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Activision CEO wants to see PS3 price slashed, worries for Sony's future
The PlayStation 3 is arguably the most expensive console to own right now. (Sure, you can add up all the Wii and Xbox 360 peripherals you want, but per console and per game the PS3 takes the cake.) It's also expensive to develop for when you don't have the chance to sell as many games, according to Activision CEO Robert Kotick, whose company publishes the likes of Guitar Hero and a million billion movie tie-ins. He's worried that such a high cost is stunting the system's growth and, as such, straining the developers who support it.
"They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates [the number of games each console owner buys] are likely to slow," Kotick told the UK Times Online, ominously adding, "If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony. When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console — and the PSP (portable) too."
Console exclusivity usually comes when Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo cuts a fat check to a publisher. It's rarer and rarer, though, as selling for one system is a guaranteed drop in sales, and the PS3 only magnifies that effect with its lower install base.
Sony is firm on its stance that it won't be pressured to cut the price of the PS3, though publishers and developers jumping ship would probably give the electronics giant a reason to think different.
London Times, via Giant Bomb
By Chris Downs at 6:16 PM ON 06/19/09
They've already been losing money on each console they sell but I think it narrows down to the fact that they don't charge for online play like Microsoft. If they did (which I wouldn't like much anyways), then maybe they'd have a little extra cash so the price cuts on their consoles wouldn't put as much of a dent in their stocks.
On the other hand, I still think they should have a full-fledged PS3 reminiscent of the 60GB model (which had the PS2's emotion engine for a more refined backward-compatibility experience, 4 USB ports, and built-in 802.11g/b)
I think they should have a price-cut model with nearly the same hardware they're currently using on the 80gig, while creating a more improved version of the 60GB launch system, and selling this one for five or six hundred dollars (as it would be only for those who are really into BC (backward compatibility) and having a more robust gaming system.
Other than that, I don't think Sony's likely to start charging for online play, so I can't think of any other way they'd nudge on PS3 pricing...even though most of my XBox-owning friends wish they had enough to have a PS3 at the time they bought XBox.
By Commander at 12:21 AM ON 06/20/09
ok seriously think about this ppl ps3 is cheaper than 360 my god by the time you even get all the addons that PS3 COMES WITH its alrdy almost double the price of ps3 not to mention free blu ray player. ppl seriously cant do math these days. yes ps3 is more expensive at the start compared to 360 but wow a wopping 60-80$ depending on the 360 u get. i have a 360 myself and imo its horrible sure online features are great but when you play online specially cod4 or somthing ppl bitch at u for evrything bunch of lazy no life retards then they complain to me that i have a modded controller when i dont hello its called talent y dont u go get some. then i go on ps3 and evry1 is nice, not all bitchy complaining bout evry damn thing i do. plus microsoft needs to get off their lazy asses and stop being so restricted on xbox live servers and fix the damn red ring problem wereas sony was right the first time
By Mihos at 10:08 AM ON 06/20/09
My PS3 was way cheaper than my XBOX 360. By the time I got the wireless controllers, a wireless LAN adapter, and a prepaid year of XBLOX live... all of which was included with my PS3.
By No at 6:25 PM ON 06/20/09
Mihos... 360 = £140 (60gb version) Comes with wireless controller. Wifi = £40 and live = £30 so total is £210.
Base PS3 is around £280 - £300.
Not being a fanboy, i own all 3 consoles and enjoy them all. But its a silly argument.
By zericon at 7:02 PM ON 06/22/09
I Own all three, Truthfully if its an online game, it gets bought on the xbox, offline i buy ps3, however there really isn't enough reason for me to keep the ps3 its already there, so i keep it...
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zericon:
I Own all three, Truthfully if its an online game, it gets bought on the xbox, offline i buy ps3, however there rea...More »