Rumor: Sony may make global announcement on Tuesday

by Jem Alexander { Mar 30th 2009 at 12:30AM }

Australian trade magazine Smarthouse reports that it's received word regarding a "global announcement" from Sony on Tuesday, possibly concerning the PS3. Kotaku states that it has also received word -- apparently from Sony itself -- that a big announcement is imminent, but the site speculates that it could be for a PS2 price drop -- which we received evidence of this evening.

There's no more information to go on, at this stage, so the big reveal could be anything. A PS3 price cut has been on the cards for some time, but each Sony Computer Entertainment region sets its own price independently, and we've never seen a simultaneous global price drop happen before.

If there truly is a global announcement, it could be regarding almost anything, like a God of War III release date. That would be "global," right?

[Via 1Up]

Tags: announcement, sony

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Dave @ Mar 30th 2009 12:36AM

hope it's a ps3 price cut, but prob not. i would definitely buy one if it was

CH3BURASHKA @ Mar 30th 2009 1:24AM

How about a grandiose, world-wide "Buy one, get one free" deal in every store on the planet for every Playstation product?

Cash @ Mar 30th 2009 1:55AM

That's exactly what I was thinking... PS3 price reduction, or GTFO.

And for the love of god, please, don't be another "value adding" bullshit bundle.

phinnvr6 @ Mar 30th 2009 3:13AM

PS3 price drop and 2.70 firmware (with rumored features included) would be WIN for all gaming

DEEZNUTZ @ Mar 30th 2009 9:52AM

"We quit"

"We need a bailout"

"No need for a price cut"

Take your pick folks.

Negativecool @ Mar 30th 2009 11:01AM

Here's hoping it's a PS3 pricecut...but if the recent evidence is to believed, it'll be for the PS2.

In the latter case I'd be completely let down. They're cutting the price on the wrong console in that case. If anything, they should increase the price of the PS2 to offset any losses incurred by a PS3 pricecut (not saying it's feasible, just sayin). This would natually piss off some people, and hopefully shift interest away from the PS2 to the new cheaper PS3...

Bottom line, PS2 price drop = mistake/misguided decision. PS3 price drop = pwnage/necessary.

Ignatius @ Mar 30th 2009 12:38AM

I have serious doubts that a PS3 price drop is in the works, but Sony could be desperate by now for some good PR to get some money flowing.

JoeTheBlow @ Mar 30th 2009 4:30AM

The 45nm fab plants still aren't online, which is what they are waiting for to make it cheaper and so remove that massive heatsink array, cutting costs all round.

I don't believe its PS3 price cut either, that just relies far to heavily on the inevitable internal redesign, which is waiting on those new Cell fabs.
Would LOVE to be proved wrong though.

Muu @ Mar 30th 2009 8:21AM

and PR it probably will be. Has people forgotten already that 3/31 is the last day that "SCE" exists, and will be part of the Network division thereafter? 5 bucks that this is going to be a push for a new logo/branding of some sort that'll please investors more with possible signs of a renewed focus and approach to profitability.

F.E.F Red Fury @ Mar 30th 2009 12:41AM

New PS3 slim and new PSP FTW?!?

zuburi @ Mar 30th 2009 1:17AM

I'd love smaller consoles.

I just moved the Wii upstairs next to the PS3 and 360, and I realized just how ridiculous the sizes of the PS3 and 360 are. Say what you want about the games/innards, but the size of the Wii is great. I would be fine with Sony and Microsoft extending the time until the next consoles release if it meant they'd be smaller.

The sizes of the consoles pretty much mean they don't get taken with me when I am overseas for an extended period of time, which is a huge bummer for me.

JoeTheBlow @ Mar 30th 2009 8:40AM

Having done some PS3 repair work recently i can tell you that a PS3 redesign is very much required.
A full THIRD of the thing is taken up with the gigantic fan and heatsink array, rumours are that once the Cell and RSX go 45nm (june, supposedly) you can do away with that.
About a quarter of the internal space is taken up with the universal power supply unit. Sony need to make this external, they can ship it per region if still keeping it universal, though it'll be bigger.
Lots of wasted space now with the memory card slots being gone, and only 2 USB ports, ect.
Seriously, once they get the cooler chips in and make the powersupply external they could have the thing more than half the size and weight it is now.

xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 30th 2009 8:47AM

I'd love smaller consoles as well, but if the 360's casing got any smaller they'd disintegrate upon first boot. After breaking a few of those apart and repairing them, I've realized that MSFT R&D either really didn't have a plan for heat management, or they really didn't get time to implement a GOOD plan.

"Hey, heat!"
"Put a FAN IN IT! SHIP IT!"

Cosmo @ Mar 30th 2009 12:42AM

I am really itching for a PSP2 and please let it have backwards compatibility!

malexandria @ Mar 30th 2009 6:50AM

I don't see how a PSP2 could be backwards compatible since rumor has it it's going to be hard drive based and the PSP relied on UMD.

Cosmo @ Mar 30th 2009 8:09AM

The least it could do is be compatible with current PSP games sold on the PS Store.

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 30th 2009 12:47AM

Just speculating here isnt Square-Enix supposed to announce something this week as well....coincidence???? KH3....please

Sora @ Mar 30th 2009 12:53AM

Yes, they're specifically supposed to announce something "special" and global for the Kingdom Hearts series. My guess would be a simultaneous release date for the PSP title, Birth by Sleep, or an announcement of Kingdom Hearts III.

