390°

Will A PS3 Price Drop Help Sony Beat Xbox 360 This Holiday?

Gamertag Radio writes: "Sony just announced during GamesCom 2011 that the PlayStation 3 is now cheaper than ever, just $249. It's a great price for non-PS3 owners (like me!). But will this help them compete with Xbox 360 this holiday season?"

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gamertagradio.com
Abash4635d ago

I hope so. The PS3 and it's exclusive games deserve more success.

firemassacre4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

the ps3, has, is, and will continue to outsell the 360. especially with the 250 dollar price tag. it is sure to dominate this holiday season like it always has.

@godfree, there is a a giant world out there outside the usa, full of forests, safaris, deserts, and most importantly...the rest of the world.

fluffydelusions4635d ago

Yeah but ms will drop the price soon too.

units4635d ago

you also seem to be forgetting gears 3 and forza 4

Jocosta4635d ago

And yet another geography lesson from you people, please cease with these obvious statements.

AAACE54635d ago

A Ps3 price drop is not needed really, but would help a lot!

I have noticed 360's being sold left and right on craigslist. I am even trying to sell one myself or trade for a Ps3 and have had no responses.

It is clear that people are leaving the 360 and moving on to different things such as the Ps3.

It took me a while to accept the fact that Ps3 is where it's at right now. I have been playing on my Ps3 a lot more since I let my XBL subscription end. Which is why i'm getting rid of the other 360 so I can give it to my sons, because they want to abandon 360 as well.

Now is the time to make the move!

BattleAxe4635d ago

PS3 will dominate:

- $249.00 price point
- Remastered ICO and Shadow of the Colossus
- Remastered God of War: Chains of Olympus
- Remastered GoD of War: Ghost of Sparta
- Resistance 3
- Uncharted 3
- Payday: The Heist
- The Last Guardian
- Starhawk

MysticStrummer4635d ago

@Jocosta - Look at godfree's statement. Geography lessons are clearly still needed. OT - I expect Sony to continue to closing the gap with this price cut, but I also expect MS to drop the 360's price before Christmas. That, plus the fact that two of their three big exclusives are having sequels this year, leads me to expect Sony will still be behind in January.

EarthLover4635d ago

firemassacre, you are completely delusional. Tell me, if PS3 is and always has been outselling 360 around the world, why did Sony drop the price? No one ever drops the price when they are in first place in sales, which is what ps3 would have to be if they are outselling 360 around the world as you say, wii is dead.

TheXtreme4635d ago

After reading the article's title all I have to say is LoL!

Phantasm4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Even though the 360 is 6 years in, the PS3 has still had 5 years into this gen with plenty of exclusives, blu-ray, JAPAN and more, but it just hasn't been enough to dominate. Another price cut was needed, and I'm sure Sony is in a position to do so. But... MS is gonna drop the hammer as well. This is how it usually works with the 2.

All this being said, all 3 companies are doing well this gen, and are profiting. Shareholders only care about the mighty dollar.

zeeshan4635d ago

Honestly, I really don't think so. I think M$ has locked down the NA region this gen. 360 will continue to outsell PS3 here because you can grab a 360 for a mere $199! Add different promotions such as promotions by Walmart, Amazon, Target, DELL etc, you can grab a 360 for $150 and even $99 (remember the Walmart deal 2 years ago). Sony's cheapst PS3 model is $249. Price plays a major role in today's world, in today's economy.

Things might have been TOTALLY different if we were to see a $199 PS3 announcement though!

Anon19744635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Without a doubt, the price cut will help the PS3 beat the 360 this holiday season. Think about it. Last year the 360 launched the 360 slim, was the cheaper console, had a new Halo game AND the launch of Kinect. End result...it was able to tie the PS3 for the holiday quarter.

What does that tell you? The fact that the 360 managed to outsell the PS3 one quarter out of almost 2 years doesn't suddenly change the fact that overall, the 360 has been 3rd place ever since it had any competition. 2009 anyone? The 360 had quite the commanding lead in 2009 as well as PS3 sales started to slow, only to lose that year by over 2 million to the PS3, due to a PS3 price cut.

