Sony: PS3 will remain most expensive console

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 30th 2009 at 4:26PM }

Unless you resort to more unconventional methods of console acquisition, the PlayStation 3 is going to run you a bit more than the 360 and Wii. It's always been that way -- and according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head David Reeves, it's going to remain that way for some time to come. His reasoning? The only way for Sony to weather the current financial squall is to protect themselves -- "It's like being an armadillo," Reeves said, in our favorite simile of 2009 thus far.

Reeves told Eurogamer that Sony isn't denying the possibility of a PS3 price cut, stating, "It is possible that as the cost [of manufacturing] comes down, we will be able to do it," though there are no explicit plans to do so. For the time being, the PS3 will remain on top of the price point totem pole -- unless Nintendo decides to double the price of the Wii, which due to the grim forces of supply and demand, it could ostensibly get away with.

Tags: david-reeves, price-drop

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 30th 2009 4:29PM

PS3 will remain third. Simply as that.

required @ Jan 30th 2009 4:30PM

2nd

Trev @ Jan 30th 2009 4:39PM

I don't know if that's true. The PS3 sold faster than the 360 for most of 08 even with a higher price. Having a lower price doesn't seem as important as the Sony making sure that the price difference is $100 or less. If they brought the now $400 console down to $300 (coincidentally the price of a 360 pro) I think it would take off again.

Trev @ Jan 30th 2009 4:40PM

"the Sony"

Curse you, insufficient backspacing!

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 30th 2009 4:48PM

Maybe not for Sony, but it is important for a customer. When faced with the choice between 360 and PS3, at least 70% will assume right off the bat they're both great if they play games then look at the price. And sadly while people on this blog do, an average Joe doesn't care that for $100 more you can get a Super-PS3 that gives you blowjobs and reads Blu-Ray, so he chooses 360.

As for PS3 selling better, it might have to do with 360 over saturating the market for a longer time and more people owning them. Besides, if the calculations Fernando did some time ago are correct, at this rate PS3 won't outsell 360 till... what was it, 2015?

Hyams @ Jan 30th 2009 4:51PM

Holy crap, PS3s can give you blowjobs?

el serpiente @ Jan 30th 2009 4:59PM

IT GIVES BLOW JOBS?!

*unlocks door, throws out Mrs. Jakka, locks door*

*unlocks door, throws out elastic waistband jeans, locks door*

AkaMagi @ Jan 30th 2009 5:03PM

@ Trev

The PS3 outsold the 360 the first 3 months of 2008 because MS was having supply problems. As soon as those supply problems were fixed the 360 outsold the PS3.

The only other exception was when MGS4 released, but somehow I don't think Sony has any MGS4 caliber games lined up for 2009. PS3 fanboys may think Killzone, but for the average Joe who still hasn't bought a console Killzone 2 is just a sequel to a bad game that totally failed to deliver on the "Halo killer" hype.

As it stands right now the 360 is outselling the PS3 by a wide margin because of the price. When it comes to system-selling games in 2009 I don't think Sony has anything that can compete with TWO Halo games.

So what is it about the PS3 that makes you think it's suddenly going to start selling great? Do you think the world will suddenly wake up tomorrow and thing "I really want to spend $200 more for the PS3 for no tangible gaming benifit"?

Hyams @ Jan 30th 2009 5:06PM

AkaMagi:

PS3 outsold the 360 almost every single week up until the September price cut.

PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 30th 2009 5:17PM

@AkaMagi: 2 Halo Games......one of which is NOT FPS, which is what draws people people to halo......Run and Gun, not strategy.....so I'd say that the 2 Halo Games Combined will sell maybe 8 Million this year.......that said Sony have 5 Games this year that combined SHOULD break 15 million Sold........Killzone 2, God of War 3, Twisted Metal(I'm Hoping), Infamous,Gran Turismo 5, Final Fantasy 13(Sure to be a highly imported game), Ratchet & Clank, Uncharted 2, and some other unannounced titles.........I'm sure MS has some stuff up their sleeve but nothing that is going to be CLOSE to the Sales Halo will get

B @ Jan 30th 2009 5:17PM

The PS3 is doing pretty well (aside from the holidays) given it's price tag. I'm not really surprised by this article, since it seems most of Sony is cracking under the pressure of the economy.

@Hyams

By a very small margin though (10-20k more units per month). That was completely white washed by the last 3 months of 08 (where it was outsold by a couple hundred thousand units per month)

Hyams @ Jan 30th 2009 5:25PM

B:

Yes.

The point to be taken, though, is that the PS3 was still beating the 360 (if only by a small margin) despite a considerably higher price point.

This backs up Trev's point: it's not *just* the price that determines a console's sales.

AkaMagi @ Jan 30th 2009 5:26PM

@ Hyams

You wish.

March and April 2008 MS sold more systems than Sony. MS reps even said they would back in January 2008 when they first announced the supply problem.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/interview-microsoft-on-xbox-360-supply-issues
(2nd to the last question)

That's 2 full months before MGS4 even launched, not a couple of weeks.

