Pachter: 40GB PS3 could Combat Halo 3

Halo 3 sales will top 3 million in 12 days, driving Xbox 360 sales, says Michael Pachter, who believes a PS2 price cut and new 40GB PS3 could be announced by Sony at TGS to combat the Halo 3 juggernaut.

[RadientFlux]

The PS2 dropping to $99 seems likely but I don't think Sony is ready to drop the price of the PS3 again.

If Sony lowers the price of PS3 again so soon... it wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft does the same.

[Evil0Angel]

Microsoft's Andre Vrignaud has stated he expects Sony to offer consumers a 40GB PlayStation 3 SKU by Christmas this year

http://consoles.gwn.com/new...

[thereapersson]

When is the last time he was actually right about anything?

[sonarus]

the guy is a clown as far as i am concerned. The earliest we can expect a ps3 price drop would have to be xmas. Right now i could care less who outsells who over which game. I am NOT a halo fan but i have it pre ordered. Why... cus the hype finally got to me. I atually have 3 really good games to play for ps3 at once. Thats a first for me. I am juggling warhawk, graw 2 and heavenly sword. Won't be buying another game till pro evoloution soccer and ratchet and clank. and october comes out with unreal tourney, haze and uncharted. my purchase of haze and unreal lean highly towards favourable reviews but uncharted is already confirmed at this point. hopefully there are some december games too:D

[thereapersson]

Thanks for the non-fanboyish response. Bubble for you.

[FadeToBlack]

This guy is a complete clown and i don't know why anyone would continue to listen to his projections.

[Zhuk]

I too agree Pachter is an idiot who should be ignored.

I am not too sure about the 40gb SKU. I dont see how having a 40gb hard drive over a 60gb hard drive could warrant a whole $100 price drop, considering that Sony would buy these hard drives in large numbers and would pay far cheaper prices than the average consumer does for a hard drive so there is no way that Sony are saving $100 per unit to be able to justify a price drop just by switching the hard drive to a 40gb model.

I think it would have been a smarter idea to keep selling a 20gb SKU. It would of been cheaper for Sony to have produced and the losses would have been less than a 40gb SKU at $399 and the 20gb is the same size as a 360 premium's hard drive. Bundle the 20gb with Spider-Man, Heavenly Sword and put Warhawk on the Hard Drive and you have an awesome holiday bundle that is of extremely good value, promoting arguably PS3s most impressive titles and at the same time promoting Blu-Ray with one of the biggest video releases of the year.

Anyways that's what I think they should do! :)

edit: I want to ask do people think that Sony can afford to do a sustained $399 40gb model? We already know they're losing considerable money on the console even at its higher price points thanks to the feature rich nature of the console, so from a business standpoint I wonder if they can actually take that much of a hit. They would be losing an incredible amount of money on the system, considering even at $600 they still are losing money on it, I just dont buy that a smaller hard drive is going to make that much of a difference to how much a PS3 costs to produce

[i Shank u]

he was right about the 360 price drop.....eventually lol
i could careless about this guy also, tho i think itd be nice if the ps3 did drop to 399 so soon. was planning on picking one up at that price next year, i figured; this year would be nice :)

[jaja1434]

I don't understand why people listen to this. HE IS A FINICAL ADVISER. And to the people calling him a clown, you do realize he makes more money in a year than some people see in there lifetime. If thats what a clown is, count me in.

[Syko]

Let me start off by saying this guy is a F'ing idiot, And 97% of the crap he says is to get attention.

I would definitely be surprised if Sony announced the cheaper 40gig PS3 this soon. But I do agree they need some kind of announcment to take whatever they can away from the Halo 3 launch. I think at this point however even Sony knows it is like an out of control freight train right now and very little can be done to hinder it. I really think they would just rather weather the storm and press hard after it's release while MS gathers itself post release.

[Anal]

.

[Odion]

why would have released the 80 gig, and gotten rid of the 60 gigs just to add a 40 gig, dropping 20 gigs doesn't= a 100 dollar price difference

[THE_JUDGE]

is bundled with a game also lest you fools forget. The 40gig is a great possibility. Although I believe Patcher is a tool, he may have a point. Do you think that he knows there's a legion of videogame fans who loathe when he opens his mouth?

[tplarkin7]

...it would not be backwards compatible and it wouldn't have wi-fi.

[THE_JUDGE]

Did Kaz call you up and tell you that and no one else? Sony hasn't even said it exists and your already trying to take components out of it? Thats a b.s. rumor, stop running your mouth with no facts to back it up.

