Possibility of PS3 price cut soon?

[Yoshimax]

All that chart tells me is there's no correlation.

People aren't buying PS3's "at that price" - They're buying them WAY below RRP from this site, ebay, avforums etc etc.

Couple that with no/low software attachment and you've got a seriously dire situation.

IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon has told GamesIndustry.biz that Sony must produce more first-party software for PlayStation 3 or risk seeing more and more units left on shop shelves.

Pidgeon's comments follow the release of NPD's videogame sales data for 2006 which, according to SCEA boss Jack Tretton, show "the power of PlayStation".

The IDC analyst said he agreed with Tretton that the power of the brand "is confirmed with the PS2's performance in the market", adding that sales of hit titles such as Guitar Hero 2 meant that last year "PS2 was helpful to most third-party publishers' bottom lines".

However, he continued, "The PlayStation brand doesn't appear to be helping the PS3. If NPD's numbers are correct, there are over 300K PS3s on retail shelves. That is not good for a console launch of only a million and it's not good for publishers with PS3 software."

Pidgeon warned that Sony must focus on the games available for PlayStation 3 and the number of first-party titles in development, stating, "Software libraries are the key driver of console sales, and no console is going to sell on the promises - they've got to deliver.

"Sony needs more must-have first party titles to sell consoles. Gamers know Halo 3 is coming on the Xbox 360, and they can expect Mario on the Wii, but there are no established first party franchises coming to the PS3 except Gran Turismo - and that is delayed."

Pidgeon did say that first-party PS3 games Heavenly Sword and Motorstorm "look great", but observed, "They are new and less anticipated."

[Concept]

It's not just the PS3. MS' strategy is hardly paying dividends right now. Both the PS3 and 360 each need a pricecut this winter if they want to stay competitive with the runaway success train that's fast becoming the Wii. I'd hazard a guess MS will probably be an easier position to do that should this (seemingly) neverending rumour of the chip revision ever see fruition.

[elkatas]

I'd hazard a guess MS will probably be an easier position to do that should this (seemingly) neverending rumour of the chip revision ever see fruition.

It's not rumour. Production for revised CPU and GPU starts this july. But I have no idea whatsoever when first units will hit the shelves. Probably same time as Halo 3.

[Concept]

It'd make sense to slash the price of the 360 around the time of Halo 3/GTAIV certainly, but after the introduction of the Elite I'm honestly not sure what MS are going to do (they may offer the uber-Elite for $750 with HD-DVD included instead).

Because, you know, that's clearly where the market is going. :P

[Yoshimax]

It seems to be they're phasing out core packs (check the shops - plenty out of stock now they don't seem to be backfilling) so it seems the ELITE will become the new premium whilst the current premium becomes the base unit - Position that around the £249 pricepoint with a game or two and I reckon yer laughing this Xmas.

There's no point either of them trying to compete with the wii now - There's too much momentum so they're never going to knock the wind from its sails - The only way I see that happening is a combination of no/poor software and negative word of mouth - but given most people who've bought one are happy enough with a game every other month that may not happen.

[Concept]

I was under the impression MS were still devoted to using the Core pack to gain the perception (because let's face it, we all know if you buy one you need to upgrade it) amongst the mainstream of it competing within the same price range as the Wii.

The Premium at £230 standalone, and £260 with Halo 3 would probably do quite well this winter. MS need a £50-80 pricecut on the Premium in my opinion if they're to fully capitalise on the 360's strong winter line-up.

[Number45]

People aren't buying PS3's "at that price" - They're buying them WAY below RRP from this site, ebay, avforums etc etc.

These sales have no impact on the quoted sales figures and are irrelevant to the point that I'm making, which is a very simple one. PS3s are being bought in shops, at a high price and with minimal killer software.

[Ajay1986]

There really isnt any point to arguing about this **** anymore in any of these threads becuase clearly many many people on these forums have already made up there minds about the PS3 being dead and useless already.

[Concept]

I wouldn't say that. The fanboys are just the most vocal in every thread and drown out the more moderate voices. We all know the software situation on the PS3 will improve... it's just that the market is much more competitive than it was during the time of the DC era back in 2000, which means Sony don't have the luxury to settle for twelve months of stagnation and wait for third-parties to do the talking for the system (not when the competition is doing everything it can to lure them away, and market conditions encourage a pre-dominantly multi-platform environment).