530°

PlayStation 4: "$299 is the magic price point"

Analyst Billy Pidgeon talks about the challenges both Sony and Microsoft will face in transitioning to next-gen

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gamesindustry.biz
DaThreats4071d ago

So...
Same price as PS3?
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donniebaseball4071d ago

PS3 didn't launch at $299 though (it should have!) and we're likely to see PS3 price drop very soon anyway.

thereapersson4071d ago (Edited 4071d ago )

Tech in the graphics processor and the type of RAM (GDDR5) and amount utilized guarantees this won't be $299. Honestly, Sony will take a huge hit anyway on the price no matter what they set it at. That's what happens initially during a console's lifespan. I think the loss will be a lot less than the one with the PS3 considering they aren't really using any "new" tech (from what I can tell). No need for Cell research or implementation of the then-new Blu Ray technology means that Sony will likely be able to recoup losses faster and earlier in the system's lifecycle.

I won't be surprised to see a $499 or $599 price point again. Honestly, I'm okay with that so long as Sony can bring the games and bring plenty of them. We've already seen great potential in that regard.

Sarcasm4071d ago

You know the rumors of $399 and $499 is more likely.

$299? Not going to happen.

SAE4071d ago (Edited 4071d ago )

You people are crazy if you believe this. This proves my talk that journalists are just for hits these days..

http://n4g.com/news/1178490...

With ps4 specs it's impossible to have that kind of price. Would be glad to be proven wrong though. I swear i feel like these predicting coming from 10 years old kid..

TheGamerDood4071d ago

With that amount of 8GB GDDR5 memory? No! You can't even get those quantities on PC at the moment. That isht is expensive so expect $400-$500. These people are just trying to troll so when the real price is revealed they're hoping you get pissed and buy the cheaper crap that's on the market.

dcbronco4071d ago

Actually most people are wrong about the cost of the new consoles. $300 is very possible. If you look at the Microsoft leak from 2010 they believed they could have 3 CPUs and Two GPUs for $300. These are 28nm APUs. The GPU and CPU on one chip. The APU in the 360 Slim should be less than $40 now. An APU with a 7xxx series card is $130 now retail. Close to the GPU in the PS4.

http://www.newegg.com/Produ...

Take away retail mark-up and that chip is well under $100. Since Sony will shop it to the cheapest manufacturer and the chip in the PS4 should be even smaller it should cost very close to $100 for the CPU and GPU. Last generation, those two chips accounted for almost half of the launch cost.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/new...

These machines will not be that expensive to make. The parts are very small and they are less of them. They are also cooler and need less power and less cooling. More savings. $400 will be the price, but it will be because they will be sold at a profit day one.

TheFinalEpisode4070d ago

I would gladly pay $450 for a PS4 from what I've seen. As long as Sony keeps pumping out quality exclusives like they do I'd have no problem.

aCasualGamer4070d ago

@therapersson

I'm with you on this one, there is absolutely no way that Sony is going to release PS4 with that tech any lower than 400$. My best guess would be $499 or $449. 8GB GDDR5 doesn't come cheap no matter how much you mass produce.

As long as they roll out games with some continuity and never have dry seasons of zero game releases "PS Vita style" then i'm all for it.

IcarusOne4070d ago

Just to point this out...

At launch, Xbox 360 was $299 and $399. If MS could do it, why can't Sony? You'd think they hopefully learned something from the debacle that was the PS3 launch.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4070d ago (Edited 4070d ago )

Console gamers are cheap asses.. 8gb ram + 8 core cpu for $299? Can you guys get anymore spoiled? Throw in 5 games or no sale!!

Mounce4070d ago

@thereapersson

Yea....I cannot see PS4 being this cheap, no matter if being that cheap would be beneficial for us as a consumer to not have to pay so much...It's also a sign that this person is living in a bubble to think that anything in this title alone would be realistic -.-

$299 for the specs shown? Yyyeaaaaa-...no.

$399 to $450 Has to be the price Minimum whether we like it or not, it's the most realistic.

Anarki4070d ago

As much as I'd like that, it wont happen. 299$ is really cheap and if you look at the specs, that is really cheap..

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4070d ago
Rainstorm814071d ago

Exactly in what world would that be possible, and everyone wants it to be 399 but unless PS3 gets a price drop I can't see the PS4 being only 100$ more than the PS3.

It seems that would kill the PS3 sales .

Tres214071d ago

i could see the ps3 gettin a drop right around the time they show the actual system at least by e3 & im hopin its 400 & 500

SamPao4071d ago

some people... just wow...

this is not even funny. I mean
he really believes that

what the.... wuuaaaat

Cam9774071d ago (Edited 4071d ago )

Shopto seem to think that the RRP is £450 with them selling it at £399.99.

