While some analysts believe that Sony is running the risk of losing too much ground this holiday if they don't cut the price on PlayStation 3, Sony has maintained all along that their primary focus for now is on profitability. The cheapest Xbox 360 (Arcade SKU at $199) is 200 dollars cheaper than the PS3 at $399, but Kaz Hirai, president and group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, has once again insisted that PS3 pricing will not change this year.
"The answer is yes, if you're asking, 'Are these the prices we're going with this Christmas?'" he told the Financial Times.
Hirai continued by saying that although the PS3 is still more expensive than the other consoles on the market, it offers a better value for consumers because of its inclusion of the hard drive as standard and its Blu-ray drive. "When you really compare apples to apples, then I think we have a very good value proposition," he said.
Hirai also briefly commented on the video game space competing in a sour economic environment. "As long as we can generate excitement, then we will be less affected than other industries," he noted.
Sony may not be seriously affected, but the report did reveal that some of Konami Digital Entertainment's distributors are "struggling to fund their operations."
Playstation 3 Console Images
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Building on its more than 10 years as the leader and innovator in the gaming industry, Sony Computer Entertainment ushers in a new era in gaming and home entertainment with the launch of the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. This revolutionary computer entertainment system serves as a platform for consumers to enjoy next generation entertainment in the home for years to come.
SCEA
Reader Comments (9)
Also, nowadays most high-quality games come out for BOTH systems (Wii gets some of it...). But the PS3 offers more RPG-type games, or solo games such as FF XIII, The Last Remnant, Resistence 1 & 2, Metal Gear Solids...etc. For the 360 you mostly get more action-packed games Gears of War, Halo, and Bioshock.
Hmm, for the most part I wouldn't say buying the PS3 is a bad deal... I actually like it in the fact that it offers the Blue-Ray player. Now everyone's arguing that one system's better than the other in terms of graphics... but I think that they are fairly equal (for the most part). If you're STILL undecided, I would just buy the system that has more of the games that you like. Either way, both excellent choices.
SONY IS NOT DROPPING THE PRICE CUZ THERE STILL LOOSING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS MANUFACTURING THE PS3 AT ITS PRICE NOW. YA PS3 ONLINE IS FREE BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. AND ALTHOUGH THERE LINEUP MAYBE STRONGER THIS SEASON, GEARS2 IS THE MUST HAVE GAME THIS FALL. MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN
Having both a PS3 and 360 and while the 360 is cheaper, the PS3 is the value choice. Firstly, it doesnt sound like an evenrude, like the 360. The graphic interface is way slicker than the 360. AND at least for now.... the online is FREE, NOT EXTRA like the 360. Plus it is a Blu Ray Player. I still use the 360, but like the Most Interesting Man in the World, "I prefer Dos Equis"
this doesnt have much to do with it but have you noticed sony has had the same controllers since PS1? Nintendo has different controllers for every game console from N64 to the Wii. it just seems a little strange to me.
In response to Powerfulone87, the $399 version of the PS3 actually now comes with a high 80gb hard drive as the standard. What it lacks however is backwards capability making it a real downer and inconvenience for those that still own past psx and ps2 titles. Cause no one likes having two different Playstations hooked up. And Illustriousal, none of what you said even makes sense. Why would selling something for cheaper make up money? According to what you said, your making it sound like Microsoft can and will jack up the price of the 360 once they "make up" the lost money from HD-DVD. Also, I believe you meant to say $400 dollar blu-ray player and not $200 dollar. I'm sure that was just a typo. But that's not my gripe. Oh and please, do tell me, what CAN the PS3 do? Cause I own one, and all it's doing is collecting dust. Literally. IM me and i'll even send you a picture lol. I'm a gamer till I hit the grave and that's what I look for in a console is the best games. Just ask my Wii which is in a box in the closet.
They can't afford to lower the price and lose even more money than they are already losing is the REAL ANSWER. It cost much more than the retail price to produce Playstation 3s so they're already losing money by selling them at $400. And $400? That's for the lower memory model correct? There's still a $600 version out there correct? So how many versions of the Playstation 3 are there and what are their prices? Either way I wouldn't necessarily say you're getting a BETTER deal with the Playstation 3 since their library of games suck.
Xbox can only sell there game system cheaper now only b/c they need to make up the lost money for all the hd-dvd accessories they have for since blu-ray won over it. Def agree with Sony that you are getting a better deal with the ps3, seriously where else can you get a blu-ray player for 200 bucks? And what it can do with the ps3... let's not even go there.
With included hard drive and free online, I agree.