Will a $99 PS2 hurt the Xbox 360 launch?

by Vladimir Cole { Oct 13th 2005 at 10:54PM }

Slim PlayStation 2 PS2 (225) Just a few days after one set of research analysts said that the PS2 will likely stay at $149 through the launch of the Xbox 360, another analyst is predicting a $50 price cut for the PlayStation 2 timed to disrupt the November 22nd launch of the Xbox 360.

We're wondering if it even matters. If we were to take a poll on this right now, we doubt that people who identify themselves as avid gamers would be deterred from purchasing a next-generation console because of a PS2 price drop, but the strategy just might put a hurt on Microsoft in trying to win over the other 90% of the world that they're going to need in order for the console to achieve longer-term success.

Would a $99 PS2 make you think twice about laying four Benjamins down on the counter for an Xbox 360?

[Thanks, Bandersnatch]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

J @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Sure will. People might opt for it b/c its the same price as a gameboy micro. Hmmmmm...... Micro or PS2 what would you pick????

Caleb @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Read somewhere that Sony would still make a profit if they sold the PS2 at $99.

Watch Sony...
1.) Make PS2 $99
2.) Drop price of PSP
3.) Release more 'Platinum' games for both
4.) Announce PS3 Online
5.) Announce PS3 launch date

...all around the end of November.

The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Heck, no.

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Since I have owned 2 PS2s and a PSP I dout this drop would effect my decision to buy the 360 on day one. To tell the truth unless there is something major that happens and MS is able to really pump out the 360s all the holiday shipments have been preordered already. With that said, I wouldnt mind a price drop on both systems by sony. With their other sectors really hurting right now can they afford a price drop?

Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

That would be awesome if they did that. I would so buy one to keep at my g/f's house when I wanted to play a game there. Plus if it gets lowered to $100 it mean that used or refurbished systems would be evenb cheaper.

Hell...it would make buying the LCD screen for it much more attractive.

darryl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

My PS2 is dead (bad drive). If they dropped it to $99, I would certainly buy the slim version to hold me over until the PS3 hits the pavement. Doubt there are many others though.

Milton R. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I still do not own a PS2. If the price drops, I'll definitely pick it up. Games should be cheaper, too.

Adam P @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

When people see the XBOX 360 in-store kiosks everyone will be saying "PS-Who?"

Edmund @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

When Sega launched the Dreamcast, Sony slashed the price of the Playstation by fifty dollars. I saw some "expert" on G4 (never a good source of information) say that this helped disrupt Sega's launch a bit. However, I've also heard that the Dreamcast had the most successful launch ever. Can anyone confirm this or add to this?

Beau @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Lets see, 520bucks for 360 with 2 games, vs 200 for ps2 with 2 games... 2 games that you know kick ass... that dont seem that much lower graphically TO AN UNTRAINED EYE

First time gamers would certainly be more inclined to pick up a ps2 (Hell if they got those "platinum" or w/e, at 20$ a peice, you could get 5 games)

pukgreenuniform @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I am one of the unlucky ones who wants a 360 but did not pre order. Now i will have the money by the launch. Does anyone think me and other possible buyers of the 360 will even have a chance to get our hands on the 360 without a pre order. I will be trying my hardest to get one though... I am not a sony basher but i dont own a ps2. I realy dont care to have either micro or a slim ps2. I dont have a problem with the micro but i dont have a need for a new gameboy device. I would pick up a psp if it were $150, but i dont see that happening. Overall getting back to the topic(sorry)the ps2s new price may hert the sale (slightly) of the $300 360 package. Anyway the $300 packedge either wont sell very well or will purely draw in noobs who would fall for the ps2 price drop.

Luke @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Everyone already owns a ps2, the xbox 360 is going to dominate, even if they gave away the ps2.

TiaMaster @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I sure won't care about PS2's when the 360 comes out. I will be trading in my 2 Xbox's, my 2 PS2's, my GameCube, and my DS for 2 360's. I will keep my PSP because its a different animal.

Why the hell would I still want a current-gen console?

Ghazi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I am grabbing a xbox 1 after nov 22 instead... hopefully it should become 99 then..

Henry G Wolf VII @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

It wouldn't for me... but for the moms and dads around the world buying the thing for their kids... it would be a big deal.

john @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

the price drop is not aimed at someone who is planning on buying the 360. its to make for a cheeper option for the general public that just wants to play some games on the cheep. i for one have no interest in the 360 or the playstation 3 simply beause the things are just so damn expencive. and hearing the game prices coming in at 60 dollars?? i for one am happ to see the ps2 come down in price. that is one nice little peice of hardware with TONS of cheep games out there for it. as a casual gamer i would see this as a great thing...

delerious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'm not wasting my money on a PS2 when a PS3 is coming out next year in Spring.

krylon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I have yet to have played a whole bevy of games for PS2. Snake Eater most notably, but there is a considerable list. To answer your question, I'm not buying a 360 when it comes out no matter what. Maybe after the second price drop, maybe never. There are way too many games out there I haven't beaten for the current generation of consoles.

bandersnatch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

#13 is right on the money.

