PlayStation price drop "soon"

Wednesday 18-Mar-2009 10:09 AM

PSP and PS3 cuts "definitely coming soon" retailer tells CVG

On the back of ongoing rumours, CVG has been told that Sony has informed retailers of a looming price drop for both the PS3 and PSP "soon", but is yet to specify an exact date.

A major UK high street retailer told us this morning that they've received word from Sony regarding PSP and PS3 price drops "definitely coming soon", but that it was yet to confirm when or by how much.

"It's been on the cards for a while," they said, "but manufacturers are not in the habit of giving exact dates so as not to effect sales".

Game and GameStation's PR man declined to comment on the rumours, saying only: "Price drops are always welcome, but can't I give you any specifics."

Sony refused to comment on "rumour and speculation".

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=211023

The article has an update at the bottom.

Update: It seems Sony will launch a new two-game PS3 bundle, packing Resistance: FoM and Motorstorm with an 80GB console apparently for the same $399 price. Not a price drop, but it's something. This photo of the box at retailer Target appears to confirm it. Update ends.

Hmmm, so I suspect it's a proper price drop for PSP, and a bundle for PS3?

Resistance 1 and motorstorm 1 for 399? They should do that bundle, and a resistance 2 and motorstorm 2 bundle for the same price

In the UK, you can currently pick up a new 80Gb PS3 with Killzone 2 for £289.99, so I would suggest that if this pricecut is to come in, it would be anywher from £199 to £249.  They may very well not give any games or BR with it to allow for the reduction.

The PSP 3000 Slim & Lite currently sells for around £134.99, so a good reduction would be to £99.99.  The DSLite currently sells for £99.99 and the new DSi is pencilled in for £149.99, so £99.99 would be a good move from Sony.

So all in all, the best move by Sony would be for a £199.99 gameless PS3 and a £99.99 gameless PSP

Target = SCEA
A major UK high street retailer = SCEE

That bundle is for US, not Europe. SCEE claim their division is actually profitable, so maybe they're in a better position to offer a price drop than SCEA. However, I find it hard to believe that they can drop the price in UK with the current exchange rate, the Eurozone isn't quite as bad though. Maybe a clearance price drop on current SKU before the introduction of a new 45nm SKU with a larger HDD is a possibility.

It's probably "coming soon" as in GT5 is "coming soon", if it's not that bundle that they're talking about.

I'm still not holding my breath for an actual price drop.

Agreed,

Sony will be aiming at the larger audience which in this case is America where sales need more of a boost than the UK/Others right now.  Still drop £50 in the Uk would be nice... or at least bigger bundles.

Price parity with the Wii and DS.... I would be impressed if Sony pulls that off.

A price drop only in North America would be ridicilious.
The Americans already pay significantly less for all the consoles and games.