Since E3, publishers and retailers have been clamoring for a price drop on the PS3. Rumors, driven by analyst reports, have strongly suggested that Sony will finally cut the MSRP on the console sometime in August, but for now the company remains mum on the subject, instead continuing to talk up the value proposition of the system and its "10-year life cycle." Sony also remains tied to a profitability mandate from Japan, and analyst Michael Pachter believes that even a $50 cut would lose Sony $350 million in profits. Then the poop really hit the fan when Activision Blizzard chief Bobby Kotick threatened that he might have to consider dropping support of PS3 altogether.
Now another publisher has come out of the woodwork to let Sony know that it really needs to see a price drop on PS3. Speaking to CVG, Kenji Matsubara, CEO of the newly merged Tecmo Koei, commented that he's already put in multiple requests with Sony to "please cut the price."
"Whenever I discuss this with Sony reps I always ask them: 'Please cut the price', but I don't have a clear view on Sony's situation," he said. "Yes, from a publisher's point of view we would welcome a price cut for PS3, and we are waiting, definitely."
Matsubara added, "It's definitely a way of boosting the PS3 market, but it's Sony's strategy and I don't know their cost structure. Sony introduced cutting-edge technology in the PS3, that's why people in the industry accept that the PS3 cost is so high, but we'd welcome a price cut."
IndustryGamers believes a price cut on PS3 is inevitable this year. We're just waiting for Sony to finally announce it (and the rumored PS3 Slim).
2 Comments
July 4, 2009
Who do these guys think they are? This is way beyond what their company has rights to demand. Sony's cost and pricing structure are entirely to do with manufacture costs that Tecmo-Koei and Activision-Blizzard know nothing about. Remember, Microsoft makes up the cost difference of the 2 units in 1 year of xbox-live memberships - they're really just asking Sony to be dishonest with their prices in stores like their main competitor. By the way, £40 for a game is way to expensive, when can we expect a 20% price cut on that eh?
July 5, 2009
To the unnamed person who wrote the previous comment: These guys are not out there to "protect" you and me (the consumer). They are here to sell as many copies of their software they can, to make as much money they can. I don't think they particularly think "they are somebody" (although it is entirely possible, since they, evidently, have a lot of money), they just want Sony to drop the PS3 price, so more people would buy a PS3, so there would be more potential buyers for their products. I agree with you about the price of the games. Judging from the symbol in front of the "40" I take it that you live in England. Here in the states where I live they charge $60 per game, which I personally think is an armed robbery. Of course, software companies would not mention that, and they are ready to "justify" that price using "development cost" crap and similar excuses. But it is very interesting how ready they are ready to grab any opportunity and accuse some other company of ripping off the consumer, while at the same time they do the same thing... One advise (If I may): I don't know if that service is available in England, but here in the states, the best way to get a game in a decent price is to buy the game about 2 months after its release (about one month for non AAA titles) online on amazon. I have bought several AAA titles for $34 - 38$ (shipping included), and think that this is the way to go, unless if you absolutely have to have a game at day one (which is understandable too :)).
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