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Looks like the Ps3 is getting the price cut everyone wanted after all...and it is a $100 one at that.
With the 60 Gig going down to the price of $499 and an 80 Gig version being released for $599, will this be what Sony needs to raise sales?
Today, Sony confirmed to the Associated Press what a fusillade of reports from US retailers had augured last week. As of July 10, the PlayStation 3's North American price point is going south. The next-generation console will cost $499 in the US and $549 in Canada, the same price as the discontinued 20GB model.
The price drop announcement was accompanied by more unexpected news: The 80GB PS3, previously only available in South Korea, is also headed stateside. The larger-capacity system will go on sale in August for $599, and will have all the functionality of the 60GB model. To help stifle complaints that $100 might be a bit much to pay for 20GB more of hard disc space, Sony is bundling the game with the off-road racer MotorStorm, which currently retails for $59.99.
The price drop further indicates that, after a slow start, Sony is now aggressively trying to expand its customer base in the US. The move comes none too soon. According to the latest figures from industry-research firm the NPD Group, the PS3 only sold 82,000 units in the US in May, compared to the Xbox 360's 155,000 units and the Wii's 338,000 units. Ironically, the console's predecessor, the PlayStation 2, was the month's fourth-best-selling platform with 188,000 units, just behind the PlayStation Portable's 221,000 units.
Will the $100 price drop turn the PS3's fortunes around? "Even with a $100 drop, the PS3 is still the high-end console," Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian told GameSpot. "But price cuts typically generate incremental demand, and I don't think this situation will be any different. Bottom line, this may not be enough to kick-start PS3 sales into the mass market--but it's a good first step."
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Most recently commented on by on Jul 10, 2007
Most recently commented on by on Jul 10, 2007
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Good move by Sony though in order to push the system
It's good to hear about the price drop though.
I can finally buy my second PS3 for a cheaper price, thank you Sony, you bastards.
Motorstorm isn't that great anyways
All in all, those that made the 20 GB purchase have nothing to worry about, and neither do the 60 GB owners. I mean, seriously, a game (which you can buy at $60) and 20 more gigs of extra space? That's a damn good offer, but not so good that you regret buying an early PS3.
and what good is the 80GB model for, when you can replace it with a 120 GB for cheaper anyway...??
and for all the early adopters that are sad about the fact that they paid more, well... That should be assumed when you're buying it at launch! The extra money you're paying for are those 7 extra months of play. You should have known that when you were buying the consoles. Of course there was going to be a price drop. If you bought it before then, then you were paying for play time, that's all. And if you enjoyed your time playing it, then you got your money's worth. If not, don't buy so early next time - is all i can say.
With all the hype going around, it was bound to happen sooner or later ...
Another price cut before Christmas would be nice as well ... Or is that pushing it a little too far ??
I think this is a smart move. They will really start to move consoles this way.
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