[Odion]

Nothing they've done shows that their going to pull this move, first they go rid of the 20 gig model, then the 60 gig, now you think their going to make a 40 gig! Please

[i Shank u]

kotaku's mole, or whoever got the rumor on 40gb ps3, said in the rumor that it wouldnt have wi-fi or the hardware B.C.(i think it would have the software b.c.), yea its all speculation but its also part of the rumor, he didnt make that up

[THE_JUDGE]

I know the rumor and a rumor is a rumor, I'm talking about the possiblility that the 40 gig exsits and he was talking about its components as if it already did. Let's first hear that it exists before where start taking stuff out of it is all I'm saying.

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

Cause they sure don't want a PS3 to be priced at $399.99, It's not healthy for their cause. My believe is that it could happen, because what else can Sony really do to stay in it this holiday? It's got some solid games but nothing like Halo 3.

I think it's gotta be survival time for PS3.

A lot of people see it like that, not just pachter.

[BIadestarX]

"Cause they sure don't want a PS3 to be priced at $399.99, It's not healthy for their cause" are you crazy! You are wrong! I think Xbox fans want Sony to drop their console to $399.99! Heck.. I buy a PS3 for 399! and as far as "their cause" is concerned. What happened the last time Sony drop their price? Didn't microsoft waited like 2 weeks and then counter their price drop with a xbox 360 price drop?

Kind of funny how you Sony fanboys really think that it's impossible for microsoft to drop the xbox 360 price if Sony does the same. Do you actually think that Microsoft will simply let the PS3 be cheaper than any of the xbox 360 SKU? If Sony drop the PS3 by another $100 ($200 within 6 months)... Microsoft just have to drop another $50..
It's can't possibly hurt them more than it hurt them Sony.
Core would be like $250(same as wii), Premium ($299) and Elite ($350).
I am begging for Sony to drop their price and cause another xbox 360 price drop. it helps "the cause". Good for all gamers.
Bring it on Sony!

[i Shank u]

ive had 2 playstations and 1 xbox before i got my 360. why havent I gotten ps3 yet? cause i think its retarded to launch at $600 and haven't wanted to support that. i don't want to see that price point become a norm, and since i paid 399 for my 360 at launch, id definitely drop 399 for ps3, and it really comes down to this; id like it if next time around, sony doesnt add all these extras that result in jacking the price up to $599.

[MarioFromTexas]

I can't wait to see how many 360 are going to be on sale on ebay. Xbots think the 360 is winning, because it outsold the PS3 in NA. Sony is still outselling more consoles worldwide than 360 twice as many. When will you xbots wake up and see that 360 is not even close to winning. Sony coud of delay the PS3 for another year and PS2's would still outsell the 360. The 360 only has another 3 years left before xbox720 comes out and yet hasn't manage to have a real impact. PS2 will continue to outsell 360 probably for another 2 years, especially after the new $99 price. Think about it the 360 is only going to sell 25 million units, the same as the xbox1. PS3 is going to dominate once again and all it has to do is weather the storm in 3 weeks and then it's all SOny the rest of the year...UT3, Haze, COD4, Uncharted, Assasins Creed, rachet and clank, Eye of judgement...After Halo, 360 is dead in a week or 2....COD4- GOTY and will outsell Halo...

[The Brave 1]

a $200 price drop in 6 months is very possible.the iphone just had this done a few days ago!What some of u people dont understand is that Sony does a huge portion of its manufacturing inhouse.i believe sony is making a profit out of every ps3 sold,especially in Europe where it costs up to 599euros(1000dollars).Soon the slowly but surely transission from ps2 players to the PS3 will take full effect and a $399 sku is a magnificent way to get them started.Sony will soon start dropping bombs and the great majority of them will land at MICROSOFT AND NINTENDO HEADQUARTERS1!!

[Nameless]

If Sony drops the price then Microsoft will. That is competition for you.

[zerolinkgannon]

Sony...just leave it alone, I think every damn company knows that they can't mess with the Halo hype. Trying to combat Halo is a waste of time. Really, im not all into halo like that but even I acknowledge that this thing is a unstoppable tank and anyone trying to stop it will likely get crushed.

[crunkthug]

well
if this happens that means:
xbox is more expensive
that means bye xbox
because the xbox is just keeping with the ps3 because of its price
enough said

[A Man]

Please dont. 40 gig? lol. Now thats funny and desperate.

[VaeVictus]

How and why would that be funny and or desperate? More affordable, easy and inexpensive hard drive upgrades. Catering to the consumer's wants and needs? Yeah, they should instead release a 800G hard drive PS3 for $1500.00. That'd make more sense.

I need to find out how to get a job like Pachter has where I just comment on things like video games all day.

[Dougler88]

No, the Xbox 360 is ahead of the PS3 because of games. That is a true story my friend. We'll see how Sony gets rolling with this during TGS, but I'd be kind of surprised if they dropped the price on the ps3 again, for NA at least, but i expect that we'll see a Japanese price cut for sure.

