PS4 Price Cut May Happen Sooner Than You Think

GGG argues why a PS4 price cut, even amid the system's runaway success so far, isn't out of the question for late 2014 or the first half of 2015.

[user7402931]

No not really, Its the fastest selling system in the world right now.

disagrees for stating they do not have to drop the price right now? interesting

[Abash]

Price cuts are done to re-energize sales and momentum, and the PS4 has had absolutely no problem with that. There won't be a PS4 price cut for a while, the system isn't even a year old. Sony will drop the price of the PS4 when it's appropriate and necessary, and that won't be for a long time

[ZodTheRipper]

I'd say they drop it around christmas just to get a big slice of the pie since this christmas will see a huge increase in demand as slowly the casual crowd is adapting to the new consoles. Also two exciting games are coming soon after that, The Order 1886 and Bloodborne will draw tons of people to the PS4.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

if they do drop it in december, it will be a temporary thing. Most retailers will probably try to move more PS4's with their own sales(black friday), just to get people into their stores.

[InTheLab]

Sony hasn't dropped the price of the PS3 in a while so why would they drop the price of the hottest console on the market. It's stupid.

What they will probably do is a bundle like usual. Sony doesn't drop console prices like MS and Nintendo, who will probably drop the price again this fall AND add a game or two.

[gaffyh]

If the Xbox One starts outselling the PS4 consistently, then we'll see a price cut, but not going to happen for a while yet. Xbox may even outsell PS4 in the holidays like they did last December (unlikely imo), but even then it was only by about 100k, so not really enough.

[cleft5]

A $299 PS4 would murder all competition. Already at $399 the PS4 is a great value, but at $300 I just don't see how you don't buy one.

[DVAcme]

@ZodTheRipper Agreed, I've been saying for a while that there'll be a price drop around that time, probably for Black Friday. Hell, if they do that price drop, it'll BURY the XB1 this holiday season. Microsoft can't release the non-Kinect XB1 AND drop it in price so fast in a row, it'll anger players and DEFINITELY anger investors.

@cleft5 I think 100 dollars is too steep a price drop, at least for now. I'm thinking more around the realm of $25-50 dollars, mayyyyyybe $75.

[blackbeld]

Just drop it, I repeat just drop it!

Kill all the competition the sooner the better. Then finally fanboys can get a normall life :)

But we all know Sony not gonna do that this early.

[ShinMaster]

I see a $50 price cut. But not $100 yet.

[kreate]

I hope there's a price drop on ps3/360/wii-u.

Wii-u cuz its been out in the market longer.

[Mithan]

Not entirely... They may do a price cut just to keep things going strong, giving them further forward momentum and totally locking down this generation.

Ultimately, it will come down to production. If they are maxed out at 400 they won't lower the price, as they won't be able to meet demand anyways.

Sony also knows that how popular something is can change. I guarantee you it isn't as simple as amazon being sold out. They will lower the price if they can make more units and they think they can sell more as a result, because at the end of the day, each system sold means a potential customer buying games, which means more exclusives and such.

[UltraNova]

IMO even if the ps4 gets outsold for 3 or more consecutive months and by a large margin I might add (wont happen)Sony wouldn't cut the price.

Because they are making money out of each unit and manufacturing costs probably haven't gone down enough to justify an price cut.

They could bundle for this holiday and tough it out by relying on their great 1st semester 2015 game lineup and announce the price cut at E3, 2015, if they are still being outsold that is.

[Death]

"Sony doesn't drop console prices like MS and Nintendo"

Wow.

Since you are clearly ignoring history, what are you basing this on? The Xbox 360 launched in 2005 with a highline and lowline SKU at $399 and $299. Nine years later and you can buy the top SKU at $349 and the lower end SKU at $249 with a Core edition at $179. http://www.microsoftstore.c...

The PS3 launched at $599/$499 a year later and their most expensive bundle on the Sony site is $269. http://us.playstation.com/p...

[Jonny5isalive]

I dont think there will be a price cut till next year. It will be a huge seller this holiday as there will be more games out.

Maybe the xbox 1 will have a price cut tho, so that could have an impact on ps4 price.

[cee773]

No price cuts this year maybe A free game or two for the holiday Bundle but thats it.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

In the WEST that is. Japan nope.

[3-4-5]

PS4 Price cut to $300 = Even more dev's switch to PS4 because of future install base increase.

