Sony denies 40% failure rate on new PS3, original article removed

by Alexander Sliwinski on Nov 8th 2007 10:50AM

Sony Europe came out and denied a "report" that 40% of the new 40GB PlayStation 3 models are defective. The story got started by Dutch site Gamed, which claimed that Belgian retailer, Games Mania, stated 40% of the new 40GB PS3 sold have been returned because of hardware defects. The original "report" has since been removed and wiped clean from the tubes.

Sony Europe pres. David Reeves said they're very proud of the quality and reliability of the PS3 and are disappointed in the inaccurate story. We imagine Reeves was trying with all his might to not take the swipe at the competition he could have easily justified. Classy.

Source

Tags: europe, failure, ps3

Reader Comments (81)

It just wouldn't be a Playstation without some sort of technological defect!

Unlike an xbox or xbox 360 right ?

did the original xbox have hardware problems?

Could question, the 360 though falls over if you look at it funny.

@gonk

Yes. A lot of people that got Thomson DVD drives in Xboxs that came out in the first year or so had them die. They were notorious for getting Dirty Disk Errors and then ceasing to function completely. The drive you really wanted was the Samsung. It was rock solid.

The Xbox was a solid piece of hardware. The 360 is an epic piece of crap.
The PS1 and PS2 were also pieces of crap.

Nintendo is the only one, since the NES, that doesn't make defective hardware.

the nes was the most defective console of all time

It just wouldn't be *any* gaming hardware launch without some form of technical hiccup, regardless of the manufacturer. It's just Sony have recently been less than kind about their rival's problems, so this is just desserts.

@Fernando

Well, until Sony released this 40 GB model, the other PS3 models are every bit as solid as the Wii, perhaps even more so. The Wii is not without reports of problems. Plenty of people have reported their Wiis dying. Many blame it on the WiiConnect24 setting being enabled. The Wii gets very hot when in standby mode with WiiConnect enabled and the fan never runs to cool it off. The systems with either just simply die or people will start to see artifacts (bits of random color and static) in the graphics when playing a game.

The first console I had die on my was my Xbox. I had the original optical drive and it was crap. Dead within a year.

I still have my original working PS1 and PS2 to this day.

Despite what Fernando says, the Gamecube definitely had its problems. Although I never replaced it (since the later Gamecubes didn't support progressive out), my Gamecube has problems with disc read errors, and I'm far from alone.

My 360 has died twice, and my PS3 was defective (in a subtle way) out of the box. My PS3 was only out of my house for FOUR DAYS when Sony replaced it. Sent it off on a Monday, got a replacement back on Friday. That's the best case for a bad situation I guess.

I worked at a GameStop for four years, during the first Xbox's launch.

We had several systems returned because of faulty DVD drives. The system went through several iterations and different manufacturers before the problem was solved.

Sure, it can't compare to the 360's RRoD, but that's really an unprecedented level of mass hardware failure.

BTW, if you want to see the issue I'm talking about, as well as see that Nintendo's tech support can be as stupid as anyone else, read here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=79&threadid=2114293

Again, this same issue has been experienced by quite a few people.

PS2 had disc read errors, let's not forget this people.

Plus, I'm sure Sony has used some of it's small-time-importer crushing legal time to get that small-time-magazine to take down it's article. Then again it may just be coincidence the article has gone missing, who knows.

The PS2 was really a massive POS. On par with the 360 in my opinion due to the weak/cheap ass lasers Sony used. They probably only sold to 40 million people but everybody had to buy 2 or 3 over the life of the system to keep playing their game library.

The original XBOX also had some fairly cheap power supplies that would fizzle out from time to time.

I'm not sure why Fernando got voted down so badly, because he has a valid point. Nintendo has a very, very good track record when it comes to the build quality of their consoles.

I'm curious about this 40% 'defective' rate on the new PS3s. Is there really anything wrong with them or were there 40% returns due to no backwards compatibility that the buyers didn't know about until they'd signed on the dotted line? That might get filed under 'defective hardware'.

I think people still don't know that the 40 GB isn't backwards compatible. They are no doubt trying to cover their asses.

Poor Sony, really. I don't know if feel sorry for them, because, they do this by themself.

I wonder if the big ones in Sony sleep well.

Do what by themselves, what are you on about ?

It was an inaccurate story. Are they not allowed to call out an inaccurate story ?

Troll.

Anything better to do than post year and a half old videos not actually related to the story?

omg a troll on joystiq? that's crazy! get the pitchforks and torches!

Another stupid post by a stupid fanboy. Read the article before you open you mouth make yourself look like a fool. Don't you have anything better to do with your time, like learning how to read?

