Rumor: Sony Europe planning PS3 price cut in March, details future games
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Nov 24th 2008 at 11:40AM }
- The PS3 will see a price cut in Europe around March of next year.
- The PSN has generated £150 million in 2008, will receive more investment and is considered a success.
- LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm are coming to PSP.
- Uncharted 2 looks like Uncharted, which isn't a bad thing.
- God of War 3 was "masterfully shown at the end" and looks really good. (A similar claim made by former GoW honcho David Jaffe.)
[Via Eurogamer]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 11:45AM
This has also been confirmed by an SCEE employee on NeoGaf. Although only game tester, all SCEE emplyees were invited.
And given that Jaffe's description of the GoWIII trailer came a day *after* this leak, it certainly gives yet more credidence to the whole thing.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Nov 24th 2008 1:19PM
Got a link for the NeoGAF posting? Or can anyone else agree with Hyams here on that other SCEE employee post?
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 1:31PM
Crap, it's looks like he's edited his posts. I guess he realised he shouldn't be talking about this stuff.
He origionally said:
"And I didn't go to this meeting this week, I think it was thursday or friday? Since I had free those days I couldn't be bothered and stayed playing IU at home.
But yeah, Reeves talked about all that stuff. We should be getting an internal email next week, which in turn should become a PR in the following days."
And in a later post he mentioned that the other guys he works with were talking about it.
I can still link you to the page:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342988&page=5
It was member -Kh- who posted it. You can see where he's edited them.
And here's the VGChartz forum post which origionally brought the posts to my attention (they quote his origional message):
http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=50108&page=5
Noshino @ Nov 24th 2008 1:34PM
uh, it was confirmed by -Kh- who works at SCEE, he edited his comment tho, here is someone quoting him
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13727021&postcount=194
if you need further confirmation, this event was also mentioned on the european PS forum as the reason as to why they couldn't find an immediate solution to the problems with Home invitations
http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=b_EN_PS3_Home&message.id=13771#M13771
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 1:38PM
Ah, it looks like his edited his post because Reeves sent out an email to all employees reminding them of the NDA they're under:
http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/11/24/rumour-reeves-mails-scee-staff-with-nda-reminder-after-2009-plan-leak/
And in do so, they've just lent even more credidence to this rumour.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 24th 2008 2:48PM
KILL ZONE TWOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
that is all
Killjebus @ Nov 24th 2008 11:46AM
A price drop is a given for all territories in early 2009.
So, the GOW3 trailer impressed OTHER people besides Jaffe?
Amazing.
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 11:52AM
The begining of '09 is going to be an interesting time for the PS3.
In February we have Killzone 2, and then in March there's InFamous and the PS3 pricecut.
Lee @ Nov 24th 2008 11:58AM
... You're expecting KZ2, a series that has nothing but mediocre games before it, to do well?
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:01PM
Given the hype its building up from all the positive previes, yeup.
I mean, even Killzone 1 manages to sell well, despite being only a mediocre game, based purely on the unjustified hype.
Killzone 2, which is actually shaping up to be an excellent game, should sell just plenty. Plus its a shooter (rather than, say, a 2D platformer) and they always seem to sell well.
Noshino @ Nov 24th 2008 12:10PM
Lee,
you haven't seen any beta footage huh?...
Oh, and Liberation was a good game
Solomon73 @ Nov 24th 2008 12:57PM
"... You're expecting KZ2, a series that has nothing but mediocre games before it, to do well?"
I am in the beta and it is already better then most everything out there.. pure fun!
Hashbrown Hunter @ Nov 24th 2008 1:23PM
Guerilla Games knows what they are doing and they are probably the most vocal of all Sony first-party developers. Killzone 1 would have been a great game if it wasn't rushed out the door to make the Holiday season. Killzone Liberation is an underrated game for sure and one of the best and most fun I've ever played on my PSP. Killzone 2 is looking fantastic and it definitely feels like this is what Killzone 1 should have been.
BananaBoat @ Nov 24th 2008 2:03PM
I'm not so certain that KZ2 will do that well. Does anyone have any attachment to the story? KZ1 was terrible, so it could have left a bad taste in peoples mouths as well.