[Magicite]

Actually Wii was selling much faster, but mostly thanks to the Japan.

[Cryptcuzz]

I agree and articles like this are only bad for the industry and nothing else.

Why create false hope or expectations for those that are on the fence on purchasing the PS4 now.

A price drop for the PS4 is not needed, considering the pace that it has been selling so far. To generate more sales later on in the Holiday season, I believe it could get the job done through bundles, PSN vouchers, etc.

[spacedelete]

its the same price as a Xbox One now. its true the PS4 is superior in every single way but there are alot of dumb people out there who are thinking of buying Xbox One because its the same price as PS4. if PS4 drops in price it will sell even more than it is now especially with the holiday season full of games to release. price is the most important factor. if people find out the PS4 is not only more powerful but also cheaper then they will have no choice but to buy PS4.

[AndrewLB]

Actually it's not. The 3DS is beating out PS4 according to VGChartz.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

yeah its just too bad that vgchartz numbers are completely made up estimates by gamers who are in no way qualified to give accurate information.

anyway he obviously said "system" meaning "console". and youd better believe the ps4 is the hottest selling console :)

[lsujester]

They have gotten better at their estimates over the years, though. They usually end up not being terribly far off from official numbers when it's said and done. Close enough to get an idea of how many of these things are selling if nothing else.

[larrysdirtydrawss]

consoles,not handhelds

[assdan]

People seem to forget how fast the first price drop usually happens. I'd say that if it goes a year without needing a drop, that's good. If the price dropped at the end of this year or early next year, that would be perfectly acceptable.

[combatcash]

I hope it does, I'll need a new one soon. My son ruined the blu ray drive :( I'm stuck downloading games for the time being.

[MehmetAlperTR]

It's ( PS4 ) 1.499 TL in Turkey ( which is about 750 US $ ) I think we need a price cut.

[doolin_dalton]

It wouldn't be unprecedented. Sony cut the PS1's price from $299 to $199 at a time when demand was still high at $299. This move effectively killed the Saturn. Even though Sega matched the price drop, Saturn hardware was more expensive to manufacture, and therefore the price drop hurt Sega a lot more than it hurt Sony.

It also propelled PS1 well ahead of N64, as the two were pretty close in sales while PS1 was $299 and N64 was $249.

I don't think anything like the PS1 era will happen today because the three competitors are much different. Back then, Nintendo was trying to compete with expensive cartridges in the CD era, and Sega was coming off of a lot of bad public opinion after the failed Genesis add-ons.

[Clogmaster]

If the cost of production decreases, I think they should drop the price just to secure a greater lead.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

It was because of the exclusives third party games for PS1-2 success.
N64 would won if Nintendo teamed up with Panasonic earlier.
Considering selling a 3rd of PS1 alone off First and Second party games with a few exclusives, better versions of Rayman 2, Resident Evil 2, Glover and Megaman Legend and with PC games ports.

PS4 so far is going for dudbros games and multiplatform. It just what PS3 was suppose sell like or be.

[DVAcme]

For the life of me I can't understand half of what you wrote, but what I did understand I disagree with. Sony is NOWHERE NEAR catering to dudebros. That is Microsoft's demographic and the reason they tried the TV spiel with the sports and all that crap. PS4 has the same core PS3 had: excellent exclusives and non-condescending customer service. The dudebros are just naturally gravitating to PS4 because it's better hardware than XB1 at a cheaper price. It's not Sony catering to them, it's them recognizing a better product and going with it. But if you see PS4's exclusives, it's still the most diverse library with riskier and more innovative IPs.

[Starbucks_Fan]

A $299 price would slaughter the Xbox One

[ThatOneGuyThere]

a 399 price is already slaughtering it

[AndrewLB]

$299 would slaughter Sony's stock price which is already so bad they're on the verge of being removed from the Nikkei 400 Index in Japan.

[kenshiro100]

And that has no relevance to the article.

[kassler]

Sony will cut the price when they launch the PS4 slim.

[mrbojingles]

I can't see the slim coming anytime before holiday 2016 or holiday 2017. I don't think the PS4, even as good as its doing, can maintain $399 for 2-3 more years. That would be Wii 2006-2009 levels of success and that isn't happening for anyone again barring changes in the industry. I think the fat PS4 will get one major price cut before the slim comes out. Mind you Sony took 4 years to release PS2 slim, 5 to release PS One, and 3 to release PS3 Slim so it could be as quick as 3 years or as long as 4/5.

