On the back of ongoing rumours, CVG has been told that Sony has informed retailers of a looming price drop for both the PS3 and PSP "soon", but is yet to specify an exact date.
A major UK high street retailer told us this morning that they've received word from Sony regarding PSP and PS3 price drops "definitely coming soon", but that it was yet to confirm when or by how much.
"It's been on the cards for a while," they said, "but manufacturers are not in the habit of giving exact dates so as not to effect sales".
Game and GameStation's PR man declined to comment on the rumours, saying only: "Price drops are always welcome, but can't I give you any specifics."
Sony refused to comment on "rumour and speculation".
The word on the street is that the 80GB PS3 will drop in US from $399 to $300 next week. Probably around the time of GDC.
Stay tuned and we'll keep you updated.
Update: It seems Sony will launch a new two-game PS3 bundle, packing Resistance: FoM and Motorstorm with an 80GB console apparently for the same $399 price. Not a price drop, but it's something. This photo of the box at retailer Target appears to confirm it. Update ends.
It'd certainly be welcome - I'm actually thinking that I'd be more interested in a PSP (I do a lot of travelling) at a lower price than the PS3 at the moment (especially after seeing my brother get ISS98 to run on it).
So - are we talking a reduction of around 25% on RRP?
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
It'd certainly be welcome - I'm actually thinking that I'd be more interested in a PSP (I do a lot of travelling) at a lower price than the PS3 at the moment (especially after seeing my brother get ISS98 to run on it).
So - are we talking a reduction of around 25% on RRP?
Don't buy a PSP even if they do drop a price, leave it until June if you can. It's good if you travel a lot, I've found it a lot better than the Iphone.
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
Whats the next Big PS3 game to drop?
Probably Infamous, due sometime in May. I'm really looking forward to the game, but I am not convinced it will be a big system seller as it is a new IP.
It'd certainly be welcome - I'm actually thinking that I'd be more interested in a PSP (I do a lot of travelling) at a lower price than the PS3 at the moment (especially after seeing my brother get ISS98 to run on it).
So - are we talking a reduction of around 25% on RRP?
Don't buy a PSP even if they do drop a price, leave it until June if you can. It's good if you travel a lot, I've found it a lot better than the Iphone.
Why June? - is there some kind of other announcement pending?
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
Whats the next Big PS3 game to drop?
Probably Infamous, due sometime in May. I'm really looking forward to the game, but I am not convinced it will be a big system seller as it is a new IP.
I too have my eye on inFamous, loved Crackdown and this game seems like Crackdowns big brother or something and if thats out in May then that could be the time to do a price drop.
New (exciting) IP + New Price = New Customers (I would think).
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
Whats the next Big PS3 game to drop?
Probably Infamous, due sometime in May. I'm really looking forward to the game, but I am not convinced it will be a big system seller as it is a new IP.
I reckon Sony should do a similar thing to what MS did with Crackdown. Maybe throw in a demo of Gow 3 or Uncharted.
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
Whats the next Big PS3 game to drop?
Probably Infamous, due sometime in May. I'm really looking forward to the game, but I am not convinced it will be a big system seller as it is a new IP.
I too have my eye on inFamous, loved Crackdown and this game seems like Crackdowns big brother or something and if thats out in May then that could be the time to do a price drop.
New (exciting) IP + New Price = New Customers (I would think).
Possibly. A substantial price drop will have more of an effect than any game though, regardless of how well known it is.
More than likely, the unit will probably come with LPB and Singstar, or something like that.
I'll be P!ssed if they do drop the price as I just bought one this weekend gone. Typical I wait ages to buy one just incase they drop the price and then it could happen. Maybe they'll offer some crappy vouchers as compensation like MS did a few years ago when they drop the original Xbox's price suddenly. I doubt it though
The good news for me is that I am getting my new TV at the end of April and was looking to invest in a standalone Bluray player. I may consider getting another PS3 if the price is right.
Argos have been selling the new PSP colours at £126.79 with a free game, went and bought the red one with God Of War yesterday and then today, Ghostbusters on UMD arrived!
Why June? - is there some kind of other announcement pending?
Rumoured release date of the redesign. It probably wont be that big a change but even if it squeezes a few extra hours out of the bloody battery it would be worth holding out for.
The worst kept secret in Gaming? Of course it will get a price drop, the biggie is going to be by how much and when, I would imagine it could coincide with the release of a big PS3 game.
Whats the next Big PS3 game to drop?
Probably Infamous, due sometime in May. I'm really looking forward to the game, but I am not convinced it will be a big system seller as it is a new IP.
Why June? - is there some kind of other announcement pending?
Rumoured release date of the redesign. It probably wont be that big a change but even if it squeezes a few extra hours out of the bloody battery it would be worth holding out for.
Ah - I forgot about that, thanks for the heads up.
I'd tried a PSP before and it ended up causing my hands to ache after a while of playing it - I'm hoping the Slim model will be a little easier to use.
