PSP price drop in Australia

PSP News | You can't stop the drop.

Sony announced today, via press release, that the price of the PSP has been dropped in Australia from AU $279 to a mere AU $189.95.

The price drop is effective from today onwards, and on top of the reduced price of the console, several PSP games have received a similar cheaper treatment. The PSP Essentials line of software now starts from just AU $14.95, and contains games such as LocoRoco 2, Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice and Mega minis compilation titles coming this April. A couple of games are also receiving the PSP Platinum treatment, retailing for AU $29.95, as God of War: Ghost of Sparta and ModNation Racers are added to the line.

Sony also point out that from 14 April onwards, PSP owners will be able to access the Music Unlimited service from Qriocity, which is a cloud-based music subscription service that allows users to listen to millions of songs from around the world, as well as studying their listening habits and tailoring music channels to their tastes. The service can also be synced between their PSP and their PS3 and PC, as well as other network-enabled Sony devices.

With new titles arriving on the platform like Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, will the price drop encourage any punters still holding off on a PSP purchase to give it a shot? Or will the lure of the forthcoming PSP-successor, codenamed NGP, as well as the launch of the competing Nintendo 3DS keep wallets in check for now? We leave the answers to you to decide.

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19 Comments

jesuslol

2 years ago

The PSP is a fantastic machine. If you have never had one there are plenty of high quality games to play as well as the entire Playstation back catalogue on the go. This is an OK price (p.s. Harvey Norman have it for $169 this week)

renegadesx

2 years ago

If you were going to buy one you would buy it by now. I have a 2000 model and there are a small handful of nice games on it (Half Minute Hero is fantastic) but most just dont fit the on the go uses (public transport etc).

The PSP is on its last legs. A dying platform to be replaced by the Xperia Play and NGP. I hope Sony get it this time. The market for 'console experience on the go' was not as big as they expected. Possibly because a small screen just cant deliver a big screen experience.

I personally dont have high expectations for the 3DS and NGP long term sales wise, phones for a large part has replaced the need for a dedicated gaming portable device (and Im an iPhone hater. Sony really should hype up the Xperia Play alot more as that has alot of potential in this era of converged devices.

BigBoss

2 years ago

can't compete with Nintendo. Their hardware is cooler and has more awesome games i have no idea why sony is trying to bring out another portable.

RichieT23

2 years ago

@BigBoss.

While I agree that Sony can most likely never reach the sales of Nintendo's hand helds, I disagree with your 'cool' statement. Nintendo just continues to release moderately upgraded hardware and shovels the same old stuff, rehashed over and over again. This unfortunately appeals to the masses.
IMO Sony's hardware is way cooler than the competition but simply appeals to a smaller more hardcore audience.

renegadesx

2 years ago

RichieT23 wrote

Sonys cool factor waned after being on top for so long. The hardcore audience is dominated by Microsoft with Xbox and Windows PC. Sony appeals to 2 audiences, the inbetween softcore audience (not casual not hardcore but inbetween) and the larger than many think Sony fanboy crowd as well as people that can afford more than one console.

On the handhelds, in the west the PSP sales are almost entirely fanboy related. The games on the DS just suited the bite sized portable needs better and then the iPhone admitingly did it even better.

As far as minor hadware refreshes, the DS did it with DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL, now with a major refresh with the 3DS. Apple did the same with iPhone, 3G, 3GS and 4 and similar iPod Touch models. Sony too did it with the PSP 1000, 2000, 3000 and PSPGo models, with a major refresh coming with the NGP so they too are guilty of this. Its designed to do a short boost in lagging sales making the shell look better and using cheaper components to drive making costs down, nothing new.

The Wii is the only gaming device that hasnt have a new model come out yet (they were profitable on day 1 and the components would be so cheap to make maybe no need).

Pilot

2 years ago

I've been holding off buying a PSP to upgrade from my 1000 model (even through there's nothing wrong with it), but maybe it's time to bite the bullet. I'm more keen for a second hand 2000 series though, so I'm hoping this brings their price down as well. If not, I'll get a new one in the stores.

