It's official: PlayStation 3 price drops to $299

by Randy Nelson on Aug 18th 2009 1:40PM

As foreshadowed by retailers and called for by analysts (it's pretty nice for us lowly consumers, too), Sony has officially cut the US retail price of the PlayStation 3 by $100, effective ~~tomorrow~~ immediately. This new pricing affects all PS3 systems currently in the retail stream, and will carry over to the just-announced PS3 Slim.

So, now that it's finally happened, the waiting game to see just how much the drop actually helps PS3 sales begins. Take our poll below if you've been sitting on the fence, waiting for Sony to lighten the load on your wallet.

Will PS3's new $299 price entice you to buy one?
Yes	6830 (37.9%)
No	3255 (18.1%)
I already own a PS3	6804 (37.8%)
I'm a fanboy who can't see past my irrational hatred	1113 (6.2%)

Tags: finally, gamescom-2009, price-cut, price-drop, sony

Reader Comments (159)

Lack of PS2 back compat makes this an overpriced toy. Call me when it's $200. I still feel effectively jilted by Sony's "oh wait no" moments on PS2 bc. Without that, it is not worth even $300 -- especially not in this economy.

Downvoted for what, exactly? Being honest? I don't think it's worth $300 without bc. I've got a library of 40-odd PS2 games collecting dust and the non-option of PS2 bc is frustrating. To be clear I would've dropped $400 on a PS3 months ago if it had the BC they offered at launch ($500-600 was ludicrous, let's not kid around here).

Here's the deal. With the PS2 which I still use I have 0 ports on my receiver for another HD source. I am not buying a new receiver with more ports just to allow me to plug in a PS3 without playing cable jockey shenanigans every time I want to switch between systems. Sony said "we will have BC" and I took them at their word, opted to save my money a few years ago. Then they yanked it, permanently and it's never coming back. As a consumer I am going to vote with my wallet here. $300 for a system I might want a small handful of exclusive games for is still too much in this economy. If the shoe was on the other foot I also wouldn't be buying a 360.

Settle down, comment modders.

Now that its $100 cheaper, its activision turn to cut $100 of their Guitar Hero games!!!

I voted no, but just barely.
It just hasn't hit all those "must have" buttons for me...but it's almost there
If I could replace my PS2 by it having backwards compatibility, then yeah, I'd probably spring for it.
But I have too many games and devices as it is and I would want to consolidate.
If all I'm doing is adding another device just to play a few extra games, then it has to be cheaper than that.

lol damn and i bought one2 days ago from gamestop too ; ;

...return it?

if it was used return it.. I don't think Gamestop will take return if it was new and opened tho.. that used to be the policy when I worked there.

it was brand new and i already opened it ; ;

i bought it cuz my old 20gb ylod on me
got it fixed after but stopped reading games altogether so i just git a new one

Where's the "maybe". This makes me think about it much more seriously as it's closer in price to current gen Blu-Ray players. Not sure I'd game on it that often, but it would be nice to have for a few exclusives.

If I hadn't picked up a 360 last winter it'd be awfully difficult to choose between the two now.

It's not a question of price, but of value.

Can I afford a $400 console the same as a $300 one? Sure.

But is it worth it to pay $X to play Y exclusive games and buy Z accessories?

Well shit, don't ask me. Ask your Algebra teacher.

2nd PS3 here i come

My son is taking one of my PS3's to school with him.. I WILL be getting a slim this fall.

I have an original phatty with the PS2 backwards compat. I dig the PS3 as it was. I think this one has an odd look to it. But I am happy Sony went ahead and opened it up for other folks who wanted one.

On Gamestop's website a Phatty 60 GB PS3 still commands more money used than a new PS3...Crazy.....

I think the full BC dives that though. That was the best system released to date.

I totally agree.

Do they still have that KZ2 bundle out there?

"It's not a question of price, but of value."

Bingo

I always had the money for a ps3, but I never thought it was worth the $400 sony was asking for it.

It's definitely a good move. But I'm used to consoles /starting/ at $299.99 - it's still going to be a while before I think the price is right for my third console of this gen.

Exactry. I got the thing when the 60 gb first dropped to $500. Got the YLoD this past May, and bought the $400 80 gb model shortly thereafter. Hardcore $ony fan fo' lyf.

And my PSN ID is ZENegade. Just sayin'.

own one but atleast now if i have to buy a new one i'll be able to afford it faster

It's been my plan for a while to get one eventually, and the price drop may make it happen sooner than later. Still, I'm not exactly rushing out to get one at this point. There's only a handful of games I'm really interested in on PS3 (and most of the big-name games like MGS4, Killzone, Resistance and Uncharted are NOT on that list) but I'll likely end up with a PS3 at some point.

I bet Bobby Kotick attempts to take credit for the price drop by claiming if they hadn't threatened to drop support for the PS3, Sony wouldn't have dropped the price.

Oh look, I got down voted by fanboys. Gotta hate those people that have their own opinions!

In case you didn't finish reading my comments, I'm actually really excited about getting a PS3; I'll just be waiting a year or so.

Reply fail...

wonder if the KZ2 and MGS4 pack is still for sale?

