Sony and Microsoft step up fight with Wii; $399 40GB PS3 dated

The Financial Times reports from San Francisco:

Sony announced a $399 40GB PS3 for the US on October 17 while Microsoft confirmed that it would launch a new $279 Xbox 360 Arcade. The moves increased price competition with the Nintendo Wii, which remains the cheapest of the new consoles at $250 for the crucial holiday season sales period.

While Microsoft hopes to challenge the Wii with the Arcade, its $349 Xbox 360 Premium faces pressure from the $399 PS3, which has a bigger, 40-gigabyte hard drive, built-in wi-fi and a Blu-ray drive.

"I think Microsoft almost has to cut the price of the Premium or bundle it with some games," said Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter. He said the only surprise in Sony's announcement was the inclusion of the Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray disc in the package.

The Financial Times reports that the $399 PS3 will be available on November 2.

[Blasphemy]

Good stuff this one actually gives an official release date.

[nasim]

NOW over in NA

there is no way an inferior console like x360 would rival a SUPERCOMPUTER named ps3 at a competitive price.

x360 and wii are both finished in EU and NA

:)

[PopEmUp]

The big boys (Ps3& X-box 360)is putting some pressures on the little guy (Wii)

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Is ANYONE going to buy the 360 Arcade? What a waste! How is it not worth spending the extra $70 on the Premium?

Also,
"Sony announced a $399 40GB PS3 for the US on October 17"
"The Financial Times reports that the $399 PS3 will be available on November 2"

Both from this story. One is wrong. Which one? :p

[DrRage77]

they are both correct, you are just reading it incorrectly. it says that sony announced the $399 40gb ps3 sku on october 17th....it didn't announce it was being released on the 17th, that is the day sony announced the $399 ps3 for the U.S....it will be released on november 2nd

announced on october 17th
released on novmeber 2nd

:P

[joydestroy]

the console sales for the holiday is going to be interesting, to say the least. no one really knows what's going to happen with all of these price cuts, new sku's and bundles.

Pachter, you're an idiot once again. they are bundling the 360 premium and Elite with 2 games, actually, for the holiday season.

[dragunrising]

I have every intention of finally owning a PS3 this holiday. The lack of bc is kind of disappointing but then again I own a PS2:-P If you want to play PS2 games (and don't own one) Sony will probably slash the price of the PS2 to $100; effectively the cost of bc if you were to go for the 60 gig. This announcement is great news despite being known about for some time.

I lack the source or past article but I read somewhere back that Wi-Fi was upgraded for this model; I believe the evidence was in the FCC filing. Anyone have the source?

[joydestroy]

i'm too lazy, but you are correct. not only will the wifi be imporoved, but i also believe the range for the controller was improved.

edit: alright i did go and look but there are sooooo many 40gb articles that it would take a while to find it.

[Filanime03]

yup the Wi-fi is improved and also the dvd drive is improve too lazy to find thr article sorry.

[BloodySinner]

I want a white PS3... :-(

[synce]

Xbots and Nintendrones will be hurting when their consoles stop getting all the attention next year.

[Rooftrellen]

We're used to it already.

All we ever see is PS3 fanboys saying "next year we'll rule, next year the PS3 will have the best games." The PS3 is already getting almost all of the attention.

[lawler]

Pitiful attempts to catch the Wii, it'll never happen.

[feejo]

I think Nin was sending just a few console and where keeping it for Xmas season. There is going to be a mega mass of Wii on the market soon, a flood, Ps3 won't win this round I promise. Not that it is better, cause it is cheaper, as stupid it is. Also they drop price.
40 gb need a value +, I mean by that a game that come with, not a movie. I don't want a PS3 for movies since it dose not introduce Transformer movie.

[DeckUKold]

but didn't xbox try and still trailing and now it's ps3's turn and no backwards compatability will hurt them but then again i don't care about hardware I GOT THAT gimme the games

[Twilightx7]

"I think Microsoft almost has to cut the price of the Premium or bundle it with some games" - Wasn't there a previous story of MS bundling Forza 2 and Marvel: UA for the holiday? I think that Wii and 360 will be more than a match for PS3 this season, even with the PS3 price drop. Should be a crazy holiday.

[tocrazed4you]

..