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.