The 1up show preview of the Beta has me worried. Apparently the simple act of aiming and firing is a massive chore, with every shot recoiling so hard that your aim goes completely off and you can't hit anything. Then again, Penny Arcade seems ready to call Killzone 2 the best thing since sliced bread, so I don't know who to believe anymore. I sincerely hope they can fix the aiming issue before the game goes gold, because I'll need a new FPS to play once I beat GOW2.
sk8monroe81 @ Nov 24th 2008 5:36PM
killzone 2 is not a guaranteed seller..
what about r2, lbp, and socom- they have all underperformed.
those were 3 of the big 5 sony ps3 game releases in 2008.
killzone 1 managed to sell what around 1 million copies to what about 30-100 million ps2 owners at the time..
killzone 2 will be selling to around 17 million ps3 owners.
i wouldnt expect huge sales of this game.
there was more hype for LBP.
god of war will do much better IMO>
Nugent @ Nov 24th 2008 6:00PM
Never played KZ1, but Killzone: Liberation is actually a really good game. If GG can maintain a similar level of quality, then KZ2 should be pretty good.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 24th 2008 9:58PM
Like anything man we just have to wait until the game is released. I don't think looking at sales of the first Killzone is going to give an indicator of how this new iteration will sell. If the game comes out and is good it will sell. Especially considering it's a shooter and that seems to be all the rage with the kids these days.
Robotochan @ Nov 24th 2008 11:52AM
I bet it will be like£10 cheaper as we are getting our value added tax reduced from 17.5% to 15% for 13 months in the UK. I don't see it going down in price too much although I hope it does, really want to play MGS4 :)
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 11:55AM
A £50 price cut seems likely.
If there's a price cut in America also, they'll probably shave $50 off.
Lee @ Nov 24th 2008 11:56AM
Don't forget sony tried to get the PS3 exempt from tax by falsely classing it as a computer.
If anything they'll add their own 2.5%. In a few weeks time expect the Wii and 360 to be marginally cheaper and the PS3 to cost the same.
Vidikron @ Nov 24th 2008 12:11PM
"Don't forget sony tried to get the PS3 exempt from tax by falsely classing it as a computer."
It technically is a computer, as are all consoles. The PS3 can also have other OS' installed. Many people have Linux running on their PS3s. It's really not a false claim.
Lee @ Nov 24th 2008 1:14PM
It's locked, has limited capability and even the T&C go against the technicalities of it being a PC (which is what grants the tax exempt status).
Plus on the realistic side of things - 256mb system ram. REALLY?
It's not a PC and the fucking super ultra megalithic law courts of Europe came to the same, rather obvious, conclusion.
I'm still new here. Does Vidikron not know what a PC is?
Hashbrown Hunter @ Nov 24th 2008 1:27PM
Well, Lee, you obviously don't know what speaking kindly is.
Vidikron @ Nov 24th 2008 2:15PM
@Lee
Nothing you said changes the simple fact that it's a computer. Nothing about its tax status changes that either. Obviously (and rather self-servingly for the goverment) it is being classified for tax pourposes based on it's primary purpose as a game machine, but it's still technically a computer. There really is no debate in that. And given that it does offer more flexibility than other consoles in that it does allow other OS' to be installed I can't really blame Sony for trying to get it classified as a PC if it would give them a tax break. There's nothing wrong with that.
Vidikron @ Nov 24th 2008 2:18PM
"I'm still new here. Does Vidikron not know what a PC is?"
BTW, you stated it wasn't a computer in your first post, so I ask you the same question. Here's the definition:
"an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations."
So how it not a computer again? I clearly know a lot more than you.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 24th 2008 2:18PM
"I'm still new here"
You must be, because you're not going to last long with that elitist PC bullshit on a site with 99.999999% console gamers. You could always go to big download at least, they need more than 1 person a week commenting :P
Brent @ Nov 24th 2008 11:54AM
I heard with Obama in office that he is giving all consoles away for free to those who don't have them.
So it will all be fair.
Lee @ Nov 24th 2008 11:57AM
LBP and Motorstorm PSP (y)
Hashbrown Hunter @ Nov 24th 2008 1:36PM
Motorstorm was hilariously obvious that they would eventually bring it to the PSP, but LBP caught me off guard. How will it work???
Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 12:02PM
Inb4 Sony haters.
