[onQ123]

£100 would be funny, back to losing money on every console sold hey...

fixed?

maybe they have the Cell , RSX & Ram in a SOC that's only costing them a few dollars to make now & the blu-ray drive & other parts are also really cheap now so what make you think that they would have to lose money to sell it at that price?


if they are selling it at a price that cheap it would only be because they can sell it at that price they have no reason to sell it at a price that would lose them money now.

[androvsky]

Can you use an external USB hard drive for extra storage?

No, but you can replace the internal storage with an off-the-shelf laptop hard drive for pretty cheap. You can use USB storage for movies, music, pictures, and backups, but that's it.

[kittens]

Instant buy at 99 pounds.

[Taurus]

Yep. Considering Sony's strategy with PS2 it is pretty likely that PS3 will hit 100 million sometime during next gen. PS2 is still shipping over 5 million units yearly in developing markets. I really don't see why Sony couldn't repeat that with PS3.

PS2 and PS3 are not in comparable situations in anyway. PS3 and X360 sales are going to fall off a cliff when their successors launch, and WiiU will be there too even earlier.

[Busty]

It's not baffling at all. They're aiming for the mainstream consumers who want to play casual games like Buzz Quiz and Singstar. They will attempt to further monetize this demographic by launcing new casual Move games and the Wonderbook.

This is all true but PSN is now/rapidly becoming the cornerstone of the PS experience and Sony will want to monetize as many of these new users on the service as possible.

I just don't see how a flash memory of 16gb will do this. Perhaps that's where GaiKai comes in?

Suddenly a dirt cheap PS3 with no HDD and GaiKai seems a very different proposition.

[herod]

Ad-supported edition? ;-)

http://www.itproportal.com/2012/05/2...-with-adverts/

[Elios83]

99£ puts the lowest possible price to 150$/€.
I've been told that it will cost a bit more than that (179€/$, but still below 199€/$), so who knows, don't forget that UK prices are determined separately from US/Euro prices and that PS3 has been performing below expectations in the UK for a long time so maybe they could decide to go a bit more aggressive in that single market.
About the Gamescom announcement...I hope it's not delayed, also the best way to get rid of the old stock is to announce a new price point and let retailers do bundles and deals on the old models.

[Ponn01]

Too late Sony, just announce it and hope some Black Friday deals will move your old stock. This point the rumors are leaking to much and you are going to have many people knowing a new, cheaper version is coming.

[AgentP]

Can you use an external USB hard drive for extra storage?

Not for games or game data, but for MP3s and such yes. They could change that with a new firmware.

PS2 and PS3 are not in comparable situations in anyway. PS3 and X360 sales are going to fall off a cliff when their successors launch, and WiiU will be there too even earlier.

Why? Are you saying every household is going to run out and spend $300-$400 on the latest console with an anemic library and none will spend $150 on a PS3 with a huge library of cheap games? Don't expect PS4 to play PS3 games, so it might be the only way to play them.

[Dynopia]

It will at least reach 90 - 100 million by the time it's taken off the main markets. If the 16GB pricing is true, it's going to massive.

They expect a drop this FY, so they're not expecting wonders. And Sony overestimates as it is (twice aimed for 15m FY but missed, hitting around the 14m mark.

I find this hard to believe, they most certainly wouldn't be making much if any profit on the PS3, arnt they desperate to return to profitably at this point?

[Silas Lang]

If its gonna be around 150$, it looks like I will be getting one. Don't have a Ps3 yet and their are a few exclusives I would be interested in playing. Plus i could use another blue ray player. If the price is indeed that good, this will work very well for Sony. Smart move.

[KageMaru]

If they drop down to that low price, that would be huge and great news. MS has been way too bullish on dropping the price, so I'm happy at least one of them may hit that low soon.

[KillerMan91]

PS2 and PS3 are not in comparable situations in anyway. PS3 and X360 sales are going to fall off a cliff when their successors launch, and WiiU will be there too even earlier.

Generation transition does not happen simultaneously around the world. Of course sales will drop in the west but in the developing markets it will continue to be sold for years. Sony is in better position to sell their consoles around the world because of their distribution network that they have in place because they sell all kind of electronics around the world.

[Mario007]

People should drop the £99=$99, it's not happening. If the UK price is 99 pounds then US/EU price should be around 150. However, at 99 pounds the Ps3 becomes and insta-buy in the UK.

[spwolf]

it wont be 99 GBP... british press is known for their fake news.

If it was 99 GBP, it would probably be €$109-€$129... but it wont be.

