PS3 price cut isn't going to last?
On Monday, Sony announced a $100 price cut for the 60GB PlayStation 3, taking the console's retail price down to $499. Since many gamers saw the PlayStation 3 as too expensive at its previous retail price of $599, Sony's decision was widely praised. Unfortunately, the $499 60GB PS3 isn't going to last, because Sony has just confirmed that the company is no longer producing 60GB PS3s.
On the same day the price cut was announced, Sony announced a new 80GB PS3, a console that will be bundled with Motorstorm and will retail for $599, the same as the first. The price cut for the 60GB PS3 was never intended to be a permanent cut for the product; it was only intended to clear out stock for the new version to be sold at the old price. GameSpot has reported that Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's CEO and President, has confirmed in a video interview that the 60GB PS3s are no longer in production, and that all new PS3s will be 80GB models to be sold at $599.
When E3 kicked off, everyone was pretty excited about Sony and the new $499 PS3. Sony had a $499 PS3 before, but it was a slightly scaled-down, 20GB version that was discontinued back in April. Now it seems like Sony's doing the exact same thing with the 60GB PS3 (originally the high-end model) that they did with the 20GB: kick it out the door and make sure the only available PS3 will sell for $599 a pop. Considering the biggest complaint leveled against the PlayStation 3 has been its price, this was simply a terrible decision.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America's director of corporate communications David Karraker told GameSpot, "This is absolutely not a bait and switch," he said. "We are offering a full-featured PS3 for $100 lower than the original price and will do so for months to come, allowing consumers the opportunity to acquire this model at this adjusted price."
For many gamers, even $499 is too much for a console. The Elite version of the Xbox 360 retails for $479, and it includes a 120GB hard drive (though it lacks the PS3's Wi-Fi support, Blu-ray drive, or media reader). The Premium version of the Xbox 360 only costs $399, and the Nintendo Wii only $250. The supposed $499 price was seen as a concession by Sony that, yes, the PS3 cost too much. Suddenly saying that they're just clearing out stock and that the only PlayStation 3 they're currently producing will still retail for $599 is utter madness.
The decision alone is made even worse by the timing. Today is the last day of E3 2007, and the entire expo is being capped off by confirmation that the PS3 price cut won't last. Nearly every media outlet is going to mention the price uncut in their expo wrap-up. Everyone is walking away from Santa Monica with the $599 PS3 back in their heads.
It's also Friday the 13th, but that might just be coincidence.
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teenager some 20 years ago. They have built their name on
successes such as the Trinitron sets of decades past. It saddens
me to see such a shameless succession of horrible decisions
being made by their executive staff in the last few years. This,
coupled with what can only be perceived as a lack of innovation
and product quality, must eventually produce a negative
consumer response. I still compare their offering whenever
making a purchase but find myself less interested with each
announcement such as today's. Sony, act now to regain our
confidence or pay the price later as you watch truly loyal
customers move away from your brand.
60 GB PS3 will be sold in store until supplies run out. Now if everyone is going to get mad at Sony and not buy any PS3s then I would suspect that the supply of 60 GB $499 PS3s would last over a year or more. So you're still getting your price cut for a long time. The other side is that this news leads to a rush of people buying $499 PS3s( which is good for Sony ) and the supply runs out in a couple of months.
Now if you wait until X-Mas to buy a PS3 and the only one available is the $599 80 GB version then you only have YOURSELF to blame since you go out TODAY and get one.
Anyways once the 60 GB have sold out Sony will drop the 80GB to $499 anyways. They aren't saying that NOW because why would anyone buy a $499 60 GB version or a $599 80 GB version if you already know that in December you can get a 80 GB version for $499?
SCEE, and upper Sony management its amazing that Sony is still
functioning. Its crystal clear no one talks to anyone else over there.
With the only a few platform specific PS3 titles I save 10 bucks buying the same title for my Wii. And who doesn't enjoy playing with the Wiimote?
It's just sad to see the Sony magic gone. It's so sad to use my PS3 for playing movies. The biggest disappointment is that they have months of inventory in the channel. I hope they don't pull the plug on the PS3 before the really good games come out. This is the company that killed AIBO. Move over Aibo and make room for the PS3.