260°

How Should Sony Price the PS4 Relative to the Wii U & Xbox 720?

Next generation is right around the corner for Microsoft and Sony, as Nintendo has already released their next generation system. The PS4, Wii U, and Xbox 720 will all host great games, but one of the keys to being successful in the console market is Price. Unsurprisingly, price can dictate a console generation and swing an unfavorable console at the beginning (PS3 2006), to a favorable spot by the generations ends (PS3 2013). Sony has clearly learned their lesson from the initial launches of the PSP and PS3. However, for the PS4 the price needs to be right. The Wii U is already nearing 2 million units sold, and the Xbox brand is immensely popular in the US. Although we don’t know the final specs or features of the PS4 or Xbox 720, where do you guys think Sony needs to price the PS4 when stacked up against the competition?

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jujubee884129d ago

If they have a low priced model for around 399 bucks, I would buy the PS4 at launch.

Hopefully, they also make a low priced bundle with VITA+PS4 so more people can get into cross-play, cross-buy, cross-save, etc.

-Superman-4129d ago

Americans always buys what is cheapest, while us, europeans we dont care about price, but we care who has best console and quality.
Well, in Japan name is better.

Sony really should make PS4 what that has low cost, but when they sell they get profit. PS3 problem was that it cost more but they sold consoles cheaper than making cost and it´s big loss.

ChickeyCantor4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

It's not that we don't care. It's that we don't have a choice. Our prices are rigged. And need to lay down heavy prices while in other places it's dirt cheap.

To say we don't care about prices is nonsense. We Europeans don't have magical money making trees. Money is still money and we can't just spend it.

If we like something we save up for it. Just like any other person.

Hingle_Mcringleberry4129d ago

Thats that BS right there! iPhone, iPad, iPod are not the cheapest but Americans buy those in droves. Don't come here and spew that nonsense just because PS3 is last in the US.

nirwanda4129d ago

Consoles should aways be a loss making machine in the early days that way you make sure they last a long time, the main reason sony made a loss compared to MS was the expenive blu ray drives and XDR memory that the main stream pc never used

MASTER_RAIDEN4129d ago

I for one will just never understand why people from other countries have this persistent desire to bash all things american.
what youre saying is borderline nonsense..
America is an extremely consumer-heavy region. Much more so than any EU country as a matter of fact. to say that "americans dont pay for quality" makes no sense, and you need to see that there are several examples which favor either side of that argument.
But i suppose this is the trend the internet seems to be following nowadays. Bash America as much as you can because it makes you look awesome and cultured to people on the internet!

no offense to you personally.

Knight_Crawler4129d ago

" europeans we dont care about price, "

Is that why the EURO is turning to chicken feed and why some europrean countries who adpated the EURO regret it and want out.

One currency to rule them all my arse.

dantesparda4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

@Hingle_Mcringleberry

No American pays full price for those devices, everybody gets them subsidized. So the most people usually pay for them is $200 or less.

MikeMyers4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

Superman,
Americans always buys what is cheapest? Is that why the iPad sold so poorly against other tablets? Americans have bought the Playstation One and PS2 more than what Nintendo offered for less price. So don't be upset just because the PS3 failed to give Sony the Triple Crown. Even in Japan the PS3 hasn't reached the same success the PS2 or PS1 did. So is everyone cheap?

As for the PS4, Sony will likely take a more conservative approach. The PS3 and the Vita were educational for Sony who tried to offer high end alternatives but cost Sony quite a bit financially. I think we've reached a boiling point for development costs so over the top game consoles with a high price tag may not be a smart idea. Even more so for Sony who is in a mess right now with their stocks now rated at junk.

The Xbox 720 might also add another curve ball out there. They could offer a low cost upfront system like a cellphone where they package a 3 year Live membership and sell it all for $199 with a monthly fee of $9.99.

Sony has said they don't want to be late for the party so 2013 could be a very interesting year. Especially if the Steambox comes out as well.

NastyLeftHook04129d ago

i agree, im not the richest man in the world but quality matters in a 5 year+ investment. thats why i am buying the ps4 launch day no matter what.

Daoshai4129d ago Show
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4128d ago (Edited 4128d ago )

Actually name is more important in america than price. Look at ipad! And even though no new games are coming to xbox since 2010's alan wake xbox is still number one in america and cod. Americans most are under the control of marketing and a created perception around a brand imo..

hazardman4128d ago

i dont consider spending $300-$500 of my hard earned money CHEAP!

aCasualGamer4128d ago

If you want the PS4 to be relevant interms of tech, like i do, then anything below $399 is unrealistic.