[onQ123]

They dropped the price last fall and sales have in fact, gone down year on year since.

Sells are up YoY in Japan & it could be up other places too can you show me numbers that show that the sells are down YoY everywhere?

[Mpl90]

Mmmmh, VG247 is not so reliable for rumours IIRC.

[Dynopia]

Sells are up YoY in Japan & it could be up other places too can you show me numbers that show that the sells are down YoY everywhere?

Shipments, where it counts. And they expect to be down 1m YOY this year. Japan is like 10% towards yearly PS3 sales.

[spwolf]

People should drop the £99=$99, it's not happening. If the UK price is 99 pounds then US/EU price should be around 150. However, at 99 pounds the Ps3 becomes and insta-buy in the UK.

actual difference in numbers is closer to 10%-15% max... but again, it wont be 99 GBP :-)

[jbug617]

I would buy another ps3 just for the bluray player.

[DieH@rd]

The new model will stack up against Microsoft’s 4Gb Flash-based Xbox 360. As the 16Gb PS3-4000 will have a flip-lid disc input and low-capacity storage, we’ve been told today that the announcement “may” be accompanied by a huge price cut, with the entry version potentially dropping as low as £99. Specifics are yet to be ironed out, though.

The wording of this rumor specifically says that 16gb flash model will have top loader drive, and that move will possibly bring price significantly down. IMO, this gives the chance for other non-arcade models having regular automatic loading drive.

[Takao]

Mmmmh, VG247 is not so reliable for rumours IIRC.

They were right about Gaikai, weren't they?

[Elios83]

The wording of this rumor specifically says that 16gb flash model will have top loader drive, and that move will possibly bring price significantly down. IMO, this gives the chance of other non-arcade models having regular automatic loading drive.

Nope, the pics of all the models have been leaked, they're all the same.

[Mario007]

actual difference in numbers is closer to 10%-15% max... but again, it wont be 99 GBP :-)

yeah, i'd expect 119-129 pounds to be honest and the rumor does say the price 'may' hit 99 pounds. With 129 pounds in UK, I can see it being priced around 159 in US and EU.

[onQ123]

The wording of this rumor specifically says that 16gb flash model will have top loader drive, and that move will possibly bring price significantly down. IMO, this gives the chance for other non-arcade models having regular automatic loading drive.

They are all the same besides the HDD size.

[bigtroyjon]

Sells are up YoY in Japan & it could be up other places too can you show me numbers that show that the sells are down YoY everywhere?

Shipments were down 200K in the first quarter of the calendar year worldwide and that was with Japan being up yoy. We'll find out about Q2 in a few weeks but now that sales are no longer up yoy in Japan after last week's media create numbers came out, likely scenario is that they will be down again worldwide.

[Mpl90]

They were right about Gaikai, weren't they?

VG247 said it would have been Gaikai or OnLive, and the announcement would have been at E3. They weren't sure about Gaikai.

[USC-fan]

At $99 i would buy an extra for my office. Would be shocked at even $150. Highly doubt it....

PS3 was the redheaded step child when i brought it at launch, but now it the only console I am playing.

Just found out about the free to play DCUO. Now that game is amazing. Never played a MMORPG but it fun to just hope on and fly around.

[Fancy Corndog]

VG247 said it would have been Gaikai or OnLive, and the announcement would have been at E3. They weren't sure about Gaikai.

Were they the first to break that though? If so, it's still worth some credit IMO.

[Mario007]

VG247 said it would have been Gaikai or OnLive, and the announcement would have been at E3. They weren't sure about Gaikai.

they were the first to break the news that Sony was going to announce something with a game-streaming company. So the gist of what they said was correct.

[Meisadragon]

They expect a drop this FY, so they're not expecting wonders. And Sony overestimates as it is (twice aimed for 15m FY but missed, hitting around the 14m mark. I find this hard to believe, they most certainly wouldn't be making much if any profit on the PS3, arnt they desperate to return to profitably at this point?

I'm not totally believing this rumour, but it's about time they created a basic model for market penetration. Their CPS division is unprofitable due to a lot of reasons, I don't think that will change any time soon. I'm so interested to see the tear down for the 16GB model so that we can find the cost of components. I really don't think they will drastically drop the price unless they've figured out a way to not lose a lot of money on it.

[Mpl90]

they were the first to break the news that Sony was going to announce something with a game-streaming company. So the gist of what they said was correct.

Mmmh, yes, now that I think about it...you're not that wrong. Still, I don't believe the base model will be 99 pounds, it seems really low. Let's see, however.

