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Conina on 06 May 2016
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Intrinsic said:
Conina said:

Why not? The normal PS4 becomes the entry model, always $100 - $150 cheaper than the PS Neo for people who don't want to pay $300+ for a home console.

It's one thing making multiple skus with different sized hardware. It's another thing making different skus with different Chips, boards, RAM, casing, PSU, I/0 connectors........etc. 

it would be a manufacturing nightmare in a world where simplicity is always the key. It would probably cost Sony no more to make the Neo than it does them making the PS4 right now. So rather than stick with the PS4 as is and reduce its cost of production, the probably decided to increase power but remain at the current cost. Easy decision to make with how the PS4 is selling right now. 

It basically will cost Sony more having tiw vastky different skus on the market than having one. 

"A manufacturing nightmare"... please don't exaggerate!

They should have no problem producing two different console models parallel, they have always produced 2 consoles since 2000:

  • they produced PS1 + PS2 from 2000 - 2005
  • they produced PS2 + PS3 from 2006 - 2012
  • they produced PS3 + PS4 from 2013 - 2016
  • now they will probably discontinue the PS3 and produce PS4 + PS Neo from 2016 - ????

A part of the PS2s success was that it could be offered for $129 (official price cut) / $99 (inofficial deals) in its last years. With these low hardware investments they reached an additional group of buyers: price sensitive people who wouldn't buy a console for $200+, no matter how good it is.

With its specialized hardware (especially the Cell) they couldn't get the PS3 in these lower price regions without much losses.

But the PS4 with its mass produced standard components should be able to get in these lower regions ($199 - $149 official, $149 - $129 street price) in a few years. To further increase their hardware base, they have to offer an attractive priced entry model. To include people, who want to play PS4 games and don't care about 1080p or 900p or 720p, especially if they still have a 720p TV which is good enough for them.

And the existence of the PS Neo doesn't mean that they can't further reduce costs for the PS4 models with new revisions. The PS2 had a lot of different revisions after the PS3 launch.