SCEA's Kaz Hirai breaks PlayStation 3 software price silence

Those wondering how much they'll be shelling out for PlayStation 3 software were given a morsel of information today, as an interview conducted with Sony Computer Entertainment America boss Kaz Hirai broached the company's line on the potentially thorny subject.
In an interview with US magazine PSM, Hirai explained, "...generally speaking, over the past twelve years or so, there has been a consumer expectation that disc-based games are maybe $59 on the high end to $39 on the low end. So, what I can say now is, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say "PS3 Games now $99.99."" outlined Hirai.

"I don't think consumers expect software pricing to suddenly double," he continued. "So, the quick answer is that we want to make it as affordable as possible, knowing that there is a set consumer expectation for what software has cost for the past twelve years. That's kind of the best answer I can give you. So, if it becomes a bit higher than $59, don't ding me, but, again, I don't expect it to be $100."

[Jak4ever]

Im a Loyal Playstation consumer (although i do have a 360 now, cant pay $600 dollars for a console) but.. il be dammed if im going to pay an average of 69 to 89 dollars a game!!!! Sony better be smart on this one!

God I hope the game prices are at least reasonable!!!

[andy capps]

He said $39-$59, so it sounds like the same as the Xbox 360. It's about what I expected, except that I don't expect any to be $39.99 unless they're party type games like Singstar, DDR, Eye of Judgment, etc. Most, if not all games, will probably be $59.99.

[greenlynxx]

You are incorrect. When he was discussing the 39.99 to 59.99 prices he was refering to customer expectations. When he was speaking in reference to what the actual price of the PS3 games will be he said, "So, if it becomes a bit higher than $59, don't ding me, but, again, I don't expect it to be $100." So your conclusions are based on an incorrect reading of the article.

[ACE]

sony are greedy wanker$ ...

i have woke up from there trance thank god for that .... this is old ne way the price is ment to be around $60....$75 so later to sony lol with there beta ray disc with mpeg2 what a joke

[greenlynxx]

That sounds alot like he is preparing us for games priced slightly higher than the $59.99 pricing structure available for their competition. I'm guessing $64.99 to $69.99.

[Schmitty07]

If they are going to be regular price as the 360's (59,49) why wouldn't he just tell us? Because they aren't. Maybe not by much like you said, 64.99 and 69.99.

[tatical]

I read somewhere that all games will be on Blu-Ray disc. If so, I'd expect to pay at least $70 (most 360 games are $60 DVDs). If you're willing to pay for a PS3, then the higher priced games shouldn't be a problem.

[TheMART]

I think slightly higher will be 79 dollars for sure.

That will get a hell of an expensive console then. Damn. A console + 2 games + 1 extra controller:

830 Euro's or so

OMG

That's a 360 premium, with 1 extra controller with at least 6 games, even maybe 7

[greenlynxx]

I hope they don't price games at $79.99. It is hard to imagine how they will be able convince the average joe to shell out that kind of cash for a game that they can get on the competition's machine for $20 bucks less.

[BOOSTIN]

i dont trust this KAZ punk. why wont they be honest and just hit us with prices. ohhh thats right, the last time they gave us a price it scared off half their customers. PWNED!

[NitrogenB]

did you just pull that figure out of your butt?? that is pure speculation, $89? where exactly did you get that from...."..that prob means 89.99 PER GAME!" Dude, shut up...go home, and slam your face into a WALL.

[beaucauchemar]

And the PS3 was originally expected to be $399. I would be surprised if any PS3 games turned out to be less than $80 out of the gate. Tell me (based on Sony pricing so far) that I'm wrong...

The 360 vs. PS3 is turning out to be like a V8 Vantage vs. DB9 debate. Sure the Vantage is $50,000 less but are you really losing anything? :)
-Beau

[the_bebop]

I should have expected these responses from those of you who probably from the US most of you seem to have it easy when it comes to the cost of things. Here in Australia new games no matter what genre or developer it comes from or console it is on, games have always cost from $100 AUD, when the Xbox 360 came out here some games ended up costing $120 yet people still buy these games and I bet new PS3 games will be the same as it will be with the Wii, in fact it should end up costing even more for games for those in New Zealand, so just get over the price.

[mikeeno7]

Here in the UK, 360 games cost between £45-£50.
Xbox 1 games used to cost £40 but have now gone down to £15-£20. I think Sony PS3 games will cost between £55-£60. UK gamers are certainly not going to respond nicely to that...

