Today it was announced that Sony is slashing the price of its PlayStation 3 games console by 17% in the US to boost sales. As a result of the $100 price cut the PS3 will now cost $500 (£249), $20 more than the rival Microsoft Xbox and twice as much as Nintendo's Wii console. The Xbox and Wii have been significantly outselling the Japanese firm's PS3 in the US market.

The news came as Microsoft said it would not be cutting the Japanese price of its Xbox to lift lacklustre sales. Microsoft made the announcement a week after it said it was spending $1bn to repair problems with the Xbox 360.

The Xbox price tag of about 38,000 yen ($300) is "very competitive" and below that of the console's US price, Microsoft Japan's vice president said.

Xbox sales in Japan have been lagging behind those of rivals - Sony's Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. According to games magazine publisher Enterbrain, Microsoft has sold 122,565 Xbox consoles in Japan during the first six months of the year. That compares with 1.78 million Nintendo Wii sales and 503,554 Sony PS3 sales.

However, it is a different story in the US market with Nintendo and Microsoft outselling their rival several times over. "Our initial expectation is that sales should double at a minimum," said Sony Entertainment America chief executive Jack Tretton. "We've gotten our production issues behind us on the PlayStation 3, reaching a position to pass on the savings to consumers, and our attitude is the sooner the better." The move also comes just ahead of the launch of the latest version of the PS3. The new PS3 console will boast an impressive 80-gigabyte hard drive and is expected to sell for around $600.

Tags : PlayStation 3 : price cut : Sony

Comments

By: Dragonfly

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On: 01:21 Jul 9th, 2007
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I have one thing to say to this...

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

That said, I sadly live in Europe. Some love, Sony?

By: deanogee

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On: 01:32 Jul 9th, 2007
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Same i live in Europe, hopefully these cuts will come our way...:disgust:
But jeez, 80gig - What a beast! I swear my computer isnt even 80gig!

By: ApplesauceNinja

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On: 04:48 Jul 9th, 2007
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I heard that in addition to the price cut, there will be a mail in offer for 5 free
Blu Ray dvds also. Another reason to pick up the PS3 if ever there was one.
Though I have to say that I'd gladly trade the 5 Blu Ray movies for one solid
pack in game.

By: Mobius Zero

On: 06:14 Jul 9th, 2007
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I agree. About f!@#%^' time!!!

Sony has always has this problem where it takes them from six months to a year to get their act together. Even their exclusives will eventually hit the 360 about 6 months to maybe 1 1/2 years. Resistance, Virtua Fighter 5 (sure it will come out on the 360 in October in the US, it will still help), Motorstorm, FFXIII/Versus XIII, MGS4, Lair, and Heavenly Sword will pave the way.

I think what AsN said in one thread pretty much held true as the Wii will focus on Nintendo prime characters and maybe a few exceptions from some other companies and Game Cube ports (online is not there speciality because I could imagine the mods they could put on the Wii to make the good GC games playable on the net and didn't they want more independent games on there too?). The 360 still has the technical problems about as high as Windows 98, but the games are there now and the online is there too.

I am not going to place any bets as it is stupid right now to start guessing on a system's demise or great success. I say until all systems show they listen to everyone like say the more middle of the road Playstation crowd, I say just keep waiting.

By: fsck!

On: 06:35 Jul 9th, 2007
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lol still too expensive for my tastes. even after that 'generous' price cut.

and 80 gigs? my iPod has more than that! ~loves taking things apart and screwing with the guts~ it was originally a 30 video...(5g not 5.5)

By: Corrine

On: 11:27 Jul 9th, 2007
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Okay, 500 bucks is still pricey, and this doesn't = more games.

Sony, GAMES PLZ. Drop it another 100 in a year, and work on your list of exclusives, and then MAYBE. Just maybe. I'll grace you with my attention.

By: Black Convoy

On: 12:53 Jul 10th, 2007
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Still can't beat my PS3 I got legally for $300. Although my friend that shelled out full price for it is mad as a hornet.

I see this as a great move on Sony's part, they can hopefully get back the market share they lost because of the Wii and XB360. Plus, it has some truly stellar games coming out this year. The only true drawback I can see with the 80GB bundle is that it includes Motorstorm, if Motorstorm was a real person, I would've punched it in the face 8 ways from Sunday.

By: Misha Aogail

On: 02:40 Jul 10th, 2007
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I work in the video game department ("R" Zone) of a Toys R Us. We have had, at any given time, at least 3 PS3s sitting in our back room doing nothing but gathering dust. It's been this way since Christmas. We might, and I mean MIGHT, sell 1 PS3 every couple of months. Double the sales? Please. The Wii is still the hot item this year next to the Xbox 360 Ultimate (or whatever name they went with for the newest version of that system), and now that Microsoft is extending their warranty to 360 users that get the "Red Circle of Death" to three years, Sony's got a LOT to do to try and get their system off the shelf. Heck, as a corporation owned company, we haven't even featured the PS3 in our sales fliers for a good three to four months. Maybe longer. I've lost track. Not featuring something that pricey in a weekly sales flier at least once a month to remind people that, yes, we do have it, generally means, it ain't going anywhere until Christmas.

Personally, I laugh at Sony. Their rush job is coming back to bite them in the ass hard. And they can't beat the interactivity of the Wii. No matter what they do.

Disclaimer: Yes, I have a PS2. No, I don't own a Wii. I just laugh at their stupidity of trying to put something out the same time as Nintendo and not taking the time to actually make the product worth the several hundred you're spending on it. :)

By: Glorin

On: 06:37 Jul 18th, 2007
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I might actually buy one now. If I can get the money that is... which I most likely won't be able to do.

By: Dragonfly

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On: 01:47 Jul 19th, 2007
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RunningMan;25002

I might actually buy one now. If I can get the money that is... which I most likely won't be able to do.

Don't hold your breath on getting a cheap one for very long, RunningMan.

http://www.videogamechat.net/e3-2007-news/E3-2007-The-PS3-price-cut-farce-245

By: Glorin

On: 07:02 Jul 19th, 2007
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I will most likely have one in a year... I'm 13 right now. Most places in Michigan (or at least where I live in michigan) you have to be 14 to get a job. So I will be trying to get a job next summer... Yeah I know though...

By: Animeboy

On: 02:10 Aug 15th, 2007
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I will probably wait several years until PS3 is an antique before I decide to get one. It'll take probably ~10 years before it reaches that point.