Playstation 3 - price to drop?
Fri 6 Jul 2007 3pm
There was fevered internet speculation yesterday that Sony might reduce the price of its new Playstation 3 (PS3) in the US.
The console, released in 2006, retails at $599 in America. A price cut would most likely lead to a similar discount in the UK.
Gaming website Kotuaku.com posted what it claimed was a forthcoming promotional sales flyer for US electronics retailer Circuit City yesterday, which listed a $100 discount for the PS3.
Industry source GameDaily then claimed that it had "received confirmation" that prices will be cut to $499 on July 12th. It remains unclear as to whether the new price will be exclusive to Circuit City.
The PS3's biggest rival is Nintendo's Wii, which retails at $250. Also launched last year, the innovative Wii has outsold its more traditional rival worldwide. In Japan, spiritual home of the gaming industry, the ratio is as high as six to one.
President of Sony Ryoji Chubachi told Reuters today that currently it had "no plans" to cut the PS3 price.
However, Reuters also polled four analysts of the gaming industry this week. Three expected a $100 price cut to come by the end of the year.