[DVAcme]

For the life of me, I can't see how they'd make it any slimmer! The hardware is already amazingly compact and well-designed. Maybe a new SKU with a bigger harddrive or cheaper to produce internals, but the box itself is remarkably well-designed, I don't think they gotta slim it down.

[Letthewookiewin]

I don't think Sony or Microsoft will drop the price of their consoles permanently but I have a pretty good feeling that we will see some very competitive pricing and bundles around the holidays (captain obvious) It's going to be a great time. I'm almost tempted to pick up a second PS4 because of that white Destiny bundle.

[tdogchristy90]

I just managed to pick one up for $300. Best buy had a $50 savings and then with crap I had laying around the house and some money magic managed another $50 off without touching my main money supply. I wasn't ready for a next-gen system yet but I couldn't pass it up.

[DVAcme]

If you already have a PS+ subscription, you already have a few free games right out of the box. Enjoy :)

[TheRealHeisenberg]

I got a price cut when I bought mine used. Does that count?

[DLConspiracy]

That's how I got mine. About $400 with 2 games, 1yr Ps + and a $20 gift card.

[TheRealHeisenberg]

Damn. You got a better deal than me I think. $403 out the door with 1 crap game (NBA Live) and a 1 year warranty. Oh well, at least I have one now.

[HaveSumNuts]

A price cut is not needed at $400. Though in my country a PS4 is $600 (on special) not to mention $400 to $500 is an acceptable monthly salary for us young adults who start working. I understand it's taxes and stuff but geeez if they can cut ps4 to $400 here I'd be overjoyed.

[Gore-Content]

A price cut? Sure, why not! If Sony can afford it. It would blow xbox to bits, too.

[sprinterboy]

no PS4 price drop imo until Xmas 2015

[MegaRay]

Stop screaming! My Ears!

[DualWielding]

No direct price cut, maybe bundles where you get free game or free PS+ or something

[OH_u_DEAD]

This article is stupid the headline: "PS4 price cut may happen sooner than you think". first line of the article: "Here’s a scenario that isn't all that likely to happen". A pS4 price cut will not happen for awhile, there is no reason to do it right now.

[lemoncake]

I really don't expect to see a price cut this year, middle to end of next year is much more likely.

[turdburgler1080]

Why would Sony lose money selling the leading console? They wouldn't. This article is just ridiculous. "Oh let's lose money while we're winning!" Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

[kantenkopf]

You can already purchase the PS4 for 330-340€ almost every week through offers, so Sony needs to make a big price cut.

[Hanuman]

I would play it safe and say between 350-370 Euro's. That is still 468 - 496 US dollars!

http://www.meinpaket.de/de/...

[kantenkopf]

Still way too much, that's why I'm not planning to get one in the near future, maybe 2016-2017.

[Predaking77]

It doesn't make sense to make a price cut to the most hottest and popular console in the market. The PS4 is selling ridiculously well and is crushing and humiliating the x1 everywhere, there is no need for a price cut yet.

[Razjin]

I can see the price drop happening around early spring or late spring as the PS4 exclusives are mostly a next year thing plus ps now will have a larger library and more promotion hopefully more consumer friendly by that point...then better ps plus games will probably be rolling out. So I say next year.

[MasterCornholio]

With the way the PS4 is selling I honestly dont see them doing a price cut anytime soon. I'm sure there will be deals during the holidays but nothing permanent.

[funkybudda]

sure, I would like to see Sony eat some cost and do a price reduction around the holiday season, that will completely destroy Xbox's chance this gen.

[Scatpants]

A price cut would destroy the Xbox One. A better console at a lower price is a no brainer if you're trying to decide between the two.

[bleedsoe9mm]

and that is why ms shouldn't have matched the ps4 price they should have went lower and had that great fall lineup with a cheaper console

[Spotie]

It wouldn't have mattered. Sony would have just responded with their own price cut, or perhaps bundled in a year of Plus, and Microsoft would be at a disadvantage again.

[bleedsoe9mm]

@Spotie ms is in a much better financial position to get in a price war , they should have picked the fight , this holiday was the right time to do it .

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

I highly doubt it. It will be a price cut when the slim comes out. Which I do t see how they can make something that small and powerful even more smaller. Shit it's a tad bit smaller than the PS3 slim.