Ive been searching for it but can't find it. If that is still around I would get it tomorrow.

already own 2 PS3 for my both TV. probably can't afford another PS3 plus another HDTV, more likely, I don't NEED 3 PS3 and 3 HDTV just for myself. :o(

I'm really surprised that so many people voted "no" instead of "yes" or "already own", considering that this is a Playstation blog.

Since the switch to this current format, the results of all polls are combined across the gaming blogs (Joystiq, Xbox360, Wii, PS3), so the results don't represent Sony fanboys alone.

Any word on a UK price drop? I've seen Euros, Dollars and Yen but no pounds :( I was going to get my parents one with Play TV/iPlayer etc so I don't fancy importing and finding them to be incompatible.

I will wait for the pricing for a P[hatty]S3 to come down ebay and pick up a used one.

Well what would the UK RRP be now? £199? Also, still no news on PS2 backward compatability via software emulation which is a disappointment. Still holding my hopes out for that at TGS later this year... Thoughts anyone?

Sad,

I'm actually pretty disappointed. If this was backwards compatible with both the first and second PlayStations, I would have very likely made a purchase.

Yes, I am a Nintendo fanboy, but there are some games I have an interest in for PlayStation systems. I even bought "Dawn of Mana" when it came out without owning a PS2. I just borrowed one to complete the game. Not having owned another PlayStation, I would like to play "Crash Bandicoot," "Dawn of Mana" and "LittleBigPlanet" all in one--and I know some other people who agree. Even the person who's PS2 I borrowed to play "Dawn of Mana!"

I just don't want to purchase two PlayStation systems. That's all. As it is, I would be more inclined to get a PS2 because there are more games I'm interested in available to that system.

manaman

You can get a PS/2 for like $99 new. Probably $50 used. Trust me, I also long for backwards compatibility, but that is just stupid.

http://catalog.ebay.com/Sony-PlayStation-2-/71968078?Condition=Used&_dmpt=Video_Games&_fifpts=1&_fln=1&_pcatid=22&_ssov=1&_tab=2&_trksid=p4295.c0.m282#{%22Page%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog.ebay.com%2FSony-PlayStation-2-%2F71968078%3FCondition%3DUsed%26_aset%3D0%26_dmpt%3DVideo_Games%26_fifpts%3D1%26_fln%3D1%26_pcatid%3D22%26_rptype%3D4295%26_tab%3D2%26_trksid%3Dp4295.c0.m299%26_sop%3D1%26_sc%3D1%22}

The ps2 slims are around $50 used, phatties are probably less.

Yes,

I know I could get a PS2 for that price. But see, that's the thing. I'd rather get a PS2 at this point. If I did, honestly, I'd not get a PS3. BUT, if it was backwards compatible, I actually would put a PS3 on my buy list without hesitation. And the thing is, I've got enough systems all hooked up at the moment that I really don't want both the PS2 and PS3 hooked up. They just wouldn't get the use to justify them both being there (I'm not trying to be a fanboy here, it's just that there aren't as many games that I'm interested in on the PlayStation platform).

I don't know. Even if it were the same cost to have a slim backwards compatible PS3 as a PS2 and a PS3, I would rather have just the PS3.

Just my opinion,

manaman

I JUST BOUGHT ONE TWO MONTHS AGO

GRR

The Wal-Mart by my place was selling the Uncharted bundle for $499, and they were also including Killzone 2, Little Big Planet, and Season one of Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles on Blu-Ray. Now it will be marked down to $399 for all that. Damn that is a sweet deal.

I'll be getting one. The $100 drop really helps. I already own a few PS3 games. Probably will get one around the fall season, in case there are better deals later.

i might have to pull the ol' switcheroo since mine is still under 2 year warranty at best buy. how can i kill my metal gear 80gb without opening it up and voiding the warrany?

why would you want to, it has (should have) backwards compatibility, these don't.

yeah you're right, it does. but isn't the ps2 emulation software coming out in a future update? that's 200 bucks i could get back from best buy on another warranty and another game or two.

For all you future PS3 owners out there, here's my PSN ID: FoXGameR. See you on!

Hurrah! Now is the time I'm waiting for :)

I don't recall ever saying that.

I will go on record as saying that the number of PS3 owners doesn't effect me DIRECTLY; anything that helps make the PS3 a more viable platform developers is a good thing because I get more games, in theory. Most of the Xbox exclusives I miss out on currently are because Miscrosoft bought them, not necessarily because developers simply chose not to release on PS3. I'm sure you can find an example of a non-purchased non-first party Xbox exclusive but I don't really care; exceptions only prove the rule and all that.

Now, please prove to me that I didn't waste my time with a thoughtful response by being a douchebag fanboy. Thanks.

Wait if value is your thing then surely the PS3 would have been the best bet from the start?

Built in Wifi, no Live costs.. hell after live and the wifi adapter I'm already spending more at the old $400 price point.

It looks like a sandwich maker.

Also, I'd pick it up but my friend offered to sell me his for 200 bucks and he gets the slim. Good enough :D

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It's official: PlayStation 3 price drops to $299

Reader Comments (159)

Posted: Aug 18th 2009 1:58PM doubleyewdee said

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