Report: PS3 $499 on July 12

[Bond]

Although Sony has yet to confirm a price drop officially, GameDaily BIZ has received confirmation from the retail sector that the PS3 will be dropped to $499 next week. Sony itself recently talked about "refining" the PS3 price. Now it appears to be happening.

A PS3 price cut rumor spread like wildfire across the Internet this afternoon when several sites spotted a new advertisement from Circuit City. The ad as seen on Kotaku lists the PS3 console at $499.99, $100 less than its current price.

It wasn't clear at first if this ad was a special deal specific to the electronics retailer or if it's indeed a retail-wide price cut instituted by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). As it turns out, a merchandising manager (who wished to remain anonymous) at one of the world's biggest retailers has confirmed to GameDaily BIZ that the price drop is indeed retail-wide and it's scheduled to take place on July 12, although the first wave of ads to promote the PS3's new price won't kick in until Sunday, July 15.

Many analysts have speculated that Sony would drop the price on the expensive console this year, and some even predicted that it could happen this summer. It's starting to look like they were right. We're sure to find out much more next week when Sony holds its press conference at E3.

SCEA when contacted for confirmation declined to comment.

Source: GameDaily BIZ (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16721)

If this proves to be true, that's quite the speedy price cut.

[GameMaster]

That might be enough of a price drop to warrant me purchasing one...

[Dyne]

It probably won't go far until another $100 is cut.

[thatmariolover]

I'd pick it up at $500 if it came with a good exclusive title.

Maybe...

[Typhoid]

It probably won't go far until another $100 is cut.

I think it'll do amazingly at 499.
it comes with an Blu Ray player, and some places sell Blu Ray's more than a PS3 to start with.

[Crash]

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2007/07/ps3_price_cut.jpg

[Bond]

I think it'll do amazingly at 499.
it comes with an Blu Ray player, and some places sell Blu Ray's more than a PS3 to start with.
That's true. Most blu-ray players are hovering around $500 right now.

[thatmariolover]

Sony is so determined to make Blu-Ray succeed they're willing to sacrifice the PS3 too accomplish it. If Blu-Ray succeeds as the long term HD format, no matter how much money they lose on the PS3 hardware they're going to make it back in Blu-Ray royalties later.

[gekko]

They're still losing money of hardware sales, and I can't imagine software sales are bringing in anything close to a profit. In fact, I know it's not, after the $2 billion in loses posted with an estimated $1 billion in losses this year.

That would be the worst decision they can make. Gamers are willing to pay $600, you just need to give us a good reason to. Or heaven forbid, give us the old model back.

[DeathsHand]

I walked into FYE a couple weeks ago looking to buy component cables for my PS2/Wii and noticed a very crude sign taped up on the wall that said "PS3 60GB $549.99!"... Which I found both amusing and rather sad...

I'm waiting it out before choosing on the 360 or PS3... With my recent HDTV purchase, I know it's inevitable that I'll end up with one of 'em...

But the way things are going, PS3's gonna need more than a $100 price cut...

[Typhoid]

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2007/07/ps3_price_cut.jpg


I'd just like to ask, what exactly did that accomplish, considering I said "some places sell it for..."?




Edit: Anyways, I paid full price for a PS3, and I'd completely reccomend people putting their freaking fanboy biases behind them, and actually buy it. it's a good system. It's actually rather amazing. The graphics are phenomenal, it does have a blu-ray, so if that manages to take off, you're set, you don't notice the lack of rumble, at all. Infact, it won't ever cross your mind, unless you're hellbent on bringing it up in a conversation, the Sixaxis is really easy to use when it's needed, if it's needed at all.

[Perfect Stu]

The PS3 is awesome tech, there's no doubt about it. The games are coming...I absolutely loved Sony's first party offerings on PS2...Ratchet and Clank, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Gran Turismo. I didn't pay full price for the system (I traded in a bunch of stuff), but it's definately worth an investment if you have a good HDTV.

[Angrist]

I wonder if they'll cut the price in Europe. It probably means that they're cutting €50 from it here. And it already costs $815. :D

[TheGame]

I hope the 20GB one drops to $399.99. Then it can actually compete with 360, and maybe it'll push sony to bring it back somewhat. But then again... nothing's stopping Microsoft from dropping 360's price too. (If reports are right though, they have a ton of stock they need to sell too)

I'm kinda like deathshand here, I'm hesitating big time to buy either of them. This is definently a step in the right direction though.

[Angrist]

Sony denies that they're cutting the price. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26445

[Bond]

Most companies will deny rumors until they officialy announce it themselves. But I could see the price not being cut, but I also could see it being cut.

[gekko]

I hope the 20GB one drops to $399.99.

There is no 20GB model. It was taken down shortly after launch to save on production costs because very few people were buying it. It could buy due to them producing more 60GB versions, and the first few buyers wanting the best version they can get their hands on. Still a wise move.

[Perfect Stu]

Sony denies that they're cutting the price. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26445

That's to be expected, they'd say that regardless.

[TheGame]

There is no 20GB model. It was taken down shortly after launch to save on production costs because very few people were buying it. It could buy due to them producing more 60GB versions, and the first few buyers wanting the best version they can get their hands on. Still a wise move.

I heard about that.. but a few months afterr they take it off the market it becomes available at gamestop.com all of a sudden.