So, based purely on it's own merit, the only time in 2008 that the PS3 outsold the 360 was the 3 month period surrounding the release of MGS4. If it weren't for MS's supply problems the PS3 would have been outsold the other 9 months as well.

In fact I'll point out this.

The 360 outsold the PS3 for a total of 4 months in 2008 BEFORE the price drop.

This is all pretty irrelvent anyways. TODAY the 360 is absolutely killing the PS3 in sales, and Sony has no way of changing that if they aren't going to drop the price. They're going to fall farther behind.

PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 30th 2009 5:30PM

I still say those Supply issues were Bogus......everytime I went to a Store last year I seen PLENTY of 360s.......most of which were the Pro models tho........

Hyams @ Jan 30th 2009 5:35PM

I've already responded to you. See the next page.

Also, that's your source? Really? Microsoft claiming they're gonna outsell the PS3 before it actually happens? Not exactly reliable or accurate, is it? Sony once claimed that the PS3 would win 2008 - does that mean I can quote them saying that, and use it as evidence that they won '08?

Until the 360 price cut, PS3 and 360 were drawing in the US (as confirmed by NPD), PS3 was winning in Japan (as confirmed by Media Create) and was also winning in Europe. Altogether that adds up to the PS3 winning (albeit by a small margin) for most of 2008.

And it's not irrelevent to the point we're making here: that cost isn't the *only* factor of how well a console sells.

Chinpo (BRING BACK RUROUNI KENSHIN !!!) @ Jan 30th 2009 5:45PM

Hmm, the Gamecube and N64 were behind Sony in the last two console generations but that didn't make them garbage systems not worth touching with a 20 foot pole as fanboys believe. Same with the Genesis vs Super Nintendo, Sega Saturn vs PS1, etc etc. Who cares what place they sell? I don't expect the PS3 to come out of 3rd place but so what? As long as it has enough games worth buying to warrant the price, which I think it is with games like MGS4, LBP, Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 2, etc etc etc.

Hyams @ Jan 30th 2009 5:49PM

Sales don't actually matter to me. I just like to debate, and doing so when I've got something important I should be doing (like now) is a great way to procrastinate. ^_^

shawn11150 @ Jan 30th 2009 5:59PM

Good news. Glad I bought a ps3 right when MGS4 came out, and wasn't a cheap ass expecting a price drop. All of u peeps who still cant afford a ps3 are really gonna miss out once killzone 2 comes out.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 30th 2009 6:11PM

El Serpeinte, was there any point to that or are you gonna use the LBP Card again?

The Espiritu (Viva La Joystiq!) @ Jan 30th 2009 7:13PM

I want a blow job but my PS3 says that he has headache right now, I'll try again later.

korwyn @ Feb 1st 2009 12:19AM

This is not a bottle of soap or shampoo that people would look for the cheapest kind they can. This is a piece of hardware we are talking about. It's something we buy only once in one gen of gaming (or multiple times if it comes with RROD). I don't mind if it's a little more expensive. In fact I got the 60GB PS3 at the $599 price tag. I'm still happy about it.

Anyway, I don't think price matters that much (yes it does for some cheap arse gamers) Don't believe me? The 360 is the cheapest hardware in the market, right? Is the 360 the best selling console in 08? No the Wii is and it always has been. Oh isn't the Wii more expensive than the 360 right now? Does "price" matter now?

Rocketboy @ Jan 31st 2009 6:02PM

Dude, you want a blowjob from a male gaming console?

That's so gay. *

*Dear joystiq editors, in this context, the word gay is being used as per the common 'accepted' manner.

ryan @ Jan 31st 2009 1:46PM

What are we missing out on exactly? Killzone 2 will still be there in 2-3 years time. I have plenty of games to keep me busy on the 360. Not "omg exclooosive" games, but there's great multiplat games this year I look forward to play.

A few games on the PS3 isn't enough to justify buying another $400 console. It just isn't.

idiot @ Jan 30th 2009 4:29PM

"It's like being an armadillo,"...

so SCEE *hearts* Infogrames?

Heavytoka @ Jan 30th 2009 4:30PM

This isn't really big news, but in my opinion The PS3 is worth every Cent no matter if its the cheapest or most expensive.

wicko @ Jan 30th 2009 4:58PM

Agreed, I got my console not too long after launch and for a little while I felt a bit ripped off without any amazing games for it, but now I own about 16 PS3 games and am no longer lacking content. If I had bought a 360 at launch I would have felt ripped off as well, and still feel ripped off now. So I waited and I snagged a 20GB for 200$ on sale, and I'm satisfied. But I have much fewer games, as most of the games I've already played on my PC, or would rather play on PC. That's just me though.

Lately, performance issues with games has gotten me a bit depressed about PC gaming and moved me a bit more to console gaming (save for L4D).