[Madmax1281980]

I Totaly Agree With U There 360 Games are Expensive Right Now Even If They Are Next Gen Titles. Look At The Pc Games even The Next gen Games Are Only £35-£40. Why Are Console Games So Expensive Anyway?

[Fikret_Mehmeti]

I'm from Sweden, and I know that you in the US have it almost 40% cheaper, for example, they are selling The PlayStation 3 in my local EB Games store for 7000 swedish kr, about 1000$ and you are complaining when you have it for 600$, hey man, it's almost for free in the US, but we in Europe are a bit richer than you yankees, that's why we must pay so much, it's almost crule, but you americans will never stop complaining do ye, the games will cost 800 swedish kr and that's about 110$, 1110$ for one game and a PlayStation 3, that's much!

[OutLaw]

When did this become a debate about America and the rest of the world? Enough with the Bullshiit. I see alot of haters out there.

[Islandkiwi]

Americans are complaining because the price is increasing, sure. But it also means the price will be increasing for you guys on the Euro side. So why complain about us complaining? Higher prices affect us all.

[the_bebop]

For those of us out side of the US Islandkiwi a lot of us have already dealt with the price and have got down to actually saving up the money for these things and have stoped complaining about it.

[Islandkiwi]

You've dealt with the price as it is today, not with the price of ps3 games. Surely you're not asking to pay more than you already are?

[the_bebop]

Yes I and many of us in Australia have since it will be no different then the price of some Xbox 360 games which are already around from about $100 to $120 AUD.

[Islandkiwi]

It's nice that you think your game prices won't increase if the US increases. Wow.

[Cyclonus]

and you've done nothing but whine in your entire post.

[USMChardcharger]

i don't giva a dang where you are. MONEY is MONEY. if you live outside the U.S...sure you pay a lot.

but i have a wife and two kids...49.99/59.99 is a lot of money too ME. Hell, $10.00 is a lot too me...so quite with this..."i can't believe americans are complaining". (We didn't design the way money is converted)

in your life it is a lot of money, but in my world it is a lot of money too.

here is another way to look at it...if someone in some country is starving, but not starving as much as another person in another country (who is also starving)...guess what, they are both still starving.

[Islandkiwi]

As stated by Sony earlier, all PS3 games will be on Blu-Ray. Even if they don't need the space, developers apparently aren't getting that option.

But anyone should be able to see this for what it is. Games will be higher than 60 dollars. How to make people less upset? Suggest that it would be reasonable to sell them for 100 dollars, then explain how you would never do that to your loyal consumers.

It's too much cash, Sony. I can buy new dvd's for 10-20, used dvd's for 5 dollars each. Blu-Ray movies at 30-35 dollars and games at 70...it's too much cash when I have other gaming options.

[Nodoze]

If Sony really thinks that they can start charging upwards of 70 dollars US for each game it has become apparent that they have lost it! The only reason they are doing this is to offset the cost of the BlurRay disc mfg costs, effectively forcing YOU the consumer to pay the price!! They may be the present leader in the platform wars, however they are now charging a premium to the loyal customer base in order to force feed a new format onto the world!

For those that argue that the PS2 is outselling the 360, why do you think that is.....PRICE! 129 vs 399 is a big difference. Now Sony is going to charge 499-699 just to get the console, and a significant premium for the titles?? WOW!! I smell a Neo Geo repeat here!

[Sexius Maximus]

Remember back in the old Sega/Nintendo era when the best games cost more? I remember shelling out $80 for Shining in the Darkness AND Phantasy Star 4. Honestly, I'm not even going to get a PS3 because I've never liked their first party titles anyway. But if you're paying $60 for a Xbox360 game, what the hell is $10-$20 more gonna do. Games dropped A LOT when they went to a CD format. It's about time they raised a little bit. But again, Sony can burn in hell for all I care, but raising the price of games is understandable.

[OutLaw]

Phantasy star 4 was going to be the last of the series and they made the cartridge a whopping 16 megabit game for the genesis. Back then that was huge.

[THELANDSOFSAND]

god lord, who mentioned $100 games! that shouldn't even be mentioned!

70-80 games will kill the PS3.

[NitrogenB]

did you just pull that figure out of your butt?? that is pure speculation, $89? where exactly did you get that from...."..that prob means 89.99 PER GAME!" Dude, shut up...go home, and slam your face into a WALL

[Zolar]

Remember these are next gen games. Not stuff you are playing today.

[Moostache]

So are the XB360 titles like Oblvion and GRAW and certainly Gears of War and Mass Effect - yet those games all retail in the US for $59.99.