EVILDEAD3604635d ago

According to the financial reports the 360 is currently ahead worldwide for fiscal 2011. But let's face it, the 360 will NEVER lead worldwide by a long shot simply on the strength of Japan.

Japan barely buys the PS3s top exclusives but what the country does do for Sony is buy hardware in their home country. The 360 barely sells in Japan and that trend is simply not going to change this gen. Those numbers go a long way to offset the 360s momentum in North America.

The PS3 pricecut will absolutely provide a shot in the arm for the PS3 this Fall and holiday season. Europe was the perfect place to announce the cut as it is where the battleground for hardware is the closest between the two consoles.

The verdict is out on if Micrsoft is going to wait this one out and see if their is true traction to the announcement or reply with their own price cut immediately to counter the news.

Either way, Sony can look forward to some bigger hardware number in the upcoming months.

The plot thickens...

Evil

darthv724635d ago

the price cut will help sell some units. This is typical when sales slow that companies look to cost cutting to bring sales back up to their expected percentages.

The if this beats that or this or whatever....fanboyish drivel.

The companies are concerned with THEIR estimates and percentages FIRST. If they happen to surpass a competitor in the process is secondary. Keep in mind that sony has been competing against itself since the ps3 released. I would bet they are wanting to meat or beat their existing goals more so than the wii or 360.

Its only the fanboys that want to spin this around to a pissing contest.

Lazy_Sunday4635d ago

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but in all truth I have my doubts, since the average person--when buying a console for the various holidays--thinks out of stupidity. They see the Xbox 360 and go, "hey, that's $50 cheaper than the PS3. That's a good deal!" Then they realize they need a bigger HDD. $$$. Then they realize they need XBL. $$$. Then they need the Kinect $$$. Then they need another controller. $$$. Then they need batteries... ugh... and now you know how Microsoft profits from selling a console so cheaply.
Then again, the 360 unit with the Kinect does cost more than the 160GB PS3 now, hopefully that means the PS3 will grab a more incentive buy.

@units: yeah, but it's kind of disappointing considering the 360 has a 1 year lead and should be dominating the market. You also seem to forget that while Gears and Forza are very popular in the US, they sell poorly worldwide. The arcade type handling of Forza and the ultra-gore of Gears without a real diverse nature to it tends to keep away those that want titles with more realistic depth or diversity. While the PS3 does have titles similar to the 360, it has more titles and very different IPs, which is what makes it unique to the market.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 4635d ago
Joule4635d ago

What the hell is this shit? PS3 has been consistently the 360 worldwide for months now. The only region the 360 actually has more sales in is USA.

4635d ago
kaveti66164635d ago

I'm glad they made a price drop because my PS3 is starting to act up.

dantesparda4635d ago

In the US no I don't think so

kingdoms4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

What the heck is going on in here? Ps3 fanboys saying PS3 has been outselling the 360 worldwide despite Sony and Microsoft official reports saying otherwise LOL. I know most the kids on here don't know about it because it was basically hidden on n4g due to members flooding the site with stories so it would get pushed back without notice.

Sony dropped the price because they could no longer hide the fact even from the rabid morons that make up the vocal part of Sony's base. Sony did this because fooling fanboys no longer made investors feel secure.

PS3 can't beat the 360 because PS3 doesn't offer what the masses want which is the total package in gaming a mix of the greatest franchises in modern gaming history, multiplatform and exclusives and the hottest motion tech in gaming kinect.

The 360 will have a huge boost from being a set top box for advanced digital tv this fall.

Microsoft always quietly matches the price drop after they make sure Sony follows through. No way in hell will PS3 beat the 360 with Forza, Gears, Halo, COD, BF3, The witcher 2, elder scrolls all on XBL with hybrid kinect games coming soon after.

Typing on Android do this is messy

DigitalRaptor4635d ago

You know what else is messy?

Your brain, I think it might be leaking...

Christopher4634d ago

Not in the U.S. Gears of War + CoD = 360 sales will dominate U.S. Holiday season.

Worldwide? Likely.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4634d ago
godfree4635d ago

How? The Xbox 360 is selling more units in the U.S. than any other console in 12 of the past 13 months.

Mr-Dude4635d ago

Dude...
Or you stil living in the past, but their are other countries out their.. The world isn't made up by the USA only.. And the world is ROUND not FLAT..

iamnsuperman4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

well said Ddude.

