PS4 Initial Cost Analysis (GAF / Beyond3D)

[JEMC]

oni-link said:

ethomaz said:

superchunk said:
So if ~$400 is raw material cost, then the actual cost of a retail delivered unit is closer to $550-600. So anyone expecting this to be under $450-$500 at launch is crazy. Sony is not going to approach a $200 loss per unit again. Vita was pretty much right at the breaking point or a slight loss, expect the same with PS4.

I think $450 is a good price but this time I think Sony will be release a model with some anual service contract... like AT&T with iPhone... I don't know... something like PS4 $299 in the 3-years Online Services contract.

I agree...I think Sony will give consumers a choice this time around and be wise about losing money.  With costs and retail mark-up I don't see PS4 selling for less than $450 ($499 most probable) while NEARLY breaking even or a slight loss like the Vita and Wii U at the moment.  I think they will introduce a PS4 version with a 3-year online service contract for $329-$349 but that version will be skimped on things like #of usb drives and size of the hard drive.  (By that time the Wii U deluxe should also be @ $249.99-$299.99 making all 3 next gen systems affordable to mainstream gamers)

I honestly don't see Sony going with a contract style for the PS4.

If they haven't done it with Vita which is a portable console with 3G and heavy focused on download software, things that make it an almost ideal patform for that kind of contract, why will they do it with a home console where most of the games will be bought at retail?

OT: With those costs, I think a price of 400-450 € is what we should expect.