Sony is completely mad if they believe because the box says "Playstation" people will not only fork over a 33% premium on the console for the same graphics and gameplay as the 360 but then also fork over extra cash for every game relative to the competition as well.

I guess we can see now how Sony plans to pay for their "free" online service. Just jack up the price of every game sold to cover the online expenses and subsidize the Blu-Ray format by making the consumers pay for somethign they do not need in the first palce.

Brilliant strategy! At this rate, unless they muzzle the quartet of Stricker, Hirai, Kutagari and Harrsion, Sony won't have to worry about the success of Blu-Ray or the future of the company - these clowns will kill it all with their assinine statements.

[The Real Deal]

No...remember they are ports from 360 games that we are playing today. Remember it costs way more to develope on the ps3. Not because its so advanced but because they chose blu ray and cell which are both a pain and new to use. But most 3rd party games will be made for the 360's easy programming enviorment and then ported to the ps3. So everyone will see that you pay 60 for a 360 game and you get the same game if not a tad less impressive on the ps3 for 70 or more. He stated definatley not 100 dollars but that leaves quite a bit of room. 70 to 90 dollars. Microsofts first party games are 50 dollars. Halo 3, Forza, Fable 2, ect. So Ps3 will loose its casual gamer base it once had. To the Wii for price and the 360 if they crave next at a good price.

[Aflac]

games for ps3 will cost between $74.99 and $84.99

[The Real Deal]

I told everyone a week ago that the games WILL be 69.99 to 79.99 for 3rd party games and 59.99 for first party games. Its 1/3rd more expensive to develope on the ps3 and blu ray format is expensive to manufacture. thats why you can get hd dvd's at walmart right now for 19.99 and they run 24.99 to 45.99 for blu ray movies. Hd dvd will always cost less because the process is an easy trasition from making reg dvd's. Its common sense. I know many sony fans are hoping its not true but it is. I'm the Real Deal. So if you want Madden for the ps3...you will have to spend 600 for the console then 70 for the game. YOu get the same game with probably some added features and smother gameplay from the added year of experience EA has with the console for 300 for the system and 60 for the game. Sports fans are a big part of gamers. Then you have the GTA crowd...and the Exclusive Crowd. They get eye candy and next gen games with a minimal hit on their pockets with the 360. Good Job Microsoft. What are you going to do SONY? OMG.

[Cyclonus]

Who in their right mind would pay $70-80 for a game when they can buy the exact same game- with the exact same GFX- on 360, for $60?

Sony loyalists, thats who. But even their blind devotion will only go so far when they realize they're paying such idiotic premiums for NOTHING.

[Nodoze]

I wouldn't underestimate the blind devotion that the Sony loyalists have! They will buy anything Sony branded regardless of quality, price, or competition.

Now the non-fanboys will never go for this, so the crew at Sony better be praying to the gods of technology that their fanbase doesn't dry up before the company coffers!

[The Real Deal]

When you are in the market to get an hd tv. How many of you just go to the store and buy it on a whim? Or if you want a digital camera or a camcorder. So the 360 doesn't sell on a whim. Most Casual gamers won't go to walmart and see the 360 and pull out their wallet and buy it. They go home. Check there money. Plan their money. Save their money. Then they go back to the store. Look at it some more. Save some more. Then take the plunge. With the ps3 its even worse. Many Sony loyalist will want one. But they budget won't allow it. Then when they see Microsoft is haveing much of the same games and some exciting first party games. It will be a lot easier to invest 300 dollars. Ps3 will sell out at launch. 2 million consoles world wide is easy to assume when ps2 sold 100 million. But I don't know how much more they can sell at 600 dollars honestly. Then with games being anywhere from 70 to 90 dollars. Its not going outsell the Wii. And ps3 fans will say "well of course not the wii is 400 dollars less" but yet ps3 fans are quick to point out that for one month the 130 dollar ps2 barely outsold the 400 dollar 360 in the USA. Its funny how their arguments sway.

[shoota33]

You xbox fanboys are pathetic.All of you are so worried about what the price of games are for ps3 that you dont even comment in your own section.No one has even confirmed th price of ps3 games but yet all of you are saying 70,80,90.

