Konami questions PS3 price cut

By GamesIndustry International Published 10 July, 2007

Metal Gear exclusivity iffy.

Konami reckons the USD 100 price cut won't significantly improve sales of the PS3, and as a result the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 game may not remain exclusive to the format, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting.

"I wonder if Sony can win back user support by the price cut of just USD 100," said Kazumi Kitaue, head of Konami's North American and European operations, speaking to Reuters.

"I don't expect a substantial impact... With USD 500, you can buy a personal computer," he said.

Although the latest title in Konami's leading action franchise Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is currently a PlayStation 3 exclusive, Kitaue indicated that the company may consider releasing it on other formats to help recoup development costs.

"Since Metal Gear was born on the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps," he said.

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Comments (47) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • david78 #1 5 years ago

    here we go.

    /runs

  • TheStranger #2 5 years ago

    Make some steps by bringing 3 over first.

  • richardiox #3 5 years ago

    Xmas 2008 on the 360 I reckon.

  • Wayne #4 5 years ago

    YES!!!! I would love to see this go cross-platform. It would be a massive help to the 360.

  • souljacker2000 #5 5 years ago

    I reckon it will b 360 exclusive by the end of it...

  • Paukl #6 5 years ago

    MGS4 on Wii; confirmed.

  • Chaote-Imagicka #7 5 years ago

    Unless they've been side by side developing a 360 version for a long time who cares? It's obviously been built for the PS3 foremost so far so it'll undoubtedly be at least the first version with a decent 360 port following much later or it'll be a far better game on the PS3 with a cash in cheap port on the 360. Either way I don't see any reason for PS3 owners to get upset.

  • bit_mite #8 5 years ago

    Unless Sony are shoveling dollar bills in Konami's direction, surely it makes more sense for this to go cross-platform?

    Would be good to see this coming to the 360 anyways, if only for the achievements.

  • Totoriko #9 5 years ago

    Sony aren't "paying" Konami enough for exclusivity, obviously

  • GiarcYekrub #10 5 years ago

    I thought Metal Gear was born on the MSX2
    Edited by GiarcYekrub at 10/07/07 @ 13:46

  • TONYgr #11 5 years ago

    very good news!now i think i will buy a ps-3 when god of war 3 hits the shelves.if its true!

  • Tiel #12 5 years ago

    This is a run-of the mill business announcement to see if more 'help' can be squeezed from Sony.

  • Waffleaber #13 5 years ago

    "Since Metal Gear was born on the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game"

    Guess I dreamt the NES games. Shame, i should have copyrighted the idea.

    Metal Gear Solid, now that was playstaion born and bred.

  • AcidSnake #14 5 years ago

    I'll just repeat my earlier posts:

    Metal Gear Solid was born on playstation...

    Also:
    This is good news...

  • Tiel #15 5 years ago

    With seemingly similairly powered consoles this is good for most gamers who only need one machine. I would like fewer 360 exclusives so the choice and competition was more open

  • onyxbox #16 5 years ago

    I think it should go multiplatform. I have all the consoles so I couldn't give a monkeys to be honest.


  • GiarcYekrub #17 5 years ago

    Surely this would be too much like Manhunt 2 to get released on Wii

  • skillian #18 5 years ago

    Engadget seem to think it's doing pretty well in terms of increasing sales: [link url=http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/09/how-to-revive-sales-in-your-flagging-video-game-console/
    ]http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/09/how-t...[/link]

    PS3 sales rank up 2500% on Amazon since the price drop.
    Edited by skillian at 10/07/07 @ 14:00

  • Tiel #19 5 years ago

    Don't port to wii.
    Wii ports will always be rubbish, but wii-exclusives could be awesome.
    Look at the ds.
    Edited by Tiel at 10/07/07 @ 14:03

  • Kryon #20 5 years ago

    Quick somebody call FanMaster Les, maybe he'll start a petition!

    LOL .

    That is all.

  • Quine #21 5 years ago

    Screw this cash-waving exclusivity lock-in rubbish! A plague on both their houses!

  • penhalion #22 5 years ago

    Well you know what they say "Reality bites".....still he could have waited a day or two before throwing the damp towel at the Sony Fanboys

  • GingerNathan #23 5 years ago

    "PS3 sales rank up 2500% on Amazon since the price drop."

    They might have just gone from selling one to twenty five! ;)

  • ronuds #24 5 years ago

    "PS3 sales rank up 2500% on Amazon since the price drop."

    The PS3 hasn't seemed to have any problems putting up impressive 1-day sales. It's the days after that that give them fits.

  • bdc #25 5 years ago

    NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

  • dahsif #26 5 years ago

    How many DVD's will be needed to store this game?

