By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Sales - Wii/360/PS3 Prices

a.l.e.x59 on 31 May 2007
Launch Prices

Dreamcast: $199
Gamecube: $199
Playstation 2: $299
Xbox: $299

Wii: $249
Playstation 3 (60 GB): $599
Xbox 360 (Elite): $479

Is it a coincidence that the Wii is the most expensive Nintendo console, the Playstation 3 is the most expensive Sony console, and the Xbox 360 is the most expensive Microsoft console? Why are consoles more expensive now, than ever before?

Playstation 2 is far more powerful than Playstation, yet both of their launch prices were $299. Why? Because harware becomes cheaper. So why is the Playstation 3's launch price the equivilent of both the Playstation, and Playstation 2's launch prices? Well, I guess Blu-Ray is mainly to blame.

Where do you think you're going, Xbox 360? You think your price tag isn't to blame? Then how come your Xbox's launch price was $299, and yours is $399 (Premium), and $479 (Elite)?

Wii... Yeah, you're the cheapest of this generation. But, you're more expensive than any Nintendo console... Ever! In fact, you're more expensive than a Playstation Portable.

So why is this the most expensive console generation? You can't blame the increase of technology, because many the launch prices of many older consoles have been higher than newer ones. For example, the Playstation's launch price was $299, and the Gamecube's was $199, yet the Gamecube is for more advanced than the Playstation (and even Playstation 2). So you can't blame the increase of technology.

Anyways, why are the consoles in this generation so expensive?


Around the Network
routsounmanman on 31 May 2007

It's pretty obvious to me. They are much more advanced (yes, Wii too-hitech air supply, motion controller) than in previous generations. But mainly because they costed much more to the R&D teams. They need to take some money back early.



My themeforest portfolio:

http://themeforest.net/user/corethemes/portfolio

NJ5 on 31 May 2007

Inflation obviously plays a part.



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957

davygee on 31 May 2007

Technology wise, prices have generally came down. I bought a 28" widescreen TV in 2001 for £700, today, I would be able to pick up a 32" Sony Bravia LCD, which technically is much better. Look at the prices of Fridge/Freezers....in 2001 we bought a pretty good one for £500....for that price these days, you can get an American Style, water & ice dispensing one and it's much bigger as well. All three Next Gen consoles are overpriced, the PS3 is ridiculously overpriced. They charge these amounts because they can...when they are in bother they then reduce the costs.



Prediction (June 12th 2017)

Permanent pricedrop for both PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro in October.

PS4 Slim $249 (October 2017)

PS4 Pro $349 (October 2017)

NJ5 on 31 May 2007
davygee said:
Technology wise, prices have generally came down. I bought a 28" widescreen TV in 2001 for £700, today, I would be able to pick up a 32" Sony Bravia LCD, which technically is much better. Look at the prices of Fridge/Freezers....in 2001 we bought a pretty good one for £500....for that price these days, you can get an American Style, water & ice dispensing one and it's much bigger as well. All three Next Gen consoles are overpriced, the PS3 is ridiculously overpriced. They charge these amounts because they can...when they are in bother they then reduce the costs.

Different types of technology behave differently in terms of price. Regarding the PS3 for example, the main culprit is obviously Blu-Ray, a new technology which didn't even exist until recently, much less at a higher price than now.



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957

Around the Network
a.l.e.x59 on 31 May 2007

If being more advanced increases the prices, then how come the Playstation cost as much as the Playstation 2 at launch?



NJ5 on 31 May 2007

I think you guys are analyzing this from a very naive perspective. There are all sorts of variables which go into hardware price, ultimately even marketing decisions which will obviously depend a lot on the situation and the company.

A serious analysis would be material for a masters thesis, at least. 



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957

routsounmanman on 31 May 2007

PS2 was not much more advanced than PS1. Basically, only the CPU and GPU were much faster. No change of architecture (from one proccessor to more or different controller, new type of memory etc)



My themeforest portfolio:

http://themeforest.net/user/corethemes/portfolio

davygee on 31 May 2007
NJ5 said:

I think you guys are analyzing this from a very naive perspective. There are all sorts of variables which go into hardware price, ultimately even marketing decisions which will obviously depend a lot on the situation and the company.

A serious analysis would be material for a masters thesis, at least.


The basic element though, is that the general public generally don't want to pay over the odds ofr any piece of technology.  Personally speaking, I would have rather the power in all the Next Gen machines were slightly less so that the cost would be alot less.

In an idea world, in the UK, all 3 consoles should come in under £200, whereas it's only the Wii that comes in under that amount...and maybe it shows with the huge sales. 



Prediction (June 12th 2017)

Permanent pricedrop for both PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro in October.

PS4 Slim $249 (October 2017)

PS4 Pro $349 (October 2017)

NJ5 on 31 May 2007
davygee said:
NJ5 said:

I think you guys are analyzing this from a very naive perspective. There are all sorts of variables which go into hardware price, ultimately even marketing decisions which will obviously depend a lot on the situation and the company.

A serious analysis would be material for a masters thesis, at least.


The basic element though, is that the general public generally don't want to pay over the odds ofr any piece of technology. Personally speaking, I would have rather the power in all the Next Gen machines were slightly less so that the cost would be alot less.

In an idea world, in the UK, all 3 consoles should come in under £200, whereas it's only the Wii that comes in under that amount...and maybe it shows with the huge sales.


If we want to go that way, we can rephrase the original question as:

"Why do MS & Sony feel that they can shove more and more expensive hardware down the consumers' throats?"



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957