[The Real Deal]

you are correct NO ONE HAS confirmed the prices of the ps3 games. But according to this article and others I have read. Sony is preparing the consumers for a price jump. He could have easily said in the article that the prices will be the same as 360's price point. But NOOOOOO. He said he expects it to be under 100 dollars. Are you serious? Then I have read from other sources weeks ago that they MOST LIKELY will be 70 to 80 dollars and 60 for the first party sony games. They came to that conclusion because Sony had announced first party games being 60 dollars. First party games are ALWAYS cheaper than third party games. So you can guesstimate 70 then 80 for the special editions. But your right. Its not officially announced. Are you hoping its not true? Will you be ok if the prices pan out to be more? You shouldn't worry about if you intend on getting a ps3 regardless right? If they say 90 dollars per game. Smile and say "I'm in".

[The Real Deal]

I check all the news. Ps3, 360, Wii, ect....Why you ask? Because I'm getting a ps3 and a Wii. lol...SO I have the right as a consumer to check up on news from a system I'm spending 600 plus dollars on. Honestly I don't think you are getting one. I think you are a kid and you hope your mommy will buy it for you. And I only say this because of the type of things you say in your post. Its ok. Its a free world. But didn't your mom tell you not to jump in grown folks conversations? Thats real.

[Cyclonus]

You should apply for an executive job at Sony. When the PS3 is still-born this fall, I gotta feeling they're gonna be hiring soon....

And you think you're good at damage control, but all that comes out when you type is *fart* *fart* *fart* *fart* *fart*

Kaz Hirai is trying to cushion the blow with these statements....but its not going to work; 80 bucks is still 80 bucks.

[kingboy]

yeah baby!Brazil is going down again this time
vive la france! just give me pro evolution soccer even for 79Euros i`m getting it baby!! lol i`m gonna spend some few exrta bucks this time around for games i guest..it`s a passion i can`t help it!

[shoota33]

Honestly I could give a rats ass what you think.I am getting a ps3,i would not be talking right now if a wasnt getting one.

[The Real Deal]

Honestly no one in this forum gives a rats ass what you think or say. And I'm getting a ps3, I would not be talking right now if I wasn't getting one. If I'm going to spend 600 plus on a system. I have the right to talk about it.

[The Real Deal]

Is that you passing gas or are you saying somthing. You always stinking up the room. lol...

[Silver360]

Sony fans will buy the PS3. They will enjoy it and there is nothing anyone can say to change thier minds. 360 owners will have a more affordable system and games, a better live service and a better controller. That doesn't mean the PS3 won't be fun. In the end that is all that matters, have fun with your game system. If you don't then it is a waste of money!!

[shoota33]

That is your opinion not facts.

[shoota33]

On this forum i could give a rats ass what any of you think. Anything you or i say wont matter because people will buy ps3 reguardless of what you or any other xbox fanboy think.

[Silver360]

If you enjoy the games and system why are you worrying. Just get it when it comes out and have fun.

[pRo loGic II]

People will buy the PS3 that's a fact! but it won't be a repeat of PS2 sale's. (STFU) The bulk of Sony fans are not rich it's not even an adult console like the 360, there's a big chunk of the base made up of kids and young teens (like yourself) $660.00 (with tax) $60.00(warrenty) $80.00( game) $80.00(1 more game)$50.00(extra pad) Sony's base is made up of alot of poor people(young kids, teenagers, and the general population) $930.00 set up for PS3 will sell like hot cakes. NOT!!! effing idiot!. And if you think what's being talked about on these forums won't get out to the general public this holliday season you're wrong the media will tear Sony a new asshole this Christmas.

[shoota33]

No you HOPE it will not be a repeat of ps2 but it will so keep on crying.And 700 dollars is nothing to me.Everyone i know has no problem buying ps3.But it is always you b!tch @ss xbox fanboys complaining about the price when you are not getting one anyway so dont worry about what people are spending their money on.

[pRo loGic II]

I hope it won't be a repeat? what ever guy. I'll be playing Xbox3 before PS3 will repeat the PS2's succsess besides if PS3 lasted long enough to sell 70-85 Million like the PS2 did, PS3 will be out dated. You And you're buddies maybe Super Sony fanboys and are willing to spend that much, but you don't speak for others, its aready a very exspensive hobby. Think about it.

[Marriot VP]

only a statement like this, saying it'll be no more than 100 bucks indicates a price hike from developers. Whether it'll be 70 or 80. My estimates would say the games will be between 60-80. And special edition ones would be 10 bucks more as usual.

BR is expensive and developers have to have some way to make money. Whether it's charging online which will happen or price hiking abover 60.

[joemutt]

When did this happen?

I thought it was a PC, whats this about games?

[Cyclonus]

I thought it was a DVD player, lol!

[ACE]

yes its a waterd down beta-ray player lol

[shoota33]

I thought it was just an xbox painted white, lol!