@godfree The link is the map of the world. You might want to see it now and again just to make sure we are out there. Just because it sells better in the US doesn't mean it applies to the world

HungPHATx4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Dude you won't win with this guy ! He in bed with MS for some reason ! I've Been gaming since 1981 ! Forgot more than he knows ..... The world is bigger than the US ? really ? LOL...

Ask him how 360 is doing in Japan ? I'll tell you , reports from retailers that there pulling them off the shelfs cause lack of sales and the launch of the VITA , you couldn't give 360's away in Japan But no ! Know one wants to talk about.....do they ?!

Agent_hitman4635d ago

@Ddude

well said dude, World is round not flat.. therefore ps3 has the potential.. kudos!

Boody-Bandit4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Ddude you're wasting your time.
godfree is a MS fan and a Sony, well let's just say he pretends to be impartial but he is as transparent as a rolled down window. Last I heard he does not even own a PS3 yet he is always giving his opinion (usually not good or at best back handed complements) on the console, it's games and options and features (PS+, PSN, etc..).

Ask him and the other tabloid bloggers where are the articles about MS giving away 360's with PCs and laptops for students? That promotion has been going on the past several weeks and probably will continue to do so for the next several weeks.

That surely isn't impacting XBox 360 sales in his (godfrees) world (America). /s

I was really hoping Sony would've dropped the price to $199. That is the sweet spot. And as far as others saying MS will drop the price again. To what? Giving them away with happy meals? They have been at the $199 price point for a long time already and they only place the are pulling in big numbers is in America. You know, the world! /s

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4635d ago
consolez_FTW4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Of course the 360 is selling more units in America. I guess you just figured just to ignore the rest of the world though...smh

k-dillinger4635d ago

yea when you are giving away your console for free and throwing half a billion on marketing yea that's hard to beat for anyone but 360 has no games so ps3 is easily the best choice.

just_sayin4635d ago (Edited 4635d ago )

Yeah MS is always giving out 360s. I'm surprised you can't get one for buying a kids meal.

qwertyz4635d ago

M$ will just retaliate with a price cut of their own

gaden_malak4635d ago

They might not, they are still selling well at the current price.

Software_Lover4635d ago

WHO F'N CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

I mean the interwebz is just giving crazies too much of a voice.

Both consoles are now established and are not going the way of the Dreamcast. That is the only thing that SHOULD matter to a gamer. Consoles will be sold, games will be made for said consoles. End of Story.

I wonder if Maytag sold more fridges than GE? If so I guess I need to be pissed off about my GE and go cry somewhere. Hell, I might as well beat my LG Washing Machine with a sledge hammer because I'm sure they came in last place.

_Aarix_4635d ago

I doubt it, People kept claiming this would mean or that would mean, the death of the xbox but nothing has really took xbox down and i'm not expecting it too either. Plus ms can afford to drop price of the xbox to $99 (which you can get a gamestop for that price)

GamersRulz4635d ago

if selling less than a PS3 is considered a victory, then yes PS3 can't beat the xbox because as far as I know PS3 is leading WW sales for long time now.

_Aarix_4635d ago

i don't know about Ww sales. All I know is the 360 is still selling more and it is in great shape.

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120°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg12h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos12h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola7h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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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
ChasterMies20d 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_looken20d ago

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

Cacabunga20d ago

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

just_looken20d 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-6420d 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_Long20d 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.

Einhander197220d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d 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 20d ago
DivineHand12520d 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.

Joe91320d 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_Observer20d 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.

S2Killinit20d ago (Edited 20d 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.

Joe91319d 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.

S2Killinit19d 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 19d ago
Christopher20d 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.

CrimsonWing6920d ago (Edited 20d 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.

S2Killinit19d 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_Mal20d ago (Edited 20d 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.

Christopher20d 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_looken20d 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

Einhander197220d ago (Edited 20d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d 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.

romulus2320d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218320d 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.

S2Killinit19d ago (Edited 19d 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.

mastershredder20d 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.

crazyCoconuts20d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
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.

blackblades26d ago

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

just_looken26d 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.

blackblades26d 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_looken26d ago (Edited 26d 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.

Kaii26d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p