PS3 price cuts? Maybe. Then again, maybe not

by Dean Evans at Tuesday 30th June, 2009 at 9:31 am [0 comments]

With both Microsoft and Sony recently announcing new control systems for the Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively, the battle is well and truly on for the hearts (and wallets) of consumers.

As far as sales are concerned, the Nintendo Wii easily dominates the current gaming market.

The gaming charts on VGchartz.com estimate that Nintendo has sold over 51 million Wiis globally, compared to 31 million Xbox 360s and 23 million PS3s.

Despite the Wii’s runaway success, the Xbox vs. PlayStation fight is arguably where all the action is. And this showdown will only intensify should each console get a price drop this year.

How likely is such a cut? Ars Technica has heard whispers that Sony will drop the price of the 160GB PS3 in the Autumn and introduce a new, smaller model - the PS3 Slim.

What will Microsoft do?

Microsoft, meanwhile, will want to stay competitive, unwilling to lose the momentum it’s built up over the last year.

There have already been rumours of a 1 Terabyte hard drive for the system. It would position the Xbox as a powerful digital hub, ready for digital downloads of full-priced games, as well as movies and TV shows.

If Sony makes a move to bring the price of the PlayStation 3 closer to that of the Xbox 360, then Microsoft could be forced into slashing the price of the 360 to stay ahead.

With HD size becoming vital as the two consoles grow, we could see the current 60GB Xbox 360 Pro phased out, in favour of the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite at the end of the Summer.

Of course, there have been rumours of PS3 price cuts before and none have actually materialised. Sony has always denied that it needs to drop the price of its system, citing a planned 10-year lifecycle.

“There are issues of cost and profitability,” SCEE President Andrew House told MCV. “We will make that move on price when all those factors are aligned.”

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