Levi @ Jan 30th 2009 5:56PM

I agree as well. I don't regret a penny that I've spent on my PS3, I've gotten more gaming out of it than the PS1 and PS2 combined already! I play it constantly. I, too, felt like I might have made a mistake after I first bought it. Over time, it became such a good gaming platform, that I can't believe people use the "no good games" angle anymore.

I can see, though, that if you don't want a Blu-Ray player, that the 360 could be a better choice for some. The $400 price is actually good for a great gaming console and a Blu-Ray player, if you are in the market for both.

wonderweazel @ Jan 31st 2009 7:47PM

I agree. Let me start out by saying I used to be a MS fanboy, and was given a PS3 as a gift. After playing it for about a year now, I can say I was wrong. If I had known what a good system it is, and not just been a blind fanboy I would have bought one myself and still recommend that others do. I still love my 360, but the PS3 is sharing a lot of my gaming time. To those who say I'm a PS3 fan only claiming to be a 360 fanboy check my g/t: WonderWeazel same as my PSN ID.

Draco @ Jan 30th 2009 4:31PM

in other news, Wii sales beat 360 in January.

McWilly @ Jan 30th 2009 5:13PM

Wii sales beat everything. Even sliced bread. Doesn't stop it from being a worthless piece of shit.

Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2009 9:58PM

Fun to hear the bitter dinosaurs come out to bitch

Mo @ Jan 30th 2009 10:54PM

bitter? im not bitter... im sure that the new york times and oprahs newly endorsed vibrator sold more than ps3 and 360 too... in the world of HD gaming the wii (and its sales) is about as relevant as a... well... gamecube

*chuckles*

Jordan Whtie @ Feb 1st 2009 10:45AM

I love how people will argue sales numbers fact that Wii has outsold everyone gamers s fact that Wii has outsold everyone, gamers/executives claim "it does not count!"

Its like watching two Olympic-level athletes complain to the referee that the mentally retarded handicapped midget who beat both of them in the 100 meeter dash is cheating. We know why they are doing it, it's embarrassing that someone who SHOULD be inferior to you in every possible way just kicked your ass six ways to Sunday.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 30th 2009 4:33PM

While I understand why they're doing this, I also understand that this is definitely going to hurt them.

Noshino @ Jan 30th 2009 5:05PM

I don't know their thinking, and just like you said Vegeta, although at first sight it is understandable, it also seems like they are looking to take the "safe" approach, but I think that that would only help them in the short time...

If they are to decrease the price drop, then that would help push more consoles, hopefully helping decrease the manufacturing costs at a faster rate.

In 08 the userbase grew by over 100% and software sales in the US alone increased by 116%. Increase userbase would help out with software sale and also increase revenue from PSN and Home.

Im a bit upset that Sony is taking this approach, but unfortunately it is the safe route

But then again, this is Reeves, this dude is the most clueless Sony exec along with Tretton

SpilledSalt @ Jan 30th 2009 4:35PM

I find it humorous actually. The PS3 drops it's price numerous times and yet it's STILL the most expensive.

Mike @ Jan 30th 2009 4:39PM

The 80bg is the same price as the 120g 360 elite. If the PS3 had a gimped SKU it could approach a price point somewhere around the Wii's price.

SpilledSalt @ Jan 30th 2009 4:45PM

True, but that's still a big gap. I'd rather get the console that give more for my money.

Chinpo (BRING BACK RUROUNI KENSHIN !!!) @ Jan 30th 2009 5:46PM

That's because Microsoft has also kept cutting prices on the Xbox 360, making the Arcade cheaper than the Wii is an impressive feat IMO.

J.Goodwin @ Jan 30th 2009 5:52PM

The only PS3s currently on sale are gimped SKUs. They're lacking all the hardware that made the system approach 100% BC at launch. That's before you even start talking about all the features that were cut from the system before it launched.

I give Sony credit for adding back rumble, but even Microsoft has started pumping up their basic package with wireless controllers, HDMI, and built-in memory.

Levi @ Jan 30th 2009 5:59PM

The prices dropped once... They original systems were $500 and $600, they are now $400 and $500... unless you consider dropping old SKU's and adding new ones with different sized HDD's to be price drops, the price points dropped once.

Duke @ Jan 30th 2009 4:35PM

He then added: So go put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 4:36PM

I think if he had said that I might buy a PS3.

Mike @ Jan 30th 2009 4:36PM

It's okay to be the most expensive, especially given all that you get with a PS3, but it needs to be affordable. You're not going to whether the storm if people can't buy your product.

Spartacus @ Jan 30th 2009 7:53PM

Agreed. Being the most expensive at a $299 price point and being the most expensive at a $399 and $499 price point is a big difference, especially in this economy.

Popfrogs @ Jan 31st 2009 4:41AM

Yeah I agree, you can't whether the storm weather or not you get a price drop.

DonGeronimo @ Jan 30th 2009 4:37PM

The Playstation 3 has been under a "soft" price drop since early November on sites like Amazon and Dell, seems to be mandated by Sony and is the only reason Reeves feels comfortable saying the "the past few weeks shows we (the PS3) are clearly number two"