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Rumortoid: Another PS3 price drop to $299? [Update] photo

The last time we heard of a PlayStation 3 price drop it was a little more believable. Many felt that the system was overpriced, so a lower price was definitely welcome. The reduction(s) in price came, and Sony had a pretty decent holiday season for it. Now rumors are surfacing of another price drop. Another reduction in price would be every bit as welcome as the first, but this time around we'll be a bit more cautious with our hopes.

M&C says that the folks at SlickDeals.net are saying that we might see a $299 40GB model by January 29th. SlickDeals did successfully break news of the prior PS3 and Xbox 360 price drops, but we've heard nothing else along these lines yet.

Some may point to the recent announcement of a reduction in manufacturing costs as evidence, but we'll agree with M&C -- Sony wouldn't stand to gain much right now by dropping the price. You never know with Sony, though.

What do you think? Will we see a drop? Would this really benefit Sony in early 2008? 

[Update: The moon speak here at Bloomberg Japan is a statement from Sony's Kaz Hirai saying that there is no plans for a price drop. Didn't they say that last time?] 


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56 comments | showing # 1 to 50

broonor's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:09
broonor
Well, given the hobbled features of the 40 GB, it's a welcome and almost expected drop, but that is quite a substantial drop in price. When you get down to it; I say the money is made on peripherals, games, and the PSN impulse $10 purchases. If the point of your system is to make money; best to take a hit on the chin on the console sale I say (rather than have no one play your games, not matter how "good" they are)
Corncobtacular's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:12
Corncobtacular
I would think a PS2 price drop would be more likely until Sony needs to gear up for the next holiday season....then i'd say it's believable.
ShinAmano's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:12
ShinAmano
I wonder if that means a $399 80gig...
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:13
MaxVest
When was the last one? October? This seems a little early. I also don't necessarily think price drops have to come in $100 increments.

What about a $349 model with a Blu-ray movie and a bundled BD remote? That would capitalize on the crowd who is ready to upgrade now that it looks like the next generation of optical media has a victor.
JamesSorensen's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:14
JamesSorensen
components costing less and consoles selling for a loss until later in life cycle could make sense... definitely possible and would make sense
bhive01's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:14
bhive01
I say no way. They just lowered it. Even with removing all that PS2 hardware and cleaning up the motherboard they're still losing money on each one. I could see one retailer having a small supply of them at that price to create some buzz, but other than that I don't expect a price drop until at least the fall if not 2009. And even then, 50$ not another 100$.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:15
mistic
for 299$ I might consider it :-)
kaz's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:17
kaz
Yeah lets hope it's true and it also means a price drop for the 80 GB. I've been entertaining the idea of getting a PS3(mostly for the blu-rays), and the recent HD DVD woes have only strengthened the thought. I need backward compatibility though, I've seen roughly 0 PS3 games that I want, but there is a cubic shit ton of PS2 games I missed out on.
Teta's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:17
Teta
I would buy one for that price.
Rhoq's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:18
Rhoq
I just bought a 40GB last week. The 29th is my birthday. Circuit City better honor the price difference and refund me $100 if this turns out to be true.
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:19
RICHARD BLOCKER
40 GB or not, If there was a 300$ PS3, I would buy it tonight.
tfo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:19
tfo
Well, one way or another, I'm glad I've waited to buy a PS3. And I'm glad for another reason to wait.
bhive01's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:21
bhive01
@Kaz, I take it you've never heard of Uncharted?
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:22
MaxVest
Going through the slickdeals forum, I didn't see a source that seemed to know what they were talking about. Wouldn't surprise me if it's chatter started by Microsoft or Toshiba, geared at gimping January sales for PS3 in order to keep the HD-DVD dream alive. I love conspiracy theories.
that1dood's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:25
that1dood
All in all, no I don't think it'll make a big difference in their sales. Though, I can honestly say that I would buy one if it did drop to $300. Sucks either way for Sony because last I checked they weren't making money off the consoles anyway. So it sounds like a lose-lose situation.
DTwirler's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:26
DTwirler
IDC for the 40GB model, I want the 80GB. So until I see something lower, I'll wait.
Rockvillian's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:26
Rockvillian
Still waiting, but they're on the right track!
chief blaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:27
chief blaze
im not to crazy on owning a ps3 but if it keeps price dropping like i can be convinced Id get some moneys worth out of it. i dont care about hd dvd or blu ray, im all digital at my place, having a divx dvd player is the best in my opinion, for now.
Surf314's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:32
Surf314
299 are you out of your mind? word!
kaz's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:35
kaz
@bhive01
Yes, thats why I said roughly 0, I've seen it but haven't looked into it too much. I was really just going to get the HD DVD drive for 360, but we've all seen the news the last couple weeks. After that news is when I said, "well maybe a PS3."
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:37
MechaMonkey
Nope.
tarzanell's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:39
tarzanell
If that would mean £199 in GBP, I'd be all over that like a 70's porn star on a moustache.
Reallynotnick's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:39
Reallynotnick
Is there ever going to be a cheaper Blu-Ray player then the PS3?
galagabug 's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:40
galagabug
thats a cheap blu-ray player right there!
DanGale's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:44
DanGale
@tarzanell

