Sony Cuts PlayStation 3 Prices in Japan

Sony Cuts PlayStation 3 Prices in Japan
Tuesday October 9, 7:19 am ET
By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer

Sony to Cut Prices on PlayStation 3 in Japan, Sell New Model in Japan, Europe

TOKYO (AP) -- Sony Corp.'s game unit said Tuesday it will cut the prices of its PlayStation 3 game consoles sold in Japan next week, and offer a new model in November.

The moves are being made to meet growing demand and competition as the holiday season approaches, spokeswoman Sayoka Henmi said.

Sony once dominated the industry with PlayStation 2, predecessor for the PS3, but it faces intense competition from consoles from Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will cut the price of its model with 20 gigabytes of hard disk memory by about 10 percent to 44,980 yen ($384) from the current 49,980 yen ($427), effective Oct. 17, the company said in a statement.

The price of its 60 gigabyte models will be reduced to about 54,980 yen ($470) from about 59,000 yen ($500).

The company also said a new 40 gigabyte model will hit stores in Europe on Wednesday at 399 euros ($563) and in Japan on Nov. 11 at a suggested retail price of 39,980 yen ($342).

Henmi said Sony has no immediate plans to introduce 40GB consoles in the U.S.

Price cuts for the 20GB and 60GB consoles are only for Japan, but a starter pack sold in Europe that come with a 60GB game console, two controllers and a software will be reduced to 499 euros ($704) from 599 euros ($845), Henmi said.

Sony has globally sold more than 5 million units of the PlayStation 3 since it went on sale late last year in Japan and the U.S., and in March in Europe.

Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years, and Nintendo has sold 9.3 million units of its popular Wii since late last year.

Oh. I hope this helps the sales over there. BTW, Engadget has pics of the new 40 gig ceramic white PS3, that just hit the japanese streets.

I don't know about you, guys. But I really like this version. Too bad it's unlikely to reach our shores. And $342 sounds a lot better.

"Sony once dominated the industry..."

Ouch! How many of thought we'd ever see that reported matter-of-factly, say 4 years ago.

I doubt it is going have much affect...Mainly because, the games still lack. While the Wii is comming out with guns loaded.Shinoto

I'd definately be willing to pick up a PS3 with a 40GB HDD priced at around $400 so the sooner they can bring that to the North American market the better. I'd really like to pick up Ridge Racer 7, Resistance, Tekken 5: DR, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma right off the bat. Uncharted and Ratchet look likethey will bereally good games and I wouldn't mind at least renting Heavenly Sword and giving that game a spin.

I can't say I'm all that interested in getting a white PS3 though since black goes better with the other equipment in my entertainment center.

Keep on cutting, finally Sony is doing something. I sure hope this wasted year they had with these crazy console prices was worth it, now they are extremely behind and at the price point they should have been to begin with.dvader654

I really don't know how much this is going to help them in Japan (save for the new color, which the Japanese seem to go nuts over). I don't know that it's really a price issue over there, and even if it is, they've got a long ways to go (even from this cut) to get the price competitive with the Wii. A price drop is always a good thing, but I think the problem in Japan is that no one really knows what the Japanese buyer is thinking. Are they buying the Wii because of how quirky and different it is? Are they buying it because it's cheap? Are they buying it because it reminds them of a home version of the DS? No one really knows. There's the very real possibility that this will provide a bit of temporary buoyancy to the numbers, but nothing long-term. The problem also is that there aren't any games coming for the system in Japan to go along with the drop.

I think this helps them set the table up for a spring MGS4 release, and I'm sure this was the result of a lot of publisher heat on Sony. I can only imagine the meetings between Konami reps and Sony reps discussing how MGS4 was going to fare with only a million units moved in a year. And I'm sure the talks with Square regarding FFXIII weren't all that different. I'm sure that publishers have watched mainstay million-selling franchises from the PS2 era sell underhwelmingly (Minna no Golf5, VF 5) inJapan and it's caused them to hit the panic button. I think this was the better decision from the two options: Lose exclusives (what little there are) or bleed more money. Bleeding is better.

This is, quite literally, do or die time for Sony globally. I can't remember any system ever losing two holiday seasons before going on to lead the market.