Cut-price PS3 in the UK?
September 26, 2007
If you are preparing to hand over your hard-earned (more than) disposable income in the run-up to Christmas, and you fancy a big black shiny dust magnet of a PS3 for your gaming needs, then please watch the press in the coming days/weeks as rumours are rife (online, and in various gaming magazines), that Sony are planning to launch a “cut-price” 40Gb model of their ‘next-gen’ console to steal some of the attention away from Microsoft’s release of “Halo 3″.
Various sources (some at Sony) have unofficially quoted a street price of £299 for the unit, but it is likely to be without a few of the features found on the bigger brother, 60Gb, model; namely, it will not be backwardly-compatible (with PlayStation [One] & PS2 titles), and the USB ports will not be available.
Such a move would be in keeping with comments made by David Reeves, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO/President, in June this year, when discussing the need for an 80Gb console in a market (like Korea) where there is a very high broadband penetration leading to increased desires to download content onto the hard drive of a console. At the time he said, “…at the moment we don’t see a requirement for launching this version in Europe. Certainly not in the foreseeable future“, and furthermore added, “...I can confirm that it’s highly unlikely that the 20Gb version will be launch in PAL territories“.
It does seem a strange approach to reduce functionality and/or remove the ability to charge the SIXAXIS wireless controllers on-board or add external devices, but whatever the soon-to-be-released console will offer, it shows that Sony is either bowing to consumer pressure on pricing, or is scared that Microsoft will dominate Christmas sales (again) this year.
However, perhaps this is just a strategy to phase-out the 60Gb console once the current stocks have run dry, and then release a larger capacity (80Gb, or even 120Gb) model at the same price (£425), whilst offering a cheaper alternative to directly compete with the Xbox 360?
Or, will Nintendo’s latest console, Wiin overall?
What do you think?
BFN,
fp.
(1upGamers.com Forums Moderator)
Expect an announcement in the UK tomorrow (5 October 2007) regarding the rumoured 40Gb PS3 console, probably at a Recommended Retail Price of £299 (or 399 USDs).
Also look out for the recent “Value Pack” bundles to be withdrawn from sale as an expected price reduction on the UK’s current 60Gb console will see it offered for £369 in time for the pending festive season (a drop of £56 on the current high street price).
As mentioned previously, the new 40Gb model is anticipated to feature WiFi & Blu-ray support, and a single SIXAXIS controller, but will be missing two (of the current four) USB ports, and the on-board memory card reader. The current UK model offers backward-compatibility with PS2 & PS1 titles by way of software emulation, but the new US 40Gb model will also lose the “emotion” chip to bring the consoles in both regions into line.
The new prices are most likely to be in effect from Wednesday 10 October 2007.
BFN,
fp.
(1upGamers.com Forums Moderator)
It’s official…
Press Releases
05/10/2007 16:30
New PLAYSTATION®3 Model to Take Holiday Season by Storm
Aggressively priced hardware and a terrific software line-up make for an unbeatable combination
New 40GB PS3 at €399
London, 5 October 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced details of its exciting new PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) model that will launch throughout the SCEE territories on 10th October 2007 at the highly attractive price of €399.
Providing an incredibly appealing entry point to the world of High Definition gaming and entertainment for the holiday season, the new PS3 brings the next generation of interactive home entertainment to homes all across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia.
Along with an ever expanding line-up of PS3 titles (a total of 65 titles tracking across all genres by Christmas), the new PS3 is equipped with a 40GB HDD and includes all the features central to the High Definition entertainment experience; true next generation gameplay, stunning High Definition Blu-ray Disc™ movies, SIXAXIS™ wireless controller, Wi-Fi and HDMI connectivity, all powered by the Cell Broadband Engine™, the digital heart of PS3.
As with the 60GB PS3, the new PS3 features upgradeable firmware allowing new features and functionality to be added to the system as time progresses. A recent firmware update, for example, enabled PS3 to upscale DVD’s played on the system to full 1080P High Definition.
The introduction of the new PS3 has been determined following user feedback from thousands of existing PS3 owners as well as research into future potential PS3 owners. The new model features two USB 2.0 ports rather than four and no longer includes the multi memory card port.
The new model is no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation®2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles (a total of 65 titles across all genres by Christmas).
The existing Starter Pack*, comprising a 60GB PS3 with extensive backwards compatibility, an additional SIXAXIS wireless controller and two first party titles will be reduced in price to €499. Remaining on sale while stocks last, the 60GB model represents outstanding value for the keen gamer wishing to upgrade to the High Definition capabilities of PS3.
“The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect High Definition entertainment system.
*In the UK and Ireland, the Starter Pack will be replaced by a separate in-store promotion on the 60GB PS3.