Sony says there are no plans to adjust PS3 price

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 19th 2007 at 2:25PM }

The Financial Times is reporting that Sony is "reconsidering" its pricing strategy for the PS3. Sony President Ryoji Chubacchi said yesterday, "We are re-examining our [PS3] budgeting process in terms of pricing and volume. Sales assumptions change and the market is competitive. We are in the midst of revisiting our strategy for the PS3."

Chubachi believes that Sony hit their target of 6 million consoles sold at the end of March. Some outlets are reporting that the March numbers actually show the sales to be less than 4 million. There is certainly a shift occurring in the business strategy of the PS3, but at this point the plan isn't clear.

Sony let Joystiq know, "There are no plans to adjust the price of PS3 in North America at this moment in time. As a normal part of our business, SCEA carefully monitors market trends and needs on an ongoing basis, but we currently have no announcement regarding any price drop in our territory."

[Via EvilAvatar]

Tags: playstation 3, price drop, ps3, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ken @ Apr 19th 2007 2:32PM

Haha, told you! You'll be waiting for at least another year for Sony to drop it $50, if at all.

Dolla Dolla @ Apr 19th 2007 2:33PM

Sony hasn't officially cut prices in any region, have they? As far as I know, UK shops are deep discounting, and in Japan the shops chose to do that, too.

Maybe I'm wrong about Japan?

When NPD comes out, it's not gonna be pretty. Sony is struggling in NA.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 2:33PM

They are going to have to drop the price because everyone is waiting for that and good games.

Triforceowner @ Apr 19th 2007 2:34PM

I'll give them two years to drop the price $100. That's my bet. In 2017 they will be in wire bins at Game Stop for the price of 2 for $15. Funny how these things work isn't it?

Geoff @ Apr 19th 2007 2:34PM

There are no plans to purchase a PS3 in North America at this moment in time. As a normal part of my life, I carefully monitor market trends and needs on an ongoing basis, but until a change in pricing strategy occurs, I currently have no announcement regarding any purchase plans in our household.

Tommy @ Apr 19th 2007 2:39PM

They don't need a price drop first, they just need good games first. They could drop the price $300 and I still wouldn't buy it because there's just not anything on it yet.

Arturo @ Apr 19th 2007 2:37PM

And on that note, I continue to wait to purchase one.

Lou D @ Apr 19th 2007 2:40PM

Yeah, Sony did sell 6 million...to retailers.
However, less than 4 million consumers have PS3's.

Jake @ Apr 19th 2007 2:43PM

The PS3 doesn't need its strategy revisited. Sony made all the right moves and it is a smash hit. It set the Europe sales record.

I may or may not be joking, you decide.

Seriously, though, I think the PS3 is a fine piece of equipment, albeit expensive. But the games on it are pretty weak and not getting better until Christmasish. I'm so glad I broke down and got a 360 for Oblivion and GRAW when they came out. I was waiting on PS3 because of its Killzone 2 graphics. God I'm gullible sometimes.

lukee @ Apr 19th 2007 2:44PM

@Geoff: That was pure brilliance.

It would be nice if we would talk to corporations in the same dry, vague, "PR" language that they always throw our way.

Buckshot @ Apr 19th 2007 2:45PM

I heard thet it will be $499 for 80 Gig in Nov of this year

scott @ Apr 19th 2007 2:47PM

@Jake

Have you see any of the post launch numbers in Europe? Sales have dropped like 80-90% within 2 weeks

Ken @ Apr 19th 2007 2:51PM

Jake,

It's so hard for random posters to get your sarcasm it seems. LOL!

Just waiting for Pro-Sony people to try and make this seem positive.

"They're waiting to drop the price because they don't want to screw their early adopters! They actually care for us unlike M$!!!oneone!!)

Ken @ Apr 19th 2007 2:51PM

Braz @ Apr 19th 2007 2:57PM

Whether or not Sony is actually planning a price drop, it doesn't make any sense for them to say so until they are ready to drop the price. If the information leaks out too early, then everyone will just wait for the price drop, and PS3 sales will be even worse than they are at present.

Don't expect a straight answer from Sony on price drops until the last minute.

saboola @ Apr 19th 2007 2:58PM

Saboola says there are no plans to pay 600 dollars for a PS3
Posted Apr 19th 2007 2:58PM by Saboola

mccomber @ Apr 19th 2007 3:02PM

"Whether or not Sony is actually planning a price drop, it doesn't make any sense for them to say so until they are ready to drop the price. If the information leaks out too early, then everyone will just wait for the price drop, and PS3 sales will be even worse than they are at present.