Thatguy-3104071d ago

People want good things at a cheap price. Don't they know how business works? My guess is that the price will be from 400$-500$

MariaHelFutura4071d ago

Let's be fair... To get the PS4 to that price point, magic would be required.

lilbrat234071d ago

$299? Please that system might be $399 to $499 with the specs. I just hope prices on the games DON'T go up because even now $60 for a half a$$ game is too much.

joab7774071d ago

If xbox is smart they will take a hit, offer it for $199 and a monthly fee like smartphones. Ppl are used to it and if they can get it in everyones home quickly, they will be successful.

Honestly, i would easily pay $500 for a ps4. It looks awesome but they have to be careful of xboxs pricepoint because they can afford to lose more initially. and xbox is trying to incorporate cable TV which could be very dangerous. Ps4 may be the better console but if xbox releases at under $300 with cable etc., it may not matter.

I also disagree with sales. I may be wrong and i know phonea and tablets have hurt game sales but with a long generation, and the pcs success, gamers are dying for a new console. Amd no one said the ps3 and 360 would become obsolete. I will keep them. They r very useful for content other than games. And why not continue to support them with xbox live etc.

jmc88884070d ago

Would rather buy my consoles. Not looking for another monthly bill.

CalvinKlein4071d ago

Im guessing 400-500$. 300$ would be stupid and sony wold loose tons of money and noone would think its very good if it is only 50 more than the ps3 or the same price as the wiiU.

3-4-54071d ago

Yea it's going to cost $400

OneAboveAll4070d ago

Drugs are bad, Mmmkay?

That shit was $600

solidt124070d ago

No way! not with 8 gigs of GDDR5 Ram.

charted4070d ago

$299 is NOT fair on us Australian consumers.

FFS, Ebgames (gamestop) have priced PS4 $899 here.

This is an outrage!!!!!

showtimefolks4070d ago

i say this will be a $399-449 2 SKU's

but my gut feeling is its gonna be $449-499

sony's world wide studio president said they saved a lot of money on R&D so they can have a fleixable price point

imagine if ps4 actually launches for $299 and price gets a price drop to $150 damn lol.

MEsoJD4070d ago

I really doubt $299. I was always thinking it would be two skus... One for $399 and the other for $449. Along those lines.

Sano644070d ago

He must be thinking Euro because $299 USD would be stupid on Sony's part. They are already bleeding money.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 4070d ago
Snookies124071d ago (Edited 4071d ago )

Yeah, that's just delusional. It'll at LEAST cost $400 or more... Although if I had to say, I'd go with somewhere between 500-600 USD.

mcstorm4071d ago

I agree. I've said this could be the ps4s let down. Yes its powerful and worth the price but that's not how the main market will see it just like the ps3, psv and 3ds.

Times are hard at the moment and because of this if the Same games are on 3 consoles you will find more people will pickup the console that costs the lest. Its only the core and fan boys who care about the specs.

That said I can't wait to get a ps4 and a next Xbox but until then back to my Wiiu.

C-Thunder4071d ago

They may have a high level sku in the $500-$600 range, but they made it very clear that they've learned from their mistakes and I think this will carry over to pricing as well. My guess, $399 and $499.

zebramocha4071d ago

@snookie I doubt that the ps4 is going to cost $600,at best it may align with the rumor it being $400-$530.

SAE4071d ago (Edited 4071d ago )

100% with you. It's annoying how these people don't use their minds..

SnakeforPresident4071d ago

$600 is equally as ridiculous as $300. After everything Sony did to bring down the ps3 price when they realized that they werent selling at $600 theres no way they do it again. $400- $500 max.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4071d ago
JoGam4071d ago

Exactly it wont. BUT.... if it did....... OMG THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

jukins4071d ago

lets all have hope lol. wishful thinking but man they could definetly get a good launch user base at that price and make it up in the long run if they're willing. Sony does have the assets to cover a loss like this as long as comes back on the software side of things until it can be sold for a profit.

because if you really think about it even tho gddr5 is expensive but its really the only "exotic" piece of tech. if they worked out a good deal with whatever supplier there's hope.

SlyGuy4070d ago

At $300 that would make it cheaper than my mobile phone.

:o

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4070d ago
Zefros4071d ago

I belive ps4 will be cheaper than launch ps3 but 299... in your dreams, this machine will be at minimum 399 USD.

s8anicslayer4071d ago

Sorry but the PS4 wont be 299$ until maybe 3 or 4 years down the road! wishful thinking though!!

Cocozero4071d ago

Well thats the rumoured 720 price....

Kingthrash3604071d ago

I dont think you can create a link for the imagination!

Kingthrash3604071d ago

I dont think you can create a link for the imagination.

Sarcasm4071d ago

Other rumors point to the 720 being subsidized $199.

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280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies11d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken11d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga11d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken11d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6411d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long11d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197211d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
DivineHand12511d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91311d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer11d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91310d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit10d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Christopher11d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6910d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit10d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher11d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken11d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197211d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2311d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218311d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder11d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades17d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken17d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades17d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii17d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit19d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

19d ago
Profchaos19d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9519d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia19d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

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