NPD predicts PS3 sales to increase by 40-60% post price drop

The NPD Group, famed tabulator of video game hardware and software sales, says it sees the new $299 price point of PlayStation 3 contributing to a significant sales boost for the system. "We would expect to see in the range of a 40% to 60% unit sales increase when September sales are reported," NPD analyst Anita Frazier told InformationWeek. We'll see how accurate of an estimate that was when the September NPD data hits mid-October.

Frazier added, "The $299 price point is important to getting to a point where the next segment of price-conscious consumers can jump into the market and it most certainly will re-energize sales of the platform." So, basically, a cheaper PS3 will sell better because people are more likely to take the plunge at a cheaper price. We know that analysts get paid to offer their opinions, but this just ... gave us an idea!

"It's our opinion that a $99 price point for PS3 would increase sales by 90 to 100 percent." -- Joystiq

Small, unmarked bills only, please.

[Via IndustryGamers]

Reader Comments (105)

NPD also predicts announcements like this bring out the douchebag posters that say things like "I just might buy one now but I love paying for Live!" and "LOL no gamez" and the ever-popular, "NO BC NO PURCHASE" which is douchebag for "I can't afford it and it's the only thing left to criticize now that it is affordable".

Well I just checked the biggest online retailers in Sweden (they are often cheaper than physical stores) and all of them have listed the PS3 Slim as maybe 100 SEK (~€10) cheaper than PS3.

Maybe they don't want to undercut the PS3 fat sales by listing it was cheaper but then again I heard that Sony slashed all prices by $100 after the PS3 Slim announcement.

It's specially weird since the foreign currency exchange rates are more favorable (from a Swedish perspective) than what they have been for a very long time.

There is NOTHING on the PS3 that interests me. I don't have time to own and play ALL the systems out there. The only system that is synonymous with video games now is the xbox 360. When people think of blu-ray they think of PS3.

I'm sure people will pick one up as a blu-ray player and we'll still see lagging software sales from Sony's titles. Sorry, I just want to play great games.. not watch blu-rays.

Sony exclusives don't look fun at all. Heavy Rain looks really boring. MGS4's main character is an old fart and it looks way too linear. Little Big Planet is too weird and the tutorial is too lengthy. Assassins Creed 2 looks better than God of War 3. PS3 just seems boring outside of being a blu-ray player. Nothing on that console comes close to Halo 3, ODST, and Reach (coming next year) for online gatherings. Forza 3 is speeding right past GT5 in getting released and in interesting features. I don't care to see a hole in my leather seats. I'd rather see some bad ass custom designed cars. Sorry. PS3 is the old xbox 1 in this gen. Impressive hardware, but not mainstream. Xbox 360 is where the fun is at.

I can't believe I bought the 20gb for $500 back in the day.... sigh.
My only solace is that I have backward compat.

GAME CONSOLE SALES JUST GOT INTERESTING

NPD predicts PS3 sales to increase by 40-60% post price drop

Reader Comments (105)

Posted: Aug 21st 2009 11:10PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 22nd 2009 3:56AM lacke said

Posted: Aug 22nd 2009 5:46AM Gamer X said

Posted: Aug 22nd 2009 2:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 22nd 2009 11:59PM fredgaso said

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