@gonk: I'm aware trolling is common. My goal is only draw attention to it, preferably that of someone that will just ban him again so the comments section can be used for actual comments and discussion instead of stupidity.

it was prbably from people returning them after they couldn't play ps2 games

You know, that is a great point. Someone pops in a PS2 game and they get a disc read error. They return the system and report it as such.

Remember, most console owners are not nearly as informed as us super dorks on gaming blogs.

You have a very good point

Except it's so far only been reported to be happening in one area, which suggests that it's more than likely to be a bad manufacturing batch, rather than a case of localized mass stupidity.

Nope. I'd go with localized case of mass stupidity.

After all, there are only 2 things in life that I hate. One, people who are intolerant of other cultures, and....the DUTCH.

That's pretty funny because regardless of the atricle being innacurate and pulled, I bet that will happen as some people won't realize that the 40G can't use PS2 discs.

Correccion.

The site was Dutch, but the store was in Belgium. And you know what they say about Belgium ...

Lets just say its the butt of many culturally insensitive jokes.

So should we call it the PlayStation360? or DelayStation360 your choice.

PSOD

PS3DO

Trolling again Fernando? I thought you learned a lesson, I guess I was wrong.

Isn't pointing out a troll almost as bad as being one! OMG TROLL IT'S A FREAKIN' TROLL! I DEDICATE MY LIFE TO CALLING OUT TROLLS.

Yes. There is a troll. On Joystiq. Move along.

60GB FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$599 us dollars in my bank ftw

Having a good education and a good job FTW!

Just to clear some things.....I got the 60GB at the mark down price ($499) + Best Buy free game (Heavenly Sword)+ $150 rebate from AT&T = the best PS3 sku with free game for $350 + tax...........FTW!!!!!

By defective, they must have meant "I HAZ NO GAMEZ!" then went and streamed some euro pr0n to their psp.

So what's the problem people are reporting?

This is kind of surprising considering that the other models up to this point are rock solid. I would have thought that the less complicated motherboard would have made the 40 GB even more solid, not less so. Perhaps Sony took some other cost cutting shortcuts.

Rock solid?

The 40GB PS3 is more hollow now without the PS2 components.

I'd say many of the defects are not defects but rather ill informed consumers. After all, Gamestops leading loss is in getting PS3, 360, Wii controllers returned as defective when the people just didn't know how to sync the new controllers up to their console.

Yes, F.R.,

Literally rock solid I would say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTy7Nx0oPI

The sledgehammer doesn't do much but break the glossy plastic off.

What problem are people reporting? Nothing.

Don't read a bunch into this. If the magazine could back up their story from their sources, they wouldn't have pulled it.

Actual journalism would be to call the retailer in the article and get a statement of what they were reporting, if anything. Any one of us could do this do this instead of just wildly speculating.

Well i hope this isn't True because I was planning on getting one this christmas.

Well, if it really is limited to a certain geographical location then that would indicate a bad batch and not necessarily a problem with all the 40 GBs. I hadn't even heard of this until this article

LOL!!

i really hope this isn't true because im getting a 40 gb tomorrow :(

get it man this story is a bunch of BS, the fail rate is extremely low for such a new product. one thing sony knows how to do is make quality machines, my ps1and ps2 both work perfectly and i got them right around launch, same with my ps3.

Acutally my LOL! comment was for what Vidikron said.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments

Sony denies 40% failure rate on new PS3, original article removed

Reader Comments (81)

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 10:56AM samfish said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:02AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:04AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:07AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:09AM Vidikron said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:10AM samfish said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:12AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:15AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:15AM Dale P said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:17AM Vidikron said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:24AM spin cycle said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:28AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:28AM Vidikron said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 3:33PM SSUK said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 5:44PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 1:25PM wolf4537 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:00AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:04AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:14AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:20AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:21AM Dragun said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:42AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:03AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:06AM sand0789 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:08AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:08AM samfish said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:20AM Negativecool said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:33AM Dragun said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 1:21PM Korova Pamplona said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:09AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:12AM samfish said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:16AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 1:11PM NightElve said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 5:22PM WhatIsThatThing said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:11AM darthdavid said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:13AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:29AM Shagittarius said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 2:21PM darthdavid said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:11AM Buckshot said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:12AM Vidikron said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:14AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:23AM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:25AM Negativecool said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:31AM spin cycle said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:13AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:21AM Vidikron said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:15AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:15AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 4:43PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 8th 2007 11:15AM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine

Shank 2 review: Refined brutality

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days