Sony has totally dismissed price cuts for the PS3 Playstation despite the device being the most expensive of the big three gaming consoles alongside the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox.
In a statement issued to SmartHouse last night Sony said “As we have stated previously, we do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumours to that effect are false and are the result of speculation. SCEA remains focused on the long-term momentum of PS3. With the industry’s best software line-up this year, combined with our most aggressive marketing campaign to date, we remain confident in our approach and the value we’re delivering with PS3.” Al De Leon, PR Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America.
However they have not denied that a big announcement is due shortly regarding the Playstation with analysts still tipping a price cut for the PS2 to sub $100 as being part of the announcement.
The point blank denial of any pending price cuts is set to put Sony into a difficult position with leading gaming manufacturers who are now more putting resources into the development of new games for the highly popular Nintendo Wii than for the Sony Playstation that has witnessed a decline in sales during the past 3 months.
In Australia the PS3 is the most expensive of all gaming consoles and several times last year due to fluctuation currency exchange rates the device was up to $200 dearer that a US priced PS3.
Last week Bloomberg reported that the cash strapped Company is under pressure from video-game publishers to cut the price of the PlayStation 3 console or risk seeing more development funds shift.
Bloomberg said that in 2008 Activision Blizzard the world’s largest game company, generated 32 percent of its console revenue from Wii titles. That compared with 19 percent for PS3, according to Activision.
Electronic Arts Inc. is releasing some titles solely for Wii as part of a push to stem two years of losses, and showcased games for the Nintendo player at a company event last week.
“You can’t ignore the guy who has half the market,” said Peter Moore, head of sports games at Electronic Arts.
“Sony obviously still has a ways to go with their pricing,” Moore, a former executive in Microsoft’s Xbox division, said in an interview. Electronic Arts is committed to the PS3 and expects a cut eventually, he said. PS3 games increased to 27 percent of the company’s console sales last quarter, bolstered by a popular soccer title.