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 30th 2009 12:58AM

Even though i wish it was KH3 this appears to be a bigger announcement not just pertaining to some game.

BryanVP @ Mar 30th 2009 12:49AM

PS2 Backwards compatibility or a software revamp would be nice :)

rav @ Mar 30th 2009 6:43PM

I know many people that were going to buy a ps3, yet since they have dropped ps2 support they have decided to wait or try to find one on e-bay that supports ps2.
I hope they drop the price on ps2, and announce that ps2 backward compatibility support is coming to the ps3.

Dustin @ Mar 30th 2009 12:50AM

Price drops for all 3 PS products? FW is odd to be a global announcement, but then again, 2.70 if true to have all the specs, will equal XBL

unboring @ Mar 30th 2009 11:55AM

yeah i agree with you 2.70 would be awesome. In fact it matches XBL feature for feature and then adds some on top of that. Like making the browser accessible ingame. But also HOME has been getting better and sony is pushing that with a supposed 3 new spaces per month and probably more features. Then with the dedicated servers and games like KZ2 and Warhawk with 32 person online, R2 with 60 person, and MAG with 256 person games. Sony seems to be doing alright with the servers and no lag issue, certainly ahead of XBL in this department on these games.

Im a optimistic skeptic when it comes to 2.70 rumours, I hope your right, we'll see how it pans out. Still PSN has come a very long way since launch and is great for a free online service, especially when you look at the wii's free online.

DmaRt @ Mar 30th 2009 12:54AM

Hm... im thinking its a price cut, not FULLY sure... but think about it it will kinda of bring there supply up if the price is low... lets see this surprise >_>

Bradwart @ Mar 30th 2009 12:54AM

Now Added-PS2 Compatibility, 8 USB ports, flash card readers, a 4X Blu-Ray Drive, and a 320GB HDD! All for 499!

That would be my luck-I just bought a 160 LE at Christmas. I would not be, for understandable reasons, a 'happy camper' lol

fuzzy @ Mar 30th 2009 12:56AM

PS2 price drop. That's it. Not expecting anything more.

Cookie Monster @ Mar 30th 2009 12:59AM

Look...buddy...I hate being a downer, but if you don't get your hopes up, then Sony will never be able to crush your dreams.

Jon @ Mar 30th 2009 1:31AM

Oh please let it be Twisted Metal for ps3!!!!!!!!!!

fuzzy @ Mar 30th 2009 12:57AM

...although maybe some more PSP colors (woop-dee-doo). But PS3 price cut is not in the works, I don't think. Sony still has to find a way to make the components cheaper before they cut the price any more. And, unfortunately, that probably won't happen and they'll continue to bleed money.

mahouneko @ Mar 30th 2009 2:58AM

I'm pretty sure that they have, or at least IBM has. The 45nm cell processors have already been developed so I'm guessing that the price drop will coincide with the release of the PS3s that use the new cell processors.

bknight @ Mar 30th 2009 12:58AM

Any game news, Sony would wait for E3.

Travis @ Mar 30th 2009 1:00AM

a PS3 price cut, with the announcement of a software update creating ps2 backwards compatibility PLUS a regular ole ps2 price cut would make sony full of win for the time being

WiredKnight @ Mar 30th 2009 1:05AM

Man I would love a PS2 price drop. I'll finally be able to get one! After so many years, it's finally in my price range.

Mhm.

MrSpaceCowboy @ Mar 30th 2009 1:13AM

You found the PS2 unaffordable before?

If you pan handle for about 3 weeks, you should be able to afford a second hand copy of Guitar Hero 2.

Clinton @ Mar 30th 2009 1:18AM

hope thats sarcasm or you are one of the cheapest gamers i have ever heard of

WiredKnight @ Mar 30th 2009 3:20AM

You guys are hilarious.

Foetoid @ Mar 30th 2009 3:28AM

Second hand Gamecubes can be had for much less than $100 with much better games WiredKnight.

Duke @ Mar 30th 2009 10:32AM

I thought it was funny Wired!

MF Doom @ Mar 30th 2009 10:54AM

Foetoid, did you just claim that the GC had better games than the PS2?

You're silly.

WiredKnight @ Mar 30th 2009 2:47PM

Thanks, Duke.

@Foetoid. I disagree.

SecretAgentHam @ Mar 30th 2009 1:08AM

i aint holding my breath for anything better than a ps2 at 99 dollars.

Tony @ Mar 30th 2009 1:13AM

its a price raise lol

it was just discovered that the PS3 has the only web browser that will not be affected by conficker. How funny would that be?

Jason @ Mar 30th 2009 1:20AM

I would even welcome a PS2 price cut i know $100 is like a bargain i just want a new one to play KH1/2 (never fully played it). But i'm hoping that its not a KH3 exclusive pact *crosses fingers* not a fanboy of any kind just wouldn't want to shell out the money for one or two games.

bubugalu @ Mar 30th 2009 1:25AM

I hope its some big news, here my predictions:(1.) PS3 pricecut : possible(2.) KH3 : likely(3.) Team Ico game: I WISH!(4.) PS2 Backwards Copatability through software : doubt it(5.) Some PSN news (Netflix, New Firmware) : possible (6.) New PSP2 : Highly Possible