That's what it is. We'll be right back to the $599 price we started at in a few months once the 60GB units sell, only with some "added value" thrown in (with a little something taken away). Is going back to the old price worth it to consumers for an extra 20GB and Motorstorm? Is that what Sony executives really think is going to move units at the magical $599 price? Of course, there is also the possibility that once the 60GB units sell out, the 80GB model will drop down to that price after Sony squeezes a little bit more cash out of having a premium model. If the 80GB takes the place of the 60GB the moment stock runs out, there will still be a PS3 model at the new $499 price.
As the story played out on Friday, there were many people at E3 scrambling to get what the real story was and comparing notes on the madness we had heard the night before. Most conversations regarding the subject started with, "There's no way it could be true." But here we are -- if the 80GB model doesn't receive a similar price drop, we'll be stuck with a new package for the PS3 at the old price of $599.
*Update: Reuters caught on and impresses with proper attribution.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
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I love how the SDF will look for any excuse to get people thinking about something else, since they obviously can't come up with an excuse for this.
Oh wait, people were still too far up Sony's ass to really critisize them for that back then.
And I'm sure I'm not alone here on this one.
THEY HAVE BEEN EVER SINCE THE PSP LAUNCHED. It's a shame. Looks like I'll have to snag a 60gb before it goes away. Or I could wait for a year or two for the 80gb to drop in price. Of course, it will go on clearance as well to make room for the 100gb PS3 packaged with MGS4...
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we know you hate the ps3 joystiq, but posting the same news twice, don't you think it's a little tacky..? is not like you haven't posted it already...
oh well.. bottom line.. the ps3 is 499 right now.. and i strongly believe that the 80gb will be the same price.. but obviously they're not gonna announce that a better sku will be the same price in one month other wise they'll never get rid of the 60gb..
to me it's obvious.. to haters.. it's just more flaming fuel..
we'll see who's right in a couple of months thou..
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Sony knows a hell of a lot more about price-points, moving products, and what they need to do financially to run their company than the dip-#$%& writers at Joystiq. Leave your expert analysis to the games.
This news is a turd no matter how you look at it, sans the beer goggles the fanbois are wearing of course.
Its easy to ID said fanbois too. They are the ones who want this story to evaporate into the ether ASAP because deep down even they know this is BAD news for Sony.
That being said I expect a price war to break out between MS and Sony this fall just before Black Friday. I expect Sony to blink first and drop to $500 with MS fallowing with a drop to $250 for their Core system with a 20GB HD. The standard or former “premium” will go away and the Elite will take its place at $399. All this is dependant on how well Halo 3 moves systems. The entire equation changes if sales take off with H3. But again my money is on Sony blinking first. They are stupid but they aren’t THAT stupid.
stop being quick to assume something is anti-console because it doesnt paint the console as a god.stop the fanboy mentality thats for third graders in school yards.thats were it matters!
this is a bad move and it needs to be pointed out.i still need a ps3 and i refuse to pay $600 and im very hesitant on the $500 price point.but theres no other way to play mgs4 and little big planet.i really wish sony would bring out the 20gb again for $400,id be there in a second! i dont need card slots or wifi and i can buy a MUCH bigger hd for less than $200.
If anything, Sony has been getting good press lately because they are close to finally having some games worth playing out.
When I'm reading the news a thought came to my mind, like Sony clearance sales, it feels good to see editors publicly admit having the same thought.. it's really what makes Joystiq a fun gaming blog. Irrelevant news + personal comments that makes it why it's called a blog
- they announce price cut for the PS3. They also introduce the 80GB bundle at the old price.
- 2 days later they let slip that they don't make the 60GB anymore and once it's gone they go back to one SKU at $599
This is the final word from it from Kaz Hirai himself!
Now, might they drop the 80GB to $499 when the 60GB is gone? You would friggin hope so! But so far the above is all that is confirmed. So that's why they earn the shit they get.
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Well, the PS3 w/Emotion Engine days were number when the Euro version was introduced. It was a matter of when other regions would see it. They're doing all they can to cut costs down right now. When will Japan see an EE-less PS3?
Basically, Sony is throwing out an 80GB HD to hide the fact they're getting a reduced cost (to Sony) machine to slow the bleeding. Because it's a number normal people only see specs on the box. "Wow! 80GB is greater than 60GB so it must be good."