The Genius

2 years ago

PSP initially sold well when released despite its high price.

Sells later went down drastically later and that was largely due to software line up drying up.

Its only the last couple of years the PSP has taken off again and this is due to Sony focusing more on it.

Now it has a healthy software lineup for all types of gamers.

PSP has now sold over 60 million. That is remarkable considering thats its their first handheld and Ninty's dominance of the handheld market.

PSP overall has been a success. For NGP spreading out their software releases better than PSP would be one thing Sony can improve.

jesuslol

2 years ago

renegadesx wrote

You're joking right? The PSP has sold over 60 million units. You can't say that these are all fanboy sales. It has sold way more than the 360 and PS3 have.

Also on your 'hardcore' comment. There is just as many 'hardcore' gamers on the PS3. Maybe you're thinking of Gears of War, Halo, and other exclusives that you consider to be more 'hardcore' than the PS3's offerings but it is fairly close all up. To say anything else is to be firmly in the Microsoft fanboy camp.

Pagan's Mind

2 years ago

BigBoss wrote

can't compete with Nintendo. Their hardware is cooler and has more awesome games i have no idea why sony is trying to bring out another portable.

Can't we just like both Nintendo and Sony?

THEMAN

2 years ago

The Genius wrote

PSP has now sold over 60 million.

Where you get that number from. I don't quite buy it

admeister

2 years ago

THEMAN wrote

The Genius wrote

PSP has now sold over 60 million.

Where you get that number from. I don't quite buy it

Here!

Puddingfork

2 years ago

I've never owned a PSP, so this is tempting, but I can't actually think of any games I'm dying to play on it, and I want to get the Xperia Play when that comes out anyway, will that play PSP games?

Considering I never use my DS because if I'm not in my bedroom with my far superior PC then it's very rare I have a chance to game, and when I would have a chance I usually browse the Internet on my phone, which means less Internet browsing when I get home, which means more PC gaming...

Gtpod

2 years ago

I'd buy a PSP for Crisis Core & Dissidia alone.

What am I talking about 'would', I did.

OropherX

2 years ago

The PSP is a JRPG console and works well as one, it's not as well suited for other genres. Gamers these days just want to blow crap up on a big HDTV like CoD, Halo etc that's why I think the sales are bad. I think Peacewalker and Ghost of Sparta are the only big hits for most gamers. I love the console as while not revolutionary, it is a great console for a story telling and simple combat JRPG.

theory

2 years ago

OropherX wrote

The PSP is a JRPG console and works well as one, it's not as well suited for other genres.

Pffft. Lumines is still the best game on the PSP. And that was a launch title! Also, all the other games from Q! Entertainment.

fireflybck

2 years ago

I've been reluctant to commit to a portable platform despite liking the Castlevania games on the DS and the JRPG/MGS games on the PSP.

Personally I'd rather they port the games to Wii and PS3 where appropriate. I have an iPhone and only play for short periods.

Will the NGP play downloadable PSP games? If so I may consider it.

Frozencry

2 years ago

I've had about 6 PSPs over the years. Have 3 now, two I got from Sony and one I bought. The others previously were gifts or cheap buys from mates which I then gave away.

I personally think the handheld is bad-ass. Good games, nice visuals and feels good in the hands. I hated that there was no second analog but yeah, overall I dig the thing. Never used it for traveling though.

THEMAN

2 years ago

PSP had its moments. I'd say the backlog + cheap price = great value. I had more fun with my PSP (gow + FFCC + wipeout + patapon + more) than I did with my DSlite.

ObsoletE

2 years ago

didn't HN and Dick Smith advertise PSPs at this price last weekend as a sale price?

certainly one way to jump the gun and get some dirty sales - i know i was tempted to upgrade my 1000 to a 3000, and then the RRP comes down...

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