that (Live subscriptions, periphial sales, etc). i'm not sure if they'd want to go back in the hole again.

and even if they did, i think Sony still has the value proposition to pimp.

look at it this way:

X Box 360 Core - $280, no hard drive, no HDMI, no Wi Fi (though that's a minimal extra), no HD movie capabilities (HD DVD drive). to get up to that point, you'd have to pay an additional $180 for the HD DVD drive, $100-$180 for an hard drive (either 20gigs or 120gigs), and, if you need it, $100 for the Wi Fi adaptor. that's either $280 extra, $360 extra, $380 extra, or $460 extra, depending on if you need the Wi Fi adaptor or not. it brings your 360 total to $560, $640, $660, or $740.

X Box 360 Premium - $380, with 20gig hard drive, no HDMI on older units, no Wi Fi, no HD DVD drive. the only real added expense here is the $180 HD DVD drive, but if you need Wi Fi, then add on that $100. your total will be $560, and $660 with the Wi Fi adaptor.

X Box 360 Elite - $450, with 120gig hard drive, HDMI, but no HD DVD drive, and no Wi Fi. with the HD DVD drive, the total is $630. with HD DVD drive and Wi Fi, it's $730.

now, on the flip side;

Playstation 3 - $400, with 40gig hard drive, HDMI, Wi Fi, Blu Ray drive, memory stick readers, web browser. no add ons necessary (barring an HDMI cord, which will run you about $8.99 on newegg.com).

i personally think the choice between which of the five products to buy would be obvious. though, it should be noted that this is only for comparative purposes, you don't *NEED to buy the add ons for the 360, but if you *WANTED all of that functionality, it *WILL cost you.

i'm a gamer for life, but i *LOVE my movies too. after seeing movies in HD, standard definition DVDs just don't do it for me. i need *EVERYTHING in HD nowadays. i'm addicted.

as a result, the product that i choose to buy will have to give me that at a fair price.

i ultimately chose the Playstation 3 back in February, and even though i paid $600 for mine, at the time, it was the best deal available, and i still got built in HDMI, Wi Fi, memory stick readers, 40 extra gigs from the 360 Premium, and a Blu Ray drive, for, really, just $200 more (going by a $400 base price for the console).

if i were to buy a 360 (and i *WILL pick one up sometime next year), i'd ultimately go with the Elite, as the 20gig hdd of the Premium unit (only 13gigs free after caching and formating and what not), wouldn't be enough. the Elite is $450, but remember, i'm addicted to HD content, so i'd end up buying the $180 HD DVD drive also. but even still, with all of the electronics me, my fiance, and my two roommates have hooked up, i'd need to connect my 360 to the internet wireless, or unplug one of the many internet devices we have plugged into our router, which in turn, would deny one of them access to the network, and we do a lot of media sharing and streaming amongst us, so i'd have to get the Wi Fi adaptor for the Elite. bringing my own personal total up to $730, still $130 more than what i paid for my PS3 back in February.

so, for me, the choice was a PS3.

as for games? well, the PS3 is getting all the cool multi-platform games like Assassin's Creed, DMC4, and RE5, so i'm not missing out on those, and games like Bioshock, Mass Effect, and Alan Wake, i can simply enjoy on my roommate's 360 until i get my own eventually. and the released and upcoming PS3 exclusives are more to my tastes also (ie, Folklore, Ratchet, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword are *EXACTLY my type of game).

hell, at $400, i'd get *ANOTHER PS3 (though, honestly, that one would be for my fiance, so i can get *MINE BACK; she hogs it playing Oblivion all the time).

like i stated at the beginning of this post, i'm not sure what MS is willing to do to counter. they *COULD drop the price of the 360 again, but that could potentially put them back at where they were at at the start of this year; trying to find ways to turn a profit on their console. this may not make the investors happy.

Sony was always losing money, but the fact that they were using such cutting edge technology (ie, Blu Ray, Cell Processor), meant that when the production costs of those components dropped (ie, Blu Ray laser diodes went from $90 a diode to just $8 a diode over the course of the first 5 months of this year), it dropped *HARD. so i think that while they may not be breaking even, or making a profit on producing a $400 Playstation 3, they are no longer losing $200 or more per unit like they were last time.

they understand that with that lowered price, consumers will buy it, and when consumers buy it, game publishers become more confident in releasing games on the system, meaning more games, which brings in more consumers...and so on and so forth.

what was the *NUMBER ONE complaint about the Playstation 3 since E3 2006? *THE PRICE. at a $400 price tag, the cost of the console is no longer an issue. and with a strong fall 2007 lineup, and a *KILLER 2008 lineup, the Playstation 3 has thrown itself back into the battle with a 3 hit combo.