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:04PM
... I thought you were a Sony hater?
Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 12:07PM
I Don't like Sony but that doesn't meant I hate it.
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:09PM
Fair 'nuff. ^_^
Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 12:11PM
It's not because of the PS3, it's because of my history of Bad Sony TV's, Laptops etc.. They are expensive and they are fragile >_>.
Chin-Poh @ Nov 24th 2008 12:17PM
I'm pissed off at Sony for some PS3 build quality issues, my expensive high-end Vaio being under a recall and the new PSP's having the screen interlacing issues but I just can't find myself to hate them. Though they have lost me as a fanboy which is pretty sad, for them to fuckup that many times to lose a fanboy.
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Nov 24th 2008 12:27PM
Present.
But why would I hate Sony for a PS3 pricecut? That's a good thing.
For everything else there's PSN,Home and botched LBP release.
eNrique @ Nov 24th 2008 6:40PM
"I'm pissed off at Sony for some PS3 build quality issues"
You MUST HATE microsoft, A LOT
*360, RRoD, Vista*
btw, I have never experienced a problem with Sony's TV's, in fact I believe they are awesome, like my Bravy
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:04PM
I'm looking forwards to Uncharted 2. It doesn't need a massive graphical leap, as it's already up there with the great.
Just get rid of the screen-tearing and texture pop-in, and it'll be just fine.
Noshino @ Nov 24th 2008 12:14PM
well, Uncharted 2 still on early development (it hasn't even officially been announced), so it wouldn't be surprising if the graphics are not at the level that they want them to be.
Remember that ND said that they would be pushing the PS3 much more this time around
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:18PM
Hey, I still remember the first trailers for Uncharted 1. The graphics were rather dodgy in those (I remember one magazine described the game as looking "budjet") and look how that turned out.
So yeah, I agree, Uncharted 2 will most likely look better than the origional. I'm just saying, it doesn't have too. I mean, even today, a year on, the origional can still compare favourably with the graphical titans being released.
xFenixKnightx @ Nov 24th 2008 12:38PM
Most hyped about Uncharted 2!!! :)
Dirty @ Nov 24th 2008 12:49PM
I expect a graphical change much like gears. Changes were made but at the end of the day it still just looks damn pretty.
I never finished uncharted for some reason, I think I need to go back and do so... as soon as the holiday push is over.
nick @ Nov 24th 2008 12:37PM
The worst thing you can hear before the holiday is a mention of a price cut. It doens't do Sony any good if a break is just around the corner, because consumers will wait. It's too bad they didn't offer this BEFORE the holiday to help spur sales, but I guess they thought games alone would do that. I'm thinking the cost of the console is still a barrier for the mainstream, and even more so now, because of the economy.
Noshino @ Nov 24th 2008 12:43PM
thing is, Sony didn't make any public announcement, this information was leaked...
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 12:48PM
I doubt it'll do much harm as well.
Even though it has plenty of evidence going for it, it's still technically just a rumour. The vast majority of potentialy buyers will never even hear about it, based solely on that.
Still, expect sales to dip in February.
Muu @ Nov 24th 2008 1:00PM
SCEE should have known well enough that info like this would be leaked, esp. if they invited lower-tiered employees.
Then again, now they got something they can blame (other than their competition) if sales don't do so well during the holidays: everyone was waiting for the price drop!
Alien Lord @ Nov 24th 2008 1:02PM
I don't see a price cut for PS3 until late 2009, they aren't making any money on them and they are losing shit loads on PSN.
Lee @ Nov 24th 2008 1:16PM
True. I'll be surprised if there is a price cut.
Or maybe if they get Home out soon they can start charging people to dress their virtual dolls and decorate their virtual homes. I can imagine the same people who buy The Sims and MSN icons will fund the PS3 for some time.
Hyams @ Nov 24th 2008 1:17PM
Actually, PSN is posting a healthy profit. It generated £150 million during 2008 according to the leak.
And like I said above, this information has all been confirmed by a low-tier SCEE employee. So the price cut is indeed planned for March, not late '09.
el serpiente @ Nov 24th 2008 2:13PM
Man, Alien Lord likes to spray some uninformed, random fud in every single PS3 thread these days.
Whatsa matter, you got the red-ring blues? Don't fret, should only be a few weeks now.