Although what Lightning said does hold relevance, in what do they really have this holiday season? Not much in the way of established AAA titles, that people are guaranteed to want.

[M1am1U]

but with PS2 still generally outselling PS3, wouldn't dropping its price to $99 only encourage more sales of PS2 and not PS3? That kind of doesn't make sense to me. I still don't think there's anything that can be done to counter Halo 3. The hype is just too big, IMO.

[power091999]

I have thought about this a few times myself. I think lowering the price of the PS2 would have 2 results.

1. More PS2 Sales. Sales in general can only help Sony.
2. More PS2 Sales = More interest in Backwards Compat from the PS3.

My guess is that Sony is hoping for number 2. Which in the long run would help with PS3 sales.

Helping against Halo 3..... that's a whole other ball of wax. Its only going to help a little. I think Sony is aware of what Halo will do to them in the next few months.

I am guessing they know what Halo is, and just want to lessen the blow. However may show a bit of the same type of hype when KillZone comes rolling around.

Halo is defiantly making this an interesting next few months.

[The Dark Knight]

Sony just dont get it

[beavis4play]

a company that has easily controlled the last 2 generations of gaming doesn't get it? ps3 has only been out 10 months. 2008 will be first year with all 3 consoles having been out at least 1 full year. end of '08 will give good indication of who majority of consumers favor.

[Funky Town_TX]

I want a price drop.

[MarioFromTexas]

The only people that don't want a price drop is Haters, and M$....Killzone2 would of been nice

[FadeToBlack]

If they intended to have a cheaper model they would have continued makeing the 60GB model without game bundled. It really doesent make any sense to me to make a 40GB model unless they are removing other featture to reduce cost. Really, how much money can they save by using a 40GB drive rather than the 60GB? Either way I dont't think MS will allow them to have a scew cheaper than theirs, so expect MS to follow suit with thier deep pockets.

[nice_cuppa]

the logic !

well lets see what happen !

[kn]

I have a 360, PS2, and Wii. I'm interested in a PS3 but they are too expensive. If sony released a PS3 40gig with no memory card and no wifi along with SW only backward compatibility and included a second controller plus motorstorm and resistance I'd be all over it. $399 is the magic number for that combo. I'd cancel my H3 preorder in a MF heartbeat and jump on it... I don't have a HD TV so blueray is irrelevant. I just want to play games. Period.

[USMChardcharger]

He says that halo sales will top 3 million in 12 days??

halo2 got 125 million dollars in just 24hrs. maybe i am missing something here.

he must mean 3 million copies sold...but still...12 days? if halo2 did that or around that in 24hrs...

edit: whoops...i see. he was speaking of the Halo 360 unit.

sorry, the title and notes leading us to the article has it backwards. says that 3 mill in game sales will drive sales of the 360. when the actual article states that the game sales will drive 3 mill in units over 12 days.

[Tempo]

3M sold in 12 days, they are about half-way there already in reservations hmm maybe it is just a conservative estimate.

[otherZinc]

HALO 2 sold 2.4 million copies in 1 day, right? HALO 3 has 1.5 million pre-orders, HALO 2 didnt have 1 million pre-orders?!

HALO 3 will sell 4 million copies on 9/25/07 or in 5 days tops.

Patcher is a clown, we can visit this post when the #'s are released & see who the better analyst is.

[Dannagar]

Pachter has been wrong on most of his prediction but if Sony did Release a Playstation 3 Model at $399, it would help Sony better fight Halo 3. Now would be a good time for URT3.

[Delive]

Bungie. No PS3 SKU change, No Wii Package. Not even the Devil could slow it, He's camping at the EB games in Hell, Michigan. No matter how many great games come out for the 360, HALO is still the Game to sale systems. Unless Bungie Messes up the game (Master chief removes his helmet to reveal George Bush with a voice Modder), It's unstoppable.

[nice_cuppa]

i wonder how much you could save if you wait another year.
Sony just dont get it

[jay3]

If this price drop happens...

I'll be getting MY PS3 early!

[MarioFromTexas]

Halo3 will sell, just like Halo1 and Halo2. The fact is Sony fans want a $400 system, it has nothing to do with Halo. After Halo, Sony owns the holiday season and needs to take advantage of it. Halo3 is releasing 3 months before christmas, which is a bad move by M$. After 2 weeks 70 percent of people that bought halo would already be ready to move on to something new and Sony needs to be ready because after Sept25 they have the best lineup for christmas. November and December is when most consoles are sold and new titles is what going to make people decisions. Sonys know what they are doing.
UT3, COD4 and Haze for the FPS fans
Uncharted,Heavenly sword,Rachet and CLank, assasin's creed for your action fans
Eye of judgement for card playing fans
Socom, warhawk for shooter fans

All I can say it's a good time to be a PS3 owner,,,,,play beyond

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

I think the situation is indeed that critical. It's the end of the line for PS3

If Sales get out of hand, they don't have a choice but to cut the price again. The only other option is to watch the PS3 fall out of the market before they reach 2008.