I would love to get the PS4 for free, but in reality it's a different matter altogether. My realistic prediction is that it will cost anywhere from $399 to $499. If they go subscription based ala Iphone then it will most likely go for 99$ plus monthly fee, that's not likely though.

I want a beast, tech wise, for nextgen PS4 so i'm willing to save up roughly $499 for it.

Haha1234128d ago

lol sorry mate I didnt buy the ps3 when it was priced at a stupid £425 no games..

Bolts4128d ago

Yeah Euros are rich. That's why so many of their governments are bankrupt am I right kids?

neogeo4128d ago

No. Your 100% wrong. People in all country's buy according to VALUE. If there is not value then no sale. Create enough VALUE and people will buy anything at any price. ipad3 is $800 and it fly's off the shelf. I worked at Magnolia back when best buy enough them out. We have a $8500 TV called the Elite I'm sure you know about it. Guess what, it sells great for the price and we wound even sell out. Why? VALUE!

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 4128d ago
-Superman-4129d ago

In europe:
IPhone 5 16GB price is 530 pounds / 645 euros
Iphone 5 64GB price is 700 pounds / 850 euros
645 euros = 855 us dollars(16GB)
850 euros = 1125 us dollars(64GB)

If you complain that 399 us dollars is too much for gaming console, yet you buy Iphone that cost more then WHERE IS LOGIC??? Why you not complain about mobile phone prices, yet you complain about console price???

torchic4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

but in the video game industry, €1 = $1, very very unfair but that's the reality. we Europeans get ripped the fudge off.

PS3 was $599, and consequently cost €599. games cost $59 and consequently cost €59 (other times €69 even!)

right now the Euro is at it's weakest against the dollar and yet still the conversion isn't €1 = $1

Hingle_Mcringleberry4129d ago

Says the same guy who just said that Americans buy the cheapest product, using iPhone - one of the most expensive phones- as an example why people can't complain about prices.

nirwanda4129d ago

And android phones are much cheeper even samsung androids outsell apple every year, you can't really compair the games industry to a company who practically own the music industry,

DigitalRaptor4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

@ torchic

I can't speak for the whole of European pricing, but the UK doesn't get it like that. $59 =/= £59

PS3 was £425 at launch. It's ridiculous to think about, but at the same time, people pay more for an iPhone, which is ridiculously overpriced and many of those people might also be the ones buying Xbox 360's and Wii's whilst complaining about PS3's price, so it makes sense really.

I was happy to have waited a couple of years, saved up, paid the £450 for console + GTA IV + MGS4, and know that there were still loads of games I had yet to play. It hurt a little bit to put down that much, but the PS3 had the cheapest Blu-ray drive at the time and is still a pretty flexible home entertainment system. If I would've known the quality of the games up to this point, at that point, the price wouldn't have bothered me AT ALL.

But facing certain realities, I very much doubt that Sony are going to price the PS4 at $599/£425 again.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4129d ago
Thatguy-3104129d ago

Think 400$ would be great anything lower will be phenomenal but I will buy it if it started at 400 $. I bought the ps3 at launch so I think 400 $ isnt much.

-Superman-4129d ago

Minium salary is 3500 euros = 4600 us dollars per moth.
Avanager i got 9000 euros per month and its not much.

andibandit4129d ago

stop pulling facts out your ass, nothing of what you've said is true, Oh by the way, i've seen you delivering newspapers around my block...9000 euros, LOL

chak_4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

minimum salary 3500€? Where the hell are you living?

In france it's around 1100€ for 35H a week.

The major part of french earns between 1100 - 1600€ a month. I'm talking about modest persons here, factory workers, education, simple employees.

Then indeed you have 3000/4000/10k salary, but those people just work too much to have time playing video games.

Jaces4129d ago

Just keep it below $400 and they'll be fine. I think what threw Playstation into a downwards spiral the first couple of months was that $600 price tag. No one had ever paid that much for a gaming system in awhile and with competition that priced lower it was hard to sell without those exclusives we have today.