This move isn't for or aimed at hardcore gamers (or in marketing speak -- early adopters). It's for potential customers that would be casual gamers.

They want to drop a few dollars on a set top unit that can double up as a dvd player and a game console and provide cheap entertainment.

You know, the same "we must target casual gamers" thing Nintendo's been preaching as of late.

delerious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

1)The PS3 is comming out in Spring.
2)The Gamecube is 99 dollars and I've been wanting one for a while, doesn't necessarily mean I'll buy it.
3)X360 is in my sights so I'm not stopping for a current gen system, but I am however getting a PS3 too.

Chance @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I didn't buy my Game Cube till it hit 99$. I love it, but there are some PS2 games that I've been eyeing for a while now. As for the notion that I would waste 400$ dollars on 360: hell no. If I get one, it will be a few years down the road when the price is right and the games actually start to look next gen.

kilo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

i thought everyone that was ever gonna get a PS2 already got a PS2.

why are people still holding out?

S @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I know about 9 or 10 people that have said they would buy a ps2 if it hit the $99 mark. #2 is right, Sony would definitely still be raking in some cash from that. Hell, and the ps2 has so many good games below $30 at EB games (even less if they're used), it's almost a steal.

Dark Morford @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'd like a PS2 price cut, simply because it would drive the price of used/refurb units down as well, which would likely make it easier for me to replace the motherboard in my V9 unit.

(I don't particularly care for the new slimline model... hard drive support is good.)

JRM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

The PS2 has one year left of life. By the time X-mas 2006 rolls around, all sales will be built around the PS3. Getting a new PS2 (with online built-in) for $99 is pretty good for those who don't care so much about gaming. Also used PS2 games are super cheap. I don't think it's going to make much of a dent to xbox sales though...unless MS drops the ball and comes short of supply that week before christmas.

Brad Twitty @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I personally would never buy Microsoft's Trojan Horse into my living room. Bill can stay on my desktop.

What I sugggest is:
Windows/Linux & Apple boxes on the desk.
Palm OS 5 in your pocket.
Nintendo DS in the other.
PS2 on the TV.
Revolution on pre-order.
-and life will be good.

daver @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Hei ! Cheers for the response on ze PS3 article disappearance. As regards a 99 dollar PS2 ! be great for Sony and those who don't have alot of spare cash who never purchased a PS 2 ! For some reason I don't believe they will reduce their price. They are much too PROUD, like the good little Japanese company they SO are. In fact Sony have become way to confident and over reaching with proprietary formats and the lions market share. Same thing happened to Nintendo back in '96 and what goes around comes around. The 99 dollar PS2 will NOT happen. Period. They will assume the value attributable to the PS2 is much higher than that of a Game Boy Micro / DS and they would be correct !

Does anyone else realise that Sony is FAST becoming a lame duck.

Remember one thing - Microsoft beat Apple all those years ago ! By contrast Sony ain't half as smart as Apple thus M$ destroys everyone.

bandersnatch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

"I personally would never buy Microsoft's Trojan Horse into my living room. Bill can stay on my desktop."

#23, why do you feel that way about the 360?

I am sincerely curious.

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

"I am one of the unlucky ones who wants a 360 but did not pre order. Now i will have the money by the launch. Does anyone think me and other possible buyers of the 360 will even have a chance to get our hands on the 360 without a pre order."
It's fairly likely you'll be able to get one. Even though most stores have already filled their pre-order allotments and such, there are plenty more 360s. Microsoft wouldn't be stupid enough to release their console right before Black Friday but only make it available to nerds who preordered in August. They want parents to go "That's that damn thing my kid wanted" and get it.

mocax @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I got my PS2 free from my ISP, so I don't see the point in paying anything for another :D

Well, maybe I can win another lucky draw or something.

I got XBox free too, by signing a 12month contract with my cable provider :D

ben @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

if sony drops the price of the ps2 of course its going to hurt sales of the xbox360. Playstation name is far more mainstream then xbox plus casual gamers will not pick up and xbox360 they will stick with the ps2 while hardcore games will buy an xbox360. With games like madden and socom3 why would a casual gamer on ps2 pick up a xbox360. History somtimes tend to repeats itself. When the dreamcast launched in the u.s the playstation1 outsold the dreamncast. When Gamecube and xbox launcheed in november 2001 Playstation1 outsold both consoles combine in that two month time frame. With kiddy games like nightmare b4 christmas and sly cooper soccer moms will once again pick up a playstation2 for there children and buy it at a price of 99.99. But i do belive the ps2 will outsell the xbox360 during its launch.

soco @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

na, it won't hurt it at all. MS isn't going to be able to produce enough 360s to see any impact. however, there will be a jump in PS2 sales. there always are jumps for consoles this time of year, and just like the dreamcast, when clueless moms go in and can't get the "newest and best" they still need something to put under the tree. the ps2 stock is plentiful and now cheap.

i imagine that a good portion of the people buying an xbox360, already own a ps2. they're either after a specific game or two, or just looking to jump in on the first next-gen console.

ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

pukegreenuni:

As for pre-ordering the 360, the Gamespot I pre-ordered mine from here in NYC said not a single $299 system (the one without the hard drive) had been pre-ordered. This was a while ago, but still, if you can live without the hard drive at first, it's likely you will be find at least one of these versions of the 360.

Good luck soldier...

ZildjianKX @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

The PS2 is so old and dated, I felt that way about it when I was considering buying one YEARS ago. Sure it has a good game library, but if you want to play PS2 games so much, just invest that $100 towards a PS3 with backwards compatibility. Hell, the gamecube is a more advanced system and it's been $99 for a long time.

A PS2 price drop won't deter me from an Xbox 360... 720p FSAA here I come!

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

If you were planning to spend $300-400 on a 360, a $50 discount on the PS2 is not going to sway you otherwise. My guess is that Sony is trying to inflate their sales numbers. If bargain hunters pick up a significant number of PS2s during the 360 launch window, it will make a good press release at the end of the year.

"i thought everyone that was ever gonna get a PS2 already got a PS2.

why are people still holding out?"

I didn't get one until late last year. I needed a killer app. That didn't come until Katamari. Sadly, I haven't found much use for it other than Katamari. Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, I do play Nippon Ichi games and DD/Karoke Revolution.

On a side note, damn I wish Nippon Ichi would make a GBA game or two.

vadermaggot @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

absolutely absurdeded. They could be giving them to people for $20 and it still won't have any effect on the Xbox launch. The Only people to be swayed are parents who haven't yet bought their kids a system and idiots who are too stupid to kno any better( well I guess that's one in the same) I don't own a piece 'o' s*** 2 and still won't for a benjamin.

John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

My bro in Toronto owns a nice little slim PS2.
I have a GCN, Xbox, N64, PS1 (its a friends tho), Genesis, Atari, Gameboy Colour/ Advance SP and a shiny PSP.

PS2 belongs in my collection.
Lol, most 14 year olds dont have 9 consoles.

johnny0723 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

NO. Most likely, any serious gamer out there has already got a PS2. Its been out for years.

-John
http://www.deliveryblog.com/

BXJoseff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I've gone through 2 PS2's because the harddrive I purchased to play FFXI didn't work in the first one and I started getting the Disc Read Error's...Now that it's 99 bucks I might just get it because I'll be playing FFXI once it's released for XB360....yay, happy happy joy joy.

BXJoseff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

#31
I love my PS2 forevah! But when Ken said that the PS3 will be "expensive" what do you think his definition of expensive is? For the few who haven't bought a PS2 yet this will a great way to get in on one of the greatest video game libraries in the history of console entertainment. I had a strange vision last night...the PS3 will cost more than $400 EASY.
(I'll still get it though. teehee)

SpliceVW @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Bandersnatch-

I can at least tell you why I feel that way. Microsoft is a very evil company. They like to snub out their competitors any way possible, then ignore the market. Case in point: Internet Explorer. It took a loooong time for a new competitors (FireFox) to emerge, but now that one finally has they have MS has an update coming out. Same thing with their OS.. we haven't seen a new Windows version in 5 years (a lifetime for software!).

Do you REALLY want to see the same thing happen with consoles? They sold the X-Box at a huge loss just to gain market share.. if they ever get it, don't think for a second they won't change that. Look at Office: the Professional version runs you **$415** for a piece of software that they know EVERYONE must have because there are no viable alternatives.

No thanks.. I'll stick with Nintendo.

Nossy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

LOL and people complain and say they won't buy another XBox 360 version if they re-release it with a HD-DVD or Blu-ray drive in 2-3 years...yet many people will run out to buy a slim PS2 version. Bunch of Hypocrites.

sandro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Ill wait till next year when the xbox360 really shows nextgen games and a hddvd support and then Ill compare with PS3. For now Ill keep my xbox and PS2 cause awesome games are coming!!!!

mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

i thought everyone that was ever gonna get a PS2 already got a PS2

---

ah, there's a guy with a brain.

the system's been out for years. they're not reaching any new markets with this.. *shrug.. just a firesale for something they KNOW will not be a compelling system otherwise.

They've got about 6 months of putting their head down, while MS embraces a (temporary) monopoly on next-gen..

COBRASVT @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

There are still Parents and people out there who cant afford the Current PS2 price. So when it comes down to $99, it will sell to those people or some of them at least. But I agree the hardcore gamer like me (sad isnt it) will be the main ones buying the 360. I'll be buying it but prolly not til after the holidays because there arent any titles i "have" to have at launch.

Princess Zelda @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'll buy the Xbox if the price goes down to $99 which I'm hoping it'll do in November. I bought my Gamecube for $99 last Christmas. With these two machines I'll have enough games to play. I don't need a next gen system I have too many games to finish with this gen.
I might buy a $99 PS2 slim for my car. It'll be a cheap way to install a DVD player/gaming system for the kids.

retro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

im not going to buy any next gen systems for a while, because i seem to be the only gamer around that is poor as well. people saying that x360 will be better because of the HD video, what about people like me that don't feel like shelling out money for an hd tv when i have a perfectly good regular tv?