240°

New, slimmer, more expensive: Sony’s decision not to compete this holiday season

Ben Kuchera writes: "Sony hasn’t been afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to pricing; the PlayStation 3 was the most expensive current generation system at launch, and the new PlayStation 3 hardware unveiled last night at the Tokyo Game Show is more evidence of the company’s insensitivity to pricing."

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penny-arcade.com
GribbleGrunger4228d ago

I'm still not sure about the 'more expensive' argument. Sony have now said that they no longer have a RRP, so it's down to retailers to decide the price. Again, let's just wait and see

yesmynameissumo4228d ago

The more expensive argument is just for attention and to try and (as usual) paint Sony in a negative light. I think a game, 90 additional gigs and $30 of Dust514 content (for $20 more than a 160GB PS3 with nothing additional) is a value.

GribbleGrunger4228d ago

Well that's why I said let's wait and see. It appears that the price was for a bundle and not a standalone.

Ben_Grimm4228d ago

Funny don't you think...

Multiple articles on N4G about the new slim model PS3. And I do mean multiple, in fact that is all the rage at the top of the N4G page. And it's understandable even though a new WiiU system is coming out.

Yet no where in there are people spewing "the media is biased"?

Yet multiple articles about anything negative about Sony and then it turns into "the media is biased".

I can't understand why that is.

darthv724228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

but i wouldnt mind picking up "slim and slimmer" to add to collection.

yesmynameissumo4228d ago

@Ben_Grimm
I think you don't understand why that is because no one here has said the media is biased.

StanSmith4228d ago

In regards to SCEJ and SCEA, they are offering a good deal on these.

When it comes to SCEE, they aren't. In the UK, SCEE has allowed retailers to sell the 12gb model at the current 160gb model price and the 500gb model at the 320gb price. The 12gb model is a rip off while the 500gb model is good value for money.

SCEE doesn't know it's arse from it's elbow. Wished SCEJ/SCEA ran the EU side of SCE.

sikbeta4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

@yesmynameissumo

New models are @ higher price than current models based on retailers prices, with deals and all that stuff and current slim is cheaper than the new ones, also from the new models some untis like the 12GB and the 250GB are more expensive

Everyone expected at least the 12GB to compete with the X360 4GB unit @ lower than $199

Pintheshadows4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

@Stan Smith.

It seems Sony UK learned everything they know about numbers and pricing from this.

live2play4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

oh boo hoo painting sony in a negative light waa waaaah :'(

come on dude you make it sound like nintendo and xbox do not get any flack

all 3 get flack

i just joked about how nintendos online was too advanced the human mind couldnt comprehend...
i got freaking bubbled down for trolling...!
and they were talking about nintendo

that should show you which company is hated more around here

live2play4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

oopss

CernaML4228d ago

Oh lord... another tin foil hat wearing Sony fanboy police.

Looking at you Ben_Grimm.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4228d ago
yewles14228d ago

Because a $400 Halo 4 Bundle and $300 8GB Wii U are A-Okay as long as it's not "the other guys"...

Xof4228d ago

I really doubt we'll see many deals from retailers, aside from Amazon.com's traditional $0.04 discount.

But yeah, it's not 'more expensive' from any perspective. It's a lot cheaper for Sony to produce, and it's being sold to consumers for the same price... but with more actual value.

MastaMold4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

Doom, doom, doom Sony is doomed, new slim doomed, doom, doom, doom this is fun

Sent from my PS Vita

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4228d ago
TheKayle4228d ago

slim version r made to be cheap....not to have the same or more price tag.....another big marketing fail but we r now used to this from sony

fabod864228d ago

where sir? in the land where companies sells goods to have no profit? ù.ù
uhm... yea lol

DarkTower8054228d ago

Slims are made to be cheaper for the manufacturer to make, not always for the consumer to buy. It's no secret Sony of trying to dic itself out of a hole, this slim will do that by increasing profits for them.

fabod864228d ago

finally someone that ca see over his nose... nice ;)

TheKayle4228d ago

yeah read the unboxing from ign...nice one man

4228d ago
kma2k4228d ago

My thinking when seeing the price was if you offer a low price now what can you drop it to for the holidays? Its not out of the question that sony drops the price for black friday (which they normally dont) but they could & keep it there.

CommonSenseGamer4228d ago (Edited 4228d ago )

Think of how much more expensive the Vita would appear to the general consumer if the PS3 cost even less. Get a PS3 with LBP2 for less than a Vita! Not sure that would have the desired effect Sony is probably looking for this xmas.

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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
ChasterMies13d 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_looken13d ago

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

Cacabunga13d ago

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

just_looken13d 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-6413d 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_Long13d 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.

Einhander197213d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d 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 13d ago
DivineHand12513d 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.

Joe91313d 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_Observer13d 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.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d 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.

Joe91312d 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.

S2Killinit12d 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 12d ago
Christopher13d 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.

CrimsonWing6912d ago (Edited 12d 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.

S2Killinit12d 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_Mal13d ago (Edited 13d 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.

Christopher13d 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_looken13d 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

Einhander197213d ago (Edited 13d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d 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.

romulus2313d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218313d 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.

S2Killinit12d ago (Edited 12d 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.

mastershredder13d 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.

crazyCoconuts13d 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.

blackblades19d ago

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

just_looken19d 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.

blackblades19d 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_looken19d ago (Edited 19d 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.

Kaii19d 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.

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gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit21d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

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

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

21d ago
Profchaos21d 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

Pyrofire9521d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia21d 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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