[TimeSkipLuffy]

If they want to stay on top and give MS a death kick into an endless pit a $299 price tag would help a lot. A lot of gamers would jump on the next gen wave with such a price cut. And a bigger fan base means more money!

[fullmetal297]

I don't see price cut happening until the sales growth start to reach its peak, and right now the PS4 is high in demand.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

"the system's runaway success so far" that fragment right there is 100% why there will not be a price cut anytime soon.

Simple math and logic explain all you need to know. Sony as a company is financially struggling so they want every possible dollar.

Then you have this simple thing... If you are selling something at a high level at a cost of $400 why would you suddenly drop that price to something less than that if none of your sales data is pointing to slower sales trends? Only an idiot would reduce price to a product that is selling extremely well at its current price.

[BitbyDeath]

Uncharted 4 + PS4 = $350 berieve

[LAWSON72]

I doubt it, demand is still up. Lowering the price while interest and demand is high cuts potential profit.

[hiawa23]

I really don't see a price cut anytime soon. seems many are asking for a pipe dream given the PS3 still sells for a ridiculous price at this stage in its life cycle..

[jnemesh]

The question that no one is asking that is central to the issue is "What does Sony gain by cutting the price?". Do they increase sales? Do those increased sales make up for the losses they will incur with such a cut? Does taking a loss on the hardware now mean that they can eliminate a competitor from the market (leading to higher sales in the future)?

Right now, it makes ZERO sense for Sony to have a price cut. IF MS or Nintendo suddenly became competitive, they MIGHT consider one, but while they are winning? Not a chance.

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

I can't imagine what'll be on black friday when retailers drop the price on it,
or just come out that PS4 price has dropped down by $50 or $100 dollars.
Gives me chills if that's so!

[bleedsoe9mm]

probably should drop the ps3 price first considering 500gb bundles are still $270

[oldskoolgamer702]

that would be the final dagger

[MultiConsoleGamer]

So the gaming division posts a full year loss amid "record breaking sales" and were already hearing about a price cut? Sounds very fishy. Unless Sony has either been lying about their sales, are totally desperate, or are making far more profit on the ps4 than we realize I don't see a price drop happening any time soon.

[Flames76]

Everyone who wants one has one so a price drop could be soon but would put the PS4 back in the hole again

[duplissi]

Might be picking one up at the end of the year. I may have moved to PC gaming, but I don't think I can do without Naughty Dog's games.

[_FantasmA_]

They should lower it temporarily/put it on sale during November/December just like when they had the 200 dollar PS3 bundle with Last of Us and Batman that later went up to 250. Lower the price to 350 for a while and you will have launch day madness again. Create even more demand and these PS4s will sell themselves.

[Tedakin]

They're not going to cut the price that fast and take that big of a hit on a system that is still selling like crazy. Makes zero financial sense. You cut the price when you need a boost. Sony definitely doesn't need that.

[Max-Zorin]

The PS4 sell out pretty quick already. They don't need a price drop.

[tommygunzII]

This would be the worst thing to happen to the competition. PS4 is killing it as it is right now.

[hkgamer]

can sony really afford that? unless they can get proof that the xbone is killing a big chunk of potential sales, i dont see the point. sony is losing money every year and they need to maximise income as much as possible.

would 25% off lconsole lead to 25% more sales?

[Elda]

A hundred dollar price drop from Sony in late 2014 or early 2015...nah nah..I believe it when I see it...possibly late 2016 early 2017..Sony needs & want to make money off of the PS4.

[jwm2]

IMO its just a story used to get attention. I don't think any price cuts are on the horizon, but then again, that's my opinion.

[stripe814]

why cut the price if it is still selling good? maybe its good if Sony release a bundle with a code to download 1 new game with the console..

[NickAwesome]

i really hope it gets a price cut, i want to buy it sooooo badly but unfortunately i can't afford it :-(, also i don't understand why some people don't want a price cut, price cut=more sales, win win situation for everyone, it's not like you get a lesser quality product just because it's a little cheaper, and i'm not talking about a huge price cut but 50 bucks less can really make the difference for me

[e-p-ayeaH]

It needs more games in the first place to be honest i wouldnt play much on a PS4 if had one at home.

[system22]

I don't buy it. The ps4 sells itself with little effort and sony needs all the money it can get. I realize that margins are much higher on software but sony also needs a strong ROI for development of the hardware etc too

[SaveFerris]

I'd like to see other colour options released too, and a larger capacity internal HDD.