Don't expect a straight answer from Sony on price drops until the last minute."

Exactly. Them coming out and saying this doesn't mean a damn thing about their actual plans.

Phil @ Apr 19th 2007 3:03PM

Buckshot, I call TROLLING!!!!
Yeah, the new, bigger hard drive PS3 is going to be $100 less than the smaller hard drive PS3, you moron.
Joystiq, please lower the BANHAMMER!

I would buy a PS3 if it was $250. Gimmicky controller, a lack of game library and my lack of a 1080p TV give me three good reasons to not spend a penny more!

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 19th 2007 3:05PM

Phil

You hypocrite

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 3:16PM

I'm tempted to say pot kettle black, but you have been better recently. It's near fair game to like a console more than others but the way it's said can be nasty.

Buckshot @ Apr 19th 2007 3:19PM

And Phil, I call fanboyism. They currently sit on shelves unsold. When the 3rd and 4th revisions come out, the build cost will drop. Since they are discontinuing all drives beside 80 gig, that's what will be available. They will want to get holiday sales for 2007, so they will drop the price. As you said, you are poor and have no hdtv, you are not the target audience.

Leshrac @ Apr 19th 2007 3:44PM

No crap... Sony, and all other companies, will deny a price drop even if it was dropping $300 tomorrow. They would rather people pay the extra money now then let everyone just wait a day and buy it at the reduced price later. If the PS3 continues to struggle into the holiday season, you can bet that they will either be dropping it's price or bundling in some games to increase sales.

-Leshrac
http://alinktothefuture.com

Maximo @ Apr 19th 2007 4:07PM

I'll tell you how they sold 6 million consoles. The stores bought them. Not a single store in my district sells that many PS3's. What do I mean by "meany"? We all have about 12 or so PS3's in the back room. They simply don't sell. This isn't coming from a fanboy but from somebody that is in the industry everyday.

chathampax @ Apr 19th 2007 3:50PM

Yes indeed.

fob2000 @ Apr 19th 2007 3:56PM

What Sony has yet to realize is that there currently is NO compelling reason for many of us to buy a PS3 right now.

1. Do I have a 1080p TV? No.
2. Do I have the need to watch HD DVDs? Not yet.
3. Do I have to play the games on a PS3 that are not offered on other platforms? No.

So for me (and I'd say 90% of consumers out there), the answer to the three questions above are no. HOWEVER, in the future, I do see myself not only owning a 1080p TV, want HD DVD movies, and play PS3 exclusives. When that day comes, I'll buy a PS3...as long as it comes with a price drop.

Chris @ Apr 19th 2007 4:05PM

@24
your right,Microsft are not forcing the HD-DVD player onto you, you can buy it seperatly. If the xbox came out with an internal HD-DVD drive I wouldnt be able to afford it.

marklar @ Apr 19th 2007 4:06PM

I'm holding a candlelight vigil for the PS3. Anyone wanna participate?

Seriously, I see Sony going bankrupt and being bought out by one of their Japanese competitors. Horrible business and marketing strategy (They still think they're in the '80s)

Matt B @ Apr 19th 2007 4:08PM

How many of you xbots are trading in your premium for an "elite"?

Mogul218 @ Apr 19th 2007 4:18PM

28. How many of you xbots are trading in your premium for an "elite"?

Posted at 4:08PM on Apr 19th 2007 by Matt B

Good comeback, ASS!

Jake @ Apr 19th 2007 4:19PM

Matt B

I assume by "xbot" you mean anyone who owns and enjoys a 360. I am one, and won't be getting an Elite. I'm not a big Arcade game or Demo hoarder and don't care about overpriced downloadable video content. And I'm racist. So, the Elite pretty much doesn't give me any advantages over my 360.

I am only answering you because you trolled politely.

fob2000 @ Apr 19th 2007 4:34PM

@28

I'll answer this with the same points I made about the PS3.

1. Do I have an HDMI capable TV? No.
2. Do I need a 120 GB HD right now? Not yet.
3. Are there any games on the 360 that require me to upgrade to an Elite? No.
4. Do I like the black finish? Yes....

Again, like 90% of the consumers out there, I can answer the first three questions with a definite no. There's no reason for me to run out and buy an Elite. Sure, the black looks good, but it would clash with my white controllers anyways.