You should focus on PS3 with EE and without. I don't think Sony even makes the HDs that come with the PS3, probably made by Seagate. And mainstream laptop HD platter size has moved from 60GB to 80GB, so the cost difference is negilable.
So bascially comes down to PS3 with EE is dead. And with the cost savings of not using the EE, will they be able to to shift to more intergration, 65nm die shrink, to further reduce costs to pass on the savings to the consumers?
So, their $599 price tag is actually getting them a bit of profit at the moment, hence why a price drop was inevitable, it's why one happened with the 60GB unit and it's now why Sony has 'introduced' a new 'bigger and better' version to try and trick people into thinking they're not making profit off the console. When in reality, they're probably actually making money off the console.
Hmmmm? What price will an unbundled 80GB PS3 be with the cancelation of 60GB? Take a guess ssaemal.
What's shady about this? This is a completely sensible business move. You need to transition to a better, cheaper model, but you can't sell it at the same time at the same price as the old one. So you tie it in with the price drop, and smooth out the transition. When the old model is sold out, you bring the new model in as the definitive version at the new, lower price point.
And that's what will happen, beyond any doubt. If you really think they're going back to the $599 price point after this is over, you're even more clueless than you think Sony is.
And did you really need a slip-up from the SCEE head to figure this out? Anyone with half a brain knew the 60 gig was discontinued as soon as the 80 gig was announced.
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Motorstorm may be a good game, but it's no system seller.
I was going to buy a ps3 when they announced the drop, but now that it turned out to be a farce, I'm not going to get one. They'll never get 3rd party developers for this thing now, I'll pick it up in a bargain bin one day instead.
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I guess the only people bitching are the MS fanboys, cuz right now you can get a 60 gig PS3 for $500 with the emotion engine and that's a great deal, even when the 80 gig drops down to $500 you'll still getting a great deal cuz you get it sooner.
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Sigh, I wish we could just talk about games without the Fanboys, and M$bots. Seriously its not like Microsoft has been the shining star of all that is good and pure in computing, gaming, and just business in general.
second of all, are you actually trying to spin the speculation of the 80GB model getting down to $499 once the 60GB model is phased out as disappointing news? if so, you're a moron.
third of all, you're pathetic. you have no problem displaying your baseless hatred against Sony, yet Microsoft remain angels even though they got a %35 failure rate which, by the way, is 4 million of the 11.6 million units sold.
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4th of all dude you need to relax.
Do you have fanboy carved in your face? Alexander is expressing what can best be described as shock that Sony is ultimately sticking with the same price point that has been slow (by comparison) to sell, the very price that dropped jaws at E3 last year, the very SAME PRICE everyone has been complaining about and demanding it be lowered. True there is now a $499 PS3, but it’d basically now a clearance sale, thus stock is limited.
And Joystiq has reported on the 360 failure rate, way back before it was news, back when it was just hearsay and not acknowledged by Microsoft officially. Back when the very posting of it would bring a backlash of fanboys replying “It’s a great machine and mine has been running for weeks just fine, god you’re so bias.” BACK WHEN IT LAUNCHED!
I would suggest you check YOUR "baseless" Microsoft/Joystiq "hatred".
Do you have fanboy carved in your face? Alexander is expressing what can best be described as shock that Sony is ultimately sticking with the same price point that has been slow (by comparison) to sell, the very price that dropped jaws at E3 last year, the very SAME PRICE everyone has been complaining about and demanding it be lowered. True there is now a $499 PS3, but it’d basically now a clearance sale, thus stock is limited.
And Joystiq has reported on the 360 failure rate, way back before it was news, back when it was just hearsay and not acknowledged by Microsoft officially. Back when the very posting of it would bring a backlash of fanboys replying “It’s a great machine and mine has been running for weeks just fine, god you’re so bias.” BACK WHEN IT LAUNCHED!
I would suggest you check YOUR "baseless" Microsoft/Joystiq "hatred."
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I'll say it again. WRONG STRATEGY Sony. I swear I don't think they understand that $600 doesn't move a whole lot of product no matter how much value one argues it is worth.
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you really need to work on your english, both writing and comprehension.
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Besides, as long as it's readable, it's fine. Stop being bitter that you're an idiot. You idiot.
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The problem is that this situation is panic that 60 gig with hardware emulation will get sold out and then the slightly better 80 gig bundle without the hardware emulation, who people think worse as well, will replace the old price. That they are clearing out the 60 gig to bring in the cheaper to make 80 gig at the old $599 price.