Sony's Stringer shrugs off pressure to cut PlayStation 3 prices

Wed Jul 8, 2009 9:39AM EDT

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Gamers want a PS3 price cut, gaming developers want a PS3 price cut, and even analysts want a PS3 price cut. Apparently, however, lowering the price tag for Sony's struggling next-gen console isn't what Sir Howard Stringer wants.

Reuters reports that Sony's CEO, on his way to a conference in Idaho on Tuesday, curtly dismissed the idea that cutting prices on the PS3—still at least $399, or $200 more than the cheapest Xbox 360 model—might be a good idea, saying that "I (would) lose money on every PlayStation I make" were Sony to do so.

Stringer also brushed aside the pleas of gaming developers, who have complained that high PS3 prices have stifled the growth of the console's install base, making it less profitable to develop titles for the platform.

And what of Activision's Bobby Kotick, who recently said that the development house (responsible for such high-profile games as "Call of Duty: World at War" and the "Guitar Hero" series) might actually stop supporting PlayStation consoles altogether? Stringer's response (according to Reuters): "He likes to make a lot of noise … he's putting pressure on me and I'm putting pressure on him. That's the nature of the business."

That's not the best news for anyone who's been waiting for a PlayStation 3 price cut. For now, the cheapest PS3 remains the 80GB model at $399, while the Nintendo Wii sells for $249 and the Xbox 360 Arcade goes for just $199. Meanwhile, the PS3 has consistently trailed both the Wii and the 360 in terms of monthly console sales (save for a brief spell last year, following—gasp!—the initial PS3 price cut to $399).

Ars Technica predicted late last month that a PS3 price cut (along with a rumored slim version of the console) could be in the offing this fall, but Stringer's latest comments don't bode well for the rumor.

So, what do you think: Is it high time for a PS3 price cut?

[Full disclosure: My wife works at Sony Music.]

Related:
Sony CEO dismisses price cut chatter on PlayStation [Reuters]

Comments on Sony's Stringer shrugs off pressure to cut PlayStation 3 prices

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  • 6 Posted by carterjt47 on Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    guyz,xbox 360 is an option,c'mon screw off the ps3,they weren't selling consoles anyway.....

  • 7 Posted by itcanhappentoyou on Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:14AM EDT Report Abuse

    Both Sony & MS have lost Billions on their current generation consoles. Why would Sony increase their losses by cutting the price? I have no idea why either company would produce a product where they lose money on every unit sold, but they do. Nintendo on the other hand isn't really current generation on graphics or power & is making a profit on every unit sold.

  • 8 Posted by scott_sharplin1231 on Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:43AM EDT Report Abuse

    How can you compare the $399.00 playstation to the 199.00 xbox??? To get the basic same console let take the $199.00 xbox and at a $99.00 wireless receiver, and $99.00 60 gig hard drive, and a blue ray player at $199.00. to that make the x-box about $600.00 compared to a $399.00 playstation

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