Vegan @ Apr 19th 2007 4:34PM

"I'll give them two years to drop the price $100. That's my bet. In 2017 they will be in wire bins at Game Stop for the price of 2 for $15. Funny how these things work isn't it?"

More likely that it'll just fade away at a still-high price. The original Xbox is gone now, and never sold for less than $100. The PS2 is still over $100, and that will probably end the same.

Don't expect to see consoles get clearanced out unless they die a premature death like the Dreamcast.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 4:35PM

Channel stuffing sucks. Both MS and Sony.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 4:36PM

Channel stuffing sucks. Both MS and Sony.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 4:37PM

Channel stuffing sucks. Both MS and Sony.

Digi Smalls @ Apr 19th 2007 4:37PM

that the best you could come up with Matt B? you must be really mad at this summer's PS3 release list..

,

Ryan LN @ Apr 19th 2007 4:38PM

Two reactions, both equal and opposite:

1) Well that's just effin' stupid. There *should* be plans to adjust the price point, even if those plans are two to three years out. I would imagine every console manufactures is continually trying to streamline product and make it cheaper to manufacture, and there certainly can be no argument that the cheaper stuff is the more people who are who could afford it. Every single reader of this post would own one if it cost twenty five bucks.

As for the equal and opposite reaction:

2) This must mean that they are losing their asses on every single unit. If there are no plans in the chute to modify price, that means that the path to profitability is long and steep. How this affects the bottom line of a billion dollar entity like Sony, I have no idea... but it can't be good.

tk109 @ Apr 19th 2007 4:45PM

When confronted with the question of a price drop Chubachi only had this to say: "rarrwarr warrr rarre"

Yodachi commented: "Difficult to tell the future of Playstation 3 it is. A price drop there will not be"

Phil @ Apr 19th 2007 4:53PM

Sorry, I was 'trying' to make a joke but got pulled away at work and just hit submit.

Seriously, with Sony saying no price drop, how would they increase the Hard Drive and charge $100 less than the 60GB version? Of course Buckshot has not heard that the 80GB version is going to cost $499. Sony has only "considered" a PS3 with a bigger hard drive.

Who was I trolling for? I guess because I am still mad at Sony for their price points?

mushiking @ Apr 19th 2007 4:56PM

@scott

they sold 200,000 in those two weeks, so i don't know what you're getting at.

Matt B @ Apr 19th 2007 4:57PM

Guys, I only bring it up to point out the fact that those that do end up paying $630(overall) and getting a better 360 than what you have. This is based on Gamestops trade in program. Yet, people are frothing over the PS3 price.

It was a good comeback and I AM an ASS! :P

Ordeith @ Apr 19th 2007 4:58PM

March:
DS: 598,184
Wii: 406,682
360:287,929
PSP:224,394
PS3: 173,009

Digi Smalls @ Apr 19th 2007 5:09PM

wonder how much the trade-in will be for all the sixaxis controllers when the inevitable PS3 "elite" controllers w/ rumble finally drop...

.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2007 5:16PM

Where are the GBA numbers? I want to see if they kicked PS3 ass again.

mushiking @ Apr 19th 2007 5:22PM

the NPD numbers don't come out til later tonight, so it's most likely inaccurate.

Quando @ Apr 19th 2007 6:16PM

@Geoff

That was very funny. I second that motion.

fawazr @ Apr 19th 2007 6:50PM

Today's lip-service was for nervous investors. When people who have their pensions tied up in Sony stock started talking about selling off, Sony's own president gave a half-hearted statement that was as vague as it was wishful. But no matter what Sony does, it will be a long haul for them as they don't have the seemingly endless resources that Microsoft does when it comes to subsidizing hardware.

razer @ Apr 19th 2007 7:25PM

Matt B: Tell me why this new 360 is better?

HDMI: If you have a 1080p TV that doesn't support it over VGA then this has some value. But both console's output 1080p. HDCP is still a long way off and is a null issue at the moment.

Bigger HDD: You can buy it seperately so the Premium has the same advantage. Unless you are a demo/video whore then 20gigs will be enough. Even if you want the large HDD, once MS releases the drive it will be imaged and you can go and buy any aftermarket HDD you want and use it.

Color: Black.. Big deal! Only a few accessories will support the color and the rest will be white. The color is limited edition so once they sell out they will be making it in white.

There is no 60nm chipset, so far all the Elite's in the wild that I've seen have a Samsung so the drive is the same as Premium.

Again I ask, what makes the Elite better?