Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) has announced that the cost of its PS3 Reference Tool has been almost cut in half. The kit's new pricing, effective immediately, is now JPY950,000 in Japan, US $10,250 in North America and €7,500 in Europe.

The lower price comes as part of SCEI's plan to boost the PS3 game development environment. The company has also decided to integrate programming tools developed by SN Systems Limited into the PS3 Software Development Kit.

SN Systems' programming tools to be integrated into the PS3 SDK include ProDG, SN Distributed Build System (SN-DBS), SN LINKER, SN Compiler (SNC). The inclusion of these tools should improve efficiency and productivity as well as reduce compiling time.

In addition, SCEI said it will enable the Debugging Station for PS3 to "take part in the programming process, effectively assisting PS3 game title development on the Reference Tool." Allowing developers to use the Reference Tool as more than just a quality assurance system for games under development should contribute to cost efficiency and overall productivity.

Today's price cut on the kit is just the beginning. Sony noted that "as more and more new titles are developed for the PS3 format, SCEI will significantly reduce the price of the Reference Tool in order to contribute to the cost saving measures of the development community."