Drop it to £199 with a game included and a wireless controller and i may get one, a big IF.
I doubt that's going to happen. More realistic would be a £229 to £250 RRP, maybe with a free game. Obviously depending on sales from that and how Sony are internally, a price cut now and one later in the year (near Christmas) would be unlikely but no doubt very effective.
All I can say is about time. I own a PS3 so obviously don't care too much about the price, but it's kept that price for far too long considering the price of the competition.
Oh yeah, I just found the 40 GB PS3 in the cleance section on the Argos site.
Tempting, but I think I'll hold out to see what this price drop is saying, I would rather a Dualshock pad and the superior 80 GB for something like £250
I'll be P!ssed if they do drop the price as I just bought one this weekend gone. Typical I wait ages to buy one just incase they drop the price and then it could happen. Maybe they'll offer some crappy vouchers as compensation like MS did a few years ago when they drop the original Xbox's price suddenly. I doubt it though
That would be a bummer, but haven't you been paying attention to the now increasingly frequent rumor stories making the rounds at CVG and elsewhere about a PS3 price cut? Personally I would have waited at least until the gaming tradshows where such announcements might be made had come and gone.
The good news for me is that I am getting my new TV at the end of April and was looking to invest in a standalone Bluray player. I may consider getting another PS3 if the price is right.
You realise with Sony making a loss per console, you'll be costing sony with this?!?!?!
Just kidding. If they get down to the price point where people will consider buying one instead of a standalone BR player, they could bet back in the strong position of appealing to people who just want a BR player, as they were at launch. Then more game sales will inevitably come.
I'm definitely getting one the day of the price drop. I've been building up a credit note at Gamestop for whenever this happens and have €150 so far. I've decimated half my DVD collection and 360 games for it. Come on Sony - drop that price!
As for Motorstorm and Resistance in the update - they've already released that package in Europe, albeit with the 60 gig version. It could be just USA specific. It would be bizarre if they offered that instead of a proper price cut. Or failing that I can't see why they wouldn't offer Motorstorm 2 and Resistance 2 instead.
damn the current exchange rate. if this had been a year ago you'd able to of imported one from the states £150 + postage. now thats a bargain. now its more like "250+ postage.
I can wait for any price drop myself. I'll wait then and see the state of games releases at that point. I would lean more towards a PS3 than an Xbox personally, if I was getting one over the other.
damn the current exchange rate. if this had been a year ago you'd able to of imported one from the states £150 + postage. now thats a bargain. now its more like "250+ postage.
curse you recession!!!!
Don't forget tolls and tariffs courtesy of Customs. That can up to more than just a pretty penny.
damn the current exchange rate. if this had been a year ago you'd able to of imported one from the states £150 + postage. now thats a bargain. now its more like "250+ postage.
curse you recession!!!!
Don't forget tolls and tariffs courtesy of Customs. That can up to more than just a pretty penny.
Also, aren't the BluRay drives region locked?...even if the games are all multi-region, it'd be a pain in the a*** trying to find region 1 BluRays.
damn the current exchange rate. if this had been a year ago you'd able to of imported one from the states £150 + postage. now thats a bargain. now its more like "250+ postage.
curse you recession!!!!
Don't forget tolls and tariffs courtesy of Customs. That can up to more than just a pretty penny.
Also, aren't the BluRay drives region locked?...even if the games are all multi-region, it'd be a pain in the a*** trying to find region 1 BluRays.
That and the fact you will need a big yellow 110V step down transformer where ever you take it.
You could buy a cheaper PS3 at Argos and then buy a large laptop hard drive(make sure you get the right sort 2.5? I think). I've got an original 60gb PS3 and I changed the hard drive to 250gb( But you can get bigger or faster spinning ones than mine). I know nothing about building computers and stuff, I googled the information on how to change it and watched video on Youtube. It was easy, back up your files and then it took 5 minutes to swap hard drives over. It took a little while to copy files back thou. It's all good and I'm happy
PSPs are great. I play it so much more than my ps3. Just want to know how you get roms on it tho and if it can harm it etc. Playing snes games def appeals to me. Its a PSP 3000 btw. Please help me
PSPs are great. I play it so much more than my ps3. Just want to know how you get roms on it tho and if it can harm it etc. Playing snes games def appeals to me. Its a PSP 3000 btw. Please help me
Not sure if it's the same process fro the new PSP's but I would imagine so.
My flatmate has downgraded his PSP and he did it with what he refers to as the "Pandora battery". He got it from a mate (who I think bought it off ebay) and my understanding is that it's what technicians use to sort of factory reset the machine.
He has a couple of snes and md emulators which allow us to play all the old sonic and mario games and I gotta say they work really well - with a few exceptions.
I actually much prefer playing retro games on a PSP than a big screen because they don't look pixellated and you can't see the jaggies as much. Being able to carry around hundreds of games in your pocket at once is also pretty sweet.
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i want one!!! i've been waiting too long now.