Except that's not how it works. it's currently £299, so I could see it going down to around £249 next. But I doubt that would be until next Christmas at least. Then again, I've been wrong before.
moot button's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:46
moot button
an FCC filing for a white 40gb popped up yesterday. i wonder if they're related. anyways, if this is true, thats a sweet price. i'd be able to get one for upstairs, bluray in da bedroom
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:53
MaxVest
I think the only way Sony would consider a price drop right now is if they believe Microsoft is considering a price drop. For the consumer who hasn't been interested enough to buy a 360 during the last 3 holiday seasons, a $399 40GB PS3 compares favorably in terms of features to the $350 360 Pro.

Somebody who was really into games would already own one or the other.
Aertyr's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 10:56
Aertyr
I might actually buy one if they did that, that and get a good game other then uncharted.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:14
Fading Star
Please!
foxhound009's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:21
foxhound009
It would totally pull a f king Fatality on ms...
for 299 you get 40 gb storage.. free playstation network... blue ray player.... omfg :O:O:O:O ...
they would have shortages for sure

please sony... if you see my comment... ow please do it.
Mr Lazy's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:22
Mr Lazy
if it hits 300 bucks, i would definitely get one. even if it was to just play ratchet n clank and MGS4
decoyb's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:29
decoyb
I don't think price is their problem. I could see the price drop around christmas but for now the ps3 is still a good value at 400.

They really just need some games out that even stupid/uninformed people recognize like MGS and Final Fantasy. They have plenty of good games, but not many with mass market appeal.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:34
HarassmentPanda
At $299 I would get one once some more games came out. LittleBig Planet and MGS4 would definitely warrant a purchase.
blitzio's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:55
blitzio
$299? Not bad for a bluray player that plays games :)
skullivan's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 11:58
skullivan
A price drop at the end of January would do nothing but piss off the people who paid $400 for the thing during the holidays.

It's not like there's anything major coming out until GTAIV (whenever that is) so why would they drop the price now?

The PS3 will continue to sell at $400 just on the fact that it's the best Blu-ray player available for the price. Blu-ray player sales skyrocketed as much as HD-DVD sales tanked after Warner's announcement so there's not even a reason for them to lower the price to compete on that front.

I could see a Summer price drop to $300. No earlier than that unless MS announces a price drop of their own, which is very likely around the launch of GTAIV.
BlackDove's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 12:05
BlackDove
I'll buy that for a dollar.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 12:36
Sharpless
YES! Finally. I was wondering about this. The Wii and 360 are clearly going to drop down to casual-gaming price levels this year, and I figured Sony would have to follow suit. They're still low on my priority list, but this could make it actually plausible that I might eventually buy one.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 12:43
Tubatic
If that's the case, then I might just consider getting one, lest I can convince myself that I really care about online play in general and downloadable content for GTA.
JohnThEReaper617's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 13:04
JohnThEReaper617
I just want it cheap as can be so i can actually buy one. With college bills and such its not easy to expedite that much money so no more bundles and such just drop the price
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 13:16
king3vbo
I doubt it.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 13:24
Samit Sarkar
I don’t see why they would drop the price now. They’re just coming off their best month of sales ever, and skullivan is right: it would just anger everyone who paid $399 during the holiday season. Plus, a $100 price drop is a lot. I’d expect to see it at $349 by the end of 2008.
Monte's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 13:42
Monte
Ya, sony wouldn't drop the price now. The only time they would drop the price is during a high buying season, like the holiday, or during the release of a real system seller (MSG4 maybe?)... it's only at times like that when they will gain as much as they can on a price... during the high buying season you have a lot of people considering PS3 and dropping the price then would turn the heads of anyone on the fence about buying one.
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 14:09
vexed alex
IF this happens, then Microsoft will surely have to drop their price.
xdaytime's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 14:14
xdaytime
I'd buy a 400$ 60gb, but not a 40gb.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 15:07
Necros
I refuse to buy the 40GB model. I suppose I better start saving up now to afford one of the remaining 60GB models in the gray market.
liqideos's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 15:51
liqideos
Get the 80gb down to $299, and Microsoft is fucked. Period.
MasterMS's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 16:50
MasterMS
I already own a 60GB PS3 but if I didn't there is no way I'd pay for a 40GB PS3 even at $100. Backwards compatibility is a must for me, I mean come on were talking about the PS2 library here, its IMO well worth the difference.
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 17:25
TheBrain
Well I'm getting a PS3 as soon as I catch up with my 360 back catalog anyway, so this would be nice.
GrayFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 18:55
GrayFox
$299 sounds like an absolutely insane price, but if it's true I'll buy one the day they drop it.
DrSpoq's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 20:18
DrSpoq
fuck that - I was planning on buying very soon.. now I need to wait dammit :(
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