Let's see how this next year unfolds, exciting for sure!

jujubee884128d ago (Edited 4128d ago )

PS3 at $600 was still one of the cheaper Blueray players when it launched in 2006. The next Playstation console (based on early leaks) wont have a new multimedia platform to go off of besides the new types of games. Sony needs their next Playstation console to have an affordable, entry-level SKU whose selling point is pushing games to a wide audience. SCE's agenda for PS4 is clear; to expand the audience so that the types of experiences (you and I) enjoyed with this gen's games can be experienced by an even wider audience with next gen games.

p.s. I want PS4+VITA bundles because cross-buy, cross-play, cross-save, cross-AR and, cross-controller for PS3+VITA are all features which would benefit greatly by debuting on the PS4. Making a (limited edition) $500 bundle with PS4+VITA system and extra dual-shock at launch would push the cross-interaction to more people. If not a lot of people are into it, Sony wont take a hit because it is a limited edition kind of thing.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4128d ago
wiiulee4129d ago

sony is in position to come in last this generation again no matter what...but the cheaper the system the better instead of listening to silly fanboys hoping for 4k res....price the system at 500 dollars or more and its over for them guaranteed , that would be their last console generation

Theyellowflash304129d ago

We'll see. If they can convince people of the hidden costs of owning a Xbox 360 ($50 a year to play online) and promote their free service. Sony could come out on top next generation. I'm surprised they don't attack Microsoft more on playing to play online.

LOGICWINS4129d ago

It's been six years and this gen will be over in two years tops. If Sony hasn't convinced the general public by now of the hidden costs of owning a Microsoft console, it will never happen.

MmaFan-Qc4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

between 349$-449$ is a day one purchase for me, if its over 450$, i will wait for a deal.

if peoples think 350$ is too high, hell my graphic card cost me over 570$ so its not THAT costly.

galgatronth4129d ago

Yeah, that would've worked when their only competition for online was Xbox live. Now we have Nintendo network and I'm sure the Steambox will also have free online.

4129d ago
rainslacker4128d ago (Edited 4128d ago )

I highly doubt either Sony or MS are going to go with 4K. The reason being is that developers just won't use it since it affects such a small fraction of the user base.

I can see a $500 system coming out however. It's not really that much when it comes to a new console that is meant to last 6+ years, and despite what people say the PS3 sold well enough for them early on. There would very likely to be a cheaper SKU however. Coming in too low means they have no wiggle room when competition heats up.

Keep in mind that Sony's system has been the highest price this whole generation until the Wii U(and even then still has a $299 SKU), and it still sells well enough for them. $500 isn't much of a stretch for the next gen, particularly if they deliver the games early, and the tech is substantially better than this gen.

Edit: I'm not saying I think that's a great price, and obviously I would like it cheaper, just that I can see how they can get to $500. Highly doubt they'll try for $600 again though.

HalfNerdHalfAmazing4129d ago

Sony is a company that only care about quality I'm not saying is a bad thing but I doubt Sony gonna sell the PS4 for $400 at launch.

LOGICWINS4129d ago

They don't have a choice BUT to sell the PS4 at $399 or less. Anything over that would be suicide.

Qrphe4129d ago

If they managed to sell the PS3 at $500 with a then expensive BR drive , surely they can release a >$400 PS4 now that BR drives don't cost as much as they did.

kneon4129d ago

A read only bluray drive now costs less than $10 to manufacture so it will have no impact on the price. Their most expensive components are going to be cpu, gpu and ram.

USEYOURFIST4129d ago (Edited 4129d ago )

il be expecting a £399 price tag for the premium version of ps4 and expect a £349 model with smaller hdd, either way il be picking one up day one if theres some good launch games

zebrahim4129d ago

Damn people! Lol...ps1 launched at 300 dollars 18yrs ago!! Get real...get a job and save...why do we expect to pay so low...you're gonna force Sony to make crap cos they cnt afford the quality based on cheapskate lazy gamers...$700 and you WILL get quality...heck Apple sold gazillions of ipads at extreme prices...otherwise Sony should close their doors rather. Anybody hear of porters five forces? These factors drive up prices...sometimes as gamers we work up our expectations...pay for what you want!

Bladesfist4129d ago

Quality hardware is not what a console is for, if you are that bothered about quality then build a super computer.

rainslacker4128d ago

Sony isn't likely to make a crap device with one of their flagship products. $700 may be extreme though, and many would be hard pressed to defend them on it even if it beat out modestly built computers for the time.

Sony has noticeable competition now, and they kind of ignored that up and coming competition at the beginning of the PS3. They won't make that mistake again.

Show all comments (106)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1014d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref4d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde4d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19724d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville4d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21833d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos3d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
isarai4d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref4d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan4d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0073d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19724d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

4d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

4d ago
4d ago
Zeref4d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde4d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19724d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier3d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto4d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21833d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto3d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
Hofstaderman4d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel11d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8810d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing10d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS9d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder9d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff21839d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.