[The Milkman]

I agree with you man. Now with Sony's price drops I believe the PS3 is giving more offers for its money. M$ is pullin more at your wallet than the PS3 now. But they do have something that is very critical to a gaming console. Which is games, like it or not they do have some of this years hottest games on the console this year. Thats why they are claiming this to be there holiday.

If your a fan of Halo 3 and you know its longivity in its online gameplay. You realy dont care if its going to cost you more for that console. MS knows that and they are taking advantage of it while they can. Thats what most any othere company would do if they where in the same position. Thats how you make the most of your profits. So gamers have alot to look forward to this year and hopefully not just the ring of death.

Trust me if sony had the better lineup this year I would be playing it instead. But I believe that MS is pullin money in on more than just the console itself. I say there is some kind of scandal going on behind the xbox 360 head sets. Sounds funny but I think they where designed to break easily so that they can have consumers buy more of the product. So dont buy a wireless headset otheres and I have experienced problems with them and it cost me 60$ for something thats as durable as the 20$ wired ones. Mine just all the sudden would not turn on or even charge.

I love and hate MS just an odd relationship. lol.

[Figboy]

and while i know, perception wise, and hype wise, Resistance and Warhawk aren't up there with Halo 3, those two titles alone offer the best multi-player gaming on the Playstation 3, so, for the sole Playstation 3 owners out there, it's not like they are missing out on quality online gaming. with the added bonus being that to play online on the PS3 is free, and not a paid subscription.

then there's the multi-platform games. as long as Assassin's Creed, Army of Two, Devil May Cry 4, and RE5 are coming to the Playstation 3, i don't *CARE if it's also coming to the 360. once again, a sole PS3 owner (like myself), it doesn't bother us if games go multi-platform. now that price is no longer an issue for, for now, UK purchasers, the fact that games are moving platforms shouldn't be a problem for developers.

it was an issue before, because at $500/$600, the PS3 *NEEDED compelling, and *EXCLUSIVE reasons to choose it over a 360. now, the PS3 is offering *MORE than the 360 feature wise, and for a cheaper price ($400 is pretty cheap, considering all the stuff that comes with the system, like the Blu Ray drive).

also, personally, i'm not really agreeing that the 360 had/has the best lineup of games for this latter three months of the year.

there was Bioshock (awesome game), Halo 3 (not a big Halo fan, honestly), and Mass Effect (i'm seriously *DYING to get my hands on this one), are the three biggest and most anticipated, but i'm honestly curious as to what the other killer games are? GTAIV is gone for this year, and some of the other big multi-platform games have been pushed into early 2008.

with the PS3, there are some nice titles out there, and coming.

Warhawk is great
Heavenly Sword is really good, despite it's length (Halo 3 and Gears are also short games)
Ratchet and Clank is looking *AWESOME, and it's a first generation PS3 title
Uncharted is looking the same
Folklore has sleeper hit written all over it, as it's a lot like Bioshock, in that, the graphics may not be up there with a Killzone 2 or Gears of War, but it's the *ART DESIGN and atmosphere that really sets it apart (i'm not comparing the gameplay, mind you, just the excellent art design and mood of both games).
then there's Haze, which is coming from the guys who made the original Goldeneye, and the fun Timesplitters series. and finally, there's Unreal Tournament 3, the console premiere of one of the most respected and loved FPS multi-player games *EVER.

outside of Bioshock and Mass Effect, for me, personally, there isn't anything else on the 360 that i'm anticipating more than the titles i listed above.

but again, everybody has their own tastes and preferences, and there is no right or wrong when it comes to preference, really.

not that the other titles on the 360 aren't looking good (Eternal Sonata was on my radar, but now it's coming to the PS3), but the exclusives releasing this year aren't really my type of game (Ace Combat, while an awesome series, isn't for me; i'm not really into flight type games, though i love Warhawk, but then again, you aren't *ALWAYS flying in Warhawk).

bottom line, truthfully, is that 360 and PS3 owners have a *LOT to be happy about this fall, and man, do i feel for those folks like my roommate, who have *BOTH, and have to find the time and *MONEY to get all these sweet games.