[beavis4play]

if halo series is the "be all" for video gaming, then why did the first xbox suffer such a lopsided loss to the playstation 2? they had halo 1 and 2. and still, it didn't help. my point is- what is helping ms right now is the year head start and, up till now, a better price. the halo launch is great for the fans and something to look forward to and have fun with. but, it won't determine the overall outcome in the "console war". if sony can get there price down, then it will be a 2 horse race between sony and ms. sorry nintendo.

[progx]

If thats the case, then they'd lose even more money.

[DJ]

A second price reduction would be great as $599 is a LOT to swallow; I mean, it took me a good 7 months just to save up for the 60-gig, and that was $499. I’ve actually changed my view about a possible 40 GB model and think that Sony should go ahead and do it, so long as the feature-set is kept intact.

Supposedly, the 60GBs are almost completely sold out, and all that’s going to be left after September are the 80GB Motorstorm bundles. Sony should keep Motorstorm bundled with the 80GB, and package it with one Blu-ray movie. The 40GB should be packaged with a Blu-ray movie as well so that every PS3 owner from here on out has at least a general idea about what their system is capable of.

What will really change the playing field though is a possible announcement for the new Touch Sense controller (courtesy of Immersion’s next-gen force feedback system), as well as a lot of secret titles that Sony has kept the lid on for the past year or so.

[Bloodmask]

of all Pachter is an idiot. If Sony drops the price of PS3 to $399 Microsoft will only counter. They have an advantage of launching first and at a cheaper price. Not to mention they are selling the 360 at a profit.

Sony started out the highest and will most likely always be the highest out of the 3 consoles. On pricepoint 360 and Wii will always win.

[devilsadvocate]

on price the wii wins. I wouldnt want to see 40gig ps3, they should just stick with 80gig. Halo3 isnt the be all and end all of gaming so there wont be any need to "combat" it.

[BIadestarX]

Interesting... Sony fans are changing their perspective about the PS3.

"A second price reduction would be great as $599 is a LOT to swallow; " I never though DJ would ever say that.

"I think the situation is indeed that critical. It's the end of the line for PS3" wow!

A while back... many of you said.. that the PS3 didnt need a price drop also that the PS3 was going to beat the xbox 360 in terms of sales once it launched... The PS3 just got a $100 price drop and mmm... nothing.. Now you guys are admitting that the PS3 needs to be cheaper than the xbox 360 in order to compete.
Why should the PS3 be cheaper? what happened to the the talking.. about blu-ray superiority and the cell.. that would make everyone jump and buy a PS3 from day 1?

"Halo3 is releasing 3 months before christmas, which is a bad move by M$." you are wrong... do you know what happends to most consoles and games during christmas? They get SOLD OUT everywhere! People go in a purchase rampage.

Releasing Halo 3 three months before XMas give microsoft the oportunity to re-stock more Halo 3 games and Xbox 360 consoles. I say it's smart... they will Sold Out during XMass anyways. Heck.. even the PS3 probably will in some stores too.

Halo 3 release is like a Xmass why mixed boths times beyong what some retails can stock?

[devilsadvocate]

I could also say the same thing to xbox fanboys like urself. Hell, wifi isnt needed, hdmi isnt needed, a hard drive isnt needed, well, to be honest a fully operational console isnt needed is it?? Also, by your logic they should release halo3 in january thereby giving themselves another 11 months to restock before christmas.

I think you are a bit daft dont you??

[Imalwaysright]

If Sony does this i dont think that MS can counter with another price cut or will never make money with 360. Sony on the other hand with Ps2 still selling a price cut to € 400 on Ps3 wouldnt be that surprising.

Btw i also think that Pachter is a clown.

[jaja1434]

*Sigh* I already said it but Pachter follows trends and advise people where to put their money in which stock. Thats his job and apparently hes very very good at it. So stop complaining when hes wrong about prices/ sales of some unit.

@ Imalwaysrigth- Actually MS could easily "outbid" Sony on price. Though most people, unless they bother to research it,don't know it Sony makes very revenue money each year. Not sure of the exact number, just pointing out MS could easily match any move Sony made. Also because the PS3 is more expensive to make.(Cell,Bly-Ray saw to that). They would and do lose more money on price drops than the 360.

[Jdash24]

if it was $400 it actually could

doesnt matter though, got my ps3 and getting halo 3 day 1