Sony: No Xmas PS3 cuts

Gamers should not expect the price of the PlayStation 3 to fall any farther in time for Christmas, says the president of Sony Computer Entertainment. "The answer is yes, if you’re asking, ‘Are these the prices we’re going with this Christmas,’" according to Kazuo Hirai. The PS3 has long been the most expensive of the current-generation consoles, originally starting at minimum of $499, though an 80GB model now costs $399. By comparison, a Nintendo Wii costs $249, while a barebones version of Microsoft's Xbox 360 is $199.

Hirai contends that the PS3 is a more advanced console, mainly by inclusion of a hard drive by default, and the use of a Blu-ray drive instead of a DVD or proprietary optical drive. Sony may also be interested in retaining margins, as unlike the Wii, the sale of a PS3 creates a loss for the company; profit is made off of games, movies and accessories.

Console makers have often lowered prices in advance of holidays, but with cuts having already been made on the PS3 and Xbox 360 throughout the year, only Nintendo may have any room to maneuver. The latter is unlikely to make adjustments however, given continual sell-outs of Wii stock.

By Electronista Staff