[spwolf]

yeah, i'd expect 119-129 pounds to be honest and the rumor does say the price 'may' hit 99 pounds. With 129 pounds in UK, I can see it being priced around 159 in US and EU.

also, there has been a sell-off of PS3's in Europe right now, for instance on Amazon.de 320GB is now €214 with GT5. Hey, maybe it will be €99 for base, €199 for 500GB with a game :P

[Elios83]

Shipments were down 200K in the first quarter of the calendar year worldwide and that was with Japan being up yoy. We'll find out about Q2 in a few weeks but now that sales are no longer up yoy in Japan after last week's media create numbers came out, likely scenario is that they will be down again worldwide.

I don't see anything wrong with cutting prices to keep sales at about the same level this late in the lifecycle if they cut manufacturing costs so that their magins are the same, it's the best thing to do actually.
Sales are down because it's logical at this point, because since last holiday season there has not been a single big home console release and people are looking at new devices to spend their money on.
Also with PS3 Sony has yet to reach the mass/family/casual market so it's a step they have to take.

[onQ123]

Mmmh, yes, now that I think about it...you're not that wrong. Still, I don't believe the base model will be 99 pounds, it seems really low. Let's see, however.

replaced the Slot loading Blu-ray drive

replaced the HDD with 16 GB of Flash

made it smaller & lighter less parts

& maybe the GPU/CPU & Memory is now on a SOC.

[Dizastah]

Sony would own the holiday season at that price.

[LQX]

Sony would own the holiday season at that price.

Unless MS matches it.

[SquiddyCracker]

£99 PS3?
I might actually just get it instead of the Wii U and just enjoy all the PS3 titles I have missed out until the Wii U gets cheaper.

[Glorified G]

with the entry version potentially dropping as low as £99.

Potentially, but odds are, I don't think it will be that low.

[MercuryLS]

The Pricing should be $150, $200 and $250. That would be pretty huge for the holidays, but the moment they do this MS will undercut them for sure.

[Brettison]

$150 would be great and anything lower than that would be a steal. Could be a big boon for Sony since MS seems intent on trying to do everything in their power not to try their price.

I expect $150, but dang if the US got a $129 or even $99 price WOAH. It's on like Donkey Kong!

[Dynopia]

The Pricing should be $150, $200 and $250. That would be pretty huge for the holidays, but the moment they do this MS will undercut them for sure.

Lets say for a second this $100/£100 cut is true, surely a $50/£50 cut on both Vita and PS3 makes more sense?

[Loudninja]

99£ puts the lowest possible price to 150$/€. I've been told that it will cost a bit more than that (179€/$, but still below 199€/$), so who knows, don't forget that UK prices are determined separately from US/Euro prices and that PS3 has been performing below expectations in the UK for a long time so maybe they could decide to go a bit more aggressive in that single market. About the Gamescom announcement...I hope it's not delayed, also the best way to get rid of the old stock is to announce a new price point and let retailers do bundles and deals on the old models.

The prices you posted are rather odd to me.

[Totobeni]

£99 PS3? I might actually just get it instead of the Wii U and just enjoy all the PS3 titles I have missed out until the Wii U gets cheaper.

but what if Wii U turned to be for only £98 and you get Kotobukiya's Iwata action figure with it?

[sTeLioSco]

99pounds 150 dollars is like a bluray player

why not get a ps3 if you are remotely interested in games?
you dont need to get a subscription and if you get a cod or fifa/madden just play for free online....

[Elios83]

The prices you posted are rather odd to me.

Just reported what I've been told. Personally I don't think they're necessarily odd, PS2 has been priced at 129$ for a long time, Nintendo with the 3DS is at 169$.
We'll see what the exact prices will be, but I think that the key aspect that both my source and the vg24 source have unveiled is that the cheapest SKU will be priced below 199$, with 150$ as the lowest possibile price.

[Slayer-33]

Looks like I have my bluray player and certain games console that I have missed out on.

[Criminal]

Wow, a PS3 priced in the $150-$200 range would definitely be appealing to the casual/movie crowd.

[Glorified G]

Just reported what I've been told. Personally I don't think they're necessarily odd, PS2 has been priced at 129$ for a long time, Nintendo with the 3DS is at 169$. We'll see what the exact prices will be, but I think that the key aspect that both my source and the vg24 source have unveiled is that the cheapest SKU will be priced below 199$, with 150$ as the lowest possibile price.

In your opinion, what of the odds of this happening?

[krae_man]

£99 is actually $128US if you take out the VAT. So it is extremely unlikely that £99 will translate to $150US. Since when is MSRP in the UK for systems lower then North America?