TGS 2006: PS3 price slashed in Japan

PS3 News | Budget version to get HDMI also.

Sony president Ken Kutaragi has announced that the price of the PlayStation 3 is to be cut in Japan, with the budget 20GB version of the console now due to cost ¥49,980 (AU$570 / £225 / €335), as opposed to its initial price tag of ¥62,790 (AU$715 / £285 / €420). However, there have been no modifications made to the price of the 60GB version of the next-gen console - in Japan, Sony is still leaving that decision up to retailers - and no hints that the price of the machine may be dropped in other regions.

And in more good news for Sony fans, the company revealed that the 20GB version of the PlayStation 3 would now include a HDMI port.

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27 Comments

Frozencry

5 years ago

Let's hope this applies to all other regions as well.

Nev

5 years ago

AU$570...?

fdsfl'kjgawtiw

I'm sorry, I've just cum.

Whatever Sony decide to do in regards to Australian pricing, I seriously doubt we'll get it for anything near that. $700 would be more believable, and still pretty fair, if the 360 is still selling for $650 (which it most likely won't be, if the PS3 comes out at that price).

A price cutting war before the systems are even released. I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

naw, we'll probably have a price rise.

LeonJ

5 years ago

Nev wrote

I'm sorry, I've just cum.

Wow, two stroke mower hey.

James

5 years ago

Maybe that was Sony's nefarious plan all along. Fool us with a high price point, then drop it to something reasonable right before launch. Next they'll tell us that PAL regions will receive the console first.

We can dream.

realitybites

5 years ago

Yeah, until I see it for sale in Big W or KMart than I'll believe the price.

Smart move including the HDMI in the smaller package.

March 2007 is still miles away.

The Brett

5 years ago

I think I just heard the sound of Microsoft and Nintendo executives all over the world collectively peeing their pants.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

^ Not sure about Microsoft, but if Sony cuts the price here, and Microsoft will no doubt follow. The Wii's price "advantage" will suddenly look quite shakey here.

Personally I think Sony will drop the core pack to $650, but won't go any lower than $600 here.

Jeremy

5 years ago

The Brett wrote

I think I just heard the sound of Microsoft and Nintendo executives all over the world collectively peeing their pants.

Which is why Sony are copying everything that they are doing

arbok

5 years ago

don't let sony fool you!

this is what it should have been in the first place.

maybe it was their marketing ploy to hit you with bad news all along - and then closer to the launch they bring out what seems like good news but reallly is what it should have been all along.

Crestfallen

5 years ago

who cares if its a ploy, its good news for consumers

jackbauer85

5 years ago

i may be crazy but i would pay the price they said if we got it when everyone else got it but no we have to wait till march. Well btw if they lower the price in japan i reckon they will lower the price for us because of waiting so long

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Looking alot more tempting now, Sony. Very nice move.

dc0079

5 years ago

Very strange, it's not a bad value for the budget version then.
Just wondering if a HDD upgrade is possible now.

ZNMS

5 years ago

Price cut or not. I'm still not going to buy it.

D.Dark

5 years ago

I wouldnt keep my hopes up.

The Plague

5 years ago

The big news here (as we have no idea if the price will change anywhere except Japan) is that the PS3 'tard pack aint so retarded any more. Besides the hard disc space, is there any difference between the two SKUs now? Really they've just cut the price difference between their console and the 360 by a hundred (US) dollars.

I'm still not getting one, but it seems a little bit more tempting.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

No wireless networking or card reader.

Ellegarden

5 years ago

James wrote

If only all stories had a happy ending...

David

5 years ago

Remember people:

The PSP Launch price in Japan was 19,800 Yen (AU$226). It came out here eight months late for AU$400 (dropped just before release from AU$430).

What happens in Japan has no bearing on other reigons. Sony is hurting really badly in Japan, where the DS is now well over 80% of the total video game market.

The Brett

5 years ago

It's really interesting seeing what's happenned to Sony. At E3 2005, they were criticized for the following reasons:

- Two HDMI ports? Who needs them? Needless cost.
- Boomerang controller? Stupid!
- **** online? Not again Sony!

Then later:

- Nintendo have the Wiimote! You are so unimaginative, Sony!

At E3 2006, Sony changed everything. They copied XBL, because people liked it. They scaled back the number of HDMI ports, because people didn't seem to care. They changed the controller back to the classic style, because people said they preferred it. They added motion sensitivity, because people said that was the future.

So what happens? They get slammed right back in the opposite direction!

For me, TGS 2006 was a wiping of the slate clean for Sony. I don't care about the **** from the past couple of years, I just want them to make a good product. They look like they're doing a pretty decent job, and they're really forwarding some innovative new ideas for the Playstation Network Platform. And some of the games really are looking stunning.

Come on Sony, I don't want you to fail. But you seem to want to. Drop the price worldwide, and start fresh.

Gtpod

5 years ago

ZNMS wrote

Price cut or not. I'm still not going to buy it.

QFT. I may get it when it's $80 preowned, until then... no wai.

James

5 years ago

The Brett wrote

Come on Sony, I don't want you to fail. But you seem to want to.

POTM. Epitomising the cry of Sony fanboys everywhere

5 years ago

Too early to crow "I told you so" but Nintendo made all the right moves which has allowed them to make the worst mistake possible.

The market reaction to Wii and negative sentement given to Sony** has allowed Nintendo to go for a cash grab and make as much money off the Wii hardware & virtual titles as possible.

Wii is over priced

Wii business model is based on the occurance of "Wii mania" IE: that everyone runs out and buys one and talks about it as being cool before they settle down and figure out what it is they have just purchased - A recycled game cube with a gimmick.

This is not a bad thing - I am not against the Wii (quite the contrary) which is why I am leaving this post. I am concerned the revolution may fail.

I am concerned that the high price of Wii, with no CD or DVD, no hard drive (for quick buffered load times, and game saves), little by way of graphics or audio, and no real CPU grunt to talk about - how will this hold out if the delta between it and the high-end systems narrow?

The games themselves are too high - FarCry on Wii looks crap so if XBOX360 is only $5 or $10 more for good graphics, sound and hard disk access, online play etc... Mainstream titles will not sell on Wii.
It again risks being niche.

In my humble opinion, Nintendo should have priced Wii at a price point that left no question.

Sony ** For those who do not know this firm: This is the DRM King, Rootkit making company behind In-game advertising, Blow Ray, Dell batteries, MiniDisk, MiniDisk 2 (UMD), Memorystick and everything else that plain Blows). NINTENDO DO NOT LET THEM WIN. PLEASE!

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