  • manic_mouse #27 5 years ago

    £350 PS3 and you have me sold Sony...

  • urban #28 5 years ago

    japanese konami are the one's who make decisions..not fucking america.

  • skillian #29 5 years ago

    The PS3 hasn't seemed to have any problems putting up impressive 1-day sales. It's the days after that that give them fits

    Day 3 now and it's still the top video game related item on Amazon.

    You definitely have a point though, and whether it gets enough of a boost to satisfy Konami remains to be seen.

  • bushwod #30 5 years ago

    rat's leaving a sinking ship!

  • captainrentboy #31 5 years ago

    ''How many DVD's will be needed to store this game? ''
    86!!!
    I can see how Sony would really not want to lose this game's exclusivity, it is after all, arguably, their biggest title for next year. And will no doubt attract a lot of console sales.
    But I'm in the minority, I've found all of the latest MGS to be a lil boring, so I couldn't care less if it went to the 360 or not.

  • killyourtv #32 5 years ago

    sony need this as exclusive

  • kangarootoo #33 5 years ago

    @urban

    "japanese konami are the one's who make decisions..not fucking america."

    I wouldn't put it rather so angrily, but I think you are right.


    @killyourtv

    I agree. I see MGS as one of the few killer apps on the immediate horizon for the PS3 (Heavenly Sword being another, God of War being another, Killzone 2 being another if it turns out well).

    Though to continue urban's stroppy sentiment ;) I'm believe it when I see it. Konami US don't make the final call. Waxing lyrical is one thing, adjusting an existing launch schedule is something entirely different. Its worth remembering that the PS3 has been the only dev platform for MGS4 for quite some while now. Porting it to the 360 would not a quick job by any stretch.

  • Razorus #34 5 years ago

    Xbox 360 version FTW. Saves me from having to even buy a bloody PS3 in the first place, as MGS4 is all I want on that infernal machine.

  • Kryon #35 5 years ago

    "I'm believe it when I see it"

    I would have agreed with you a year ago, but would it really honestly be that much of a surprise to you now? PS3 exclusives have been dropping like flies of late as I'm sure you know.

    "Porting it to the 360 would not a quick job by any stretch."

    Well do we actually even know when this game is expected exactly? They may just postpone the PS3 version (as I'd guess is the case with DMC) Besides, I for one don't mind the wait if it means more/better features, more content and (probably) better visuals aswell.

    I'm certainly glad I've managed to hold out for VF5 on the 360 now...

  • Rodster #36 5 years ago

    Wow shocker I certainly didn't see this coming. :D

    My predication MGS4 60FPS on the 360 and 30FPS on the PS3. :-D

  • wizbob #37 5 years ago

    Why would they port it to a console that nobody in Japan owns?

  • Ryze #38 5 years ago

    @wizbob

    Because 11.97 million people own a 360 on the rest of the planet, and bought it to PLAY GAMES - not as a cheap HD player.

    The PS3 isn't doing particularly well in Japan either.

    THIS GAME WILL SELL MILLIONS OF UNITS, AND SELL STACKS OF CONSOLES, TO BOOT.

  • TRUTH #39 5 years ago

    It's a nice and simple way of saying 'Yes!...MGS4 is going to come to the 360 - eventually'. DMC, VF5, Haze, GTA..all PS3 exclusives at one time.

  • dudefella #40 5 years ago

    dollars to dimes an xbox360 version will come at some point. It's not like there's no precedent; Substance got ported to PC and XBOX, Twin Snakes was on the Gamecube... It's never been a 100% Sony franchise at all. PS3 will likely enjoy MGS3 exclusively for up to a year or so before the inevitable port. At this point I'd be more surprised if it didn't happen.

  • gorf #41 5 years ago

    cant see why the americans arnt buying after the current price drop. In European terms the us ps3 price is cheap. Suppose the americans are used to very cheap hardware prices as defacto. I serously doubt Sony can take the finacial hit to make the european price pallatable tho'

  • ShadowDancer #42 5 years ago

    Not that I want to sound like a fanboy in denial, but I have to agree with Urban and kangarootoo. Kazumi Kitaue does not make the decision on what games are developed for which platform. Until Hideo Kojima HIMSELF says otherwise, this article means nothing.

  • smelly #43 5 years ago

    >Why would they port it to a console that nobody in Japan owns?

    You mean the ps3? Or 360? Neither are exactly flying off shelves over there.

    Using that logic, only makes sense to make a wii version.

  • SeesThroughAll #44 5 years ago

    Hideo Kojima already showed interest in making games for both the Wii and the 360.
    My bet is that the 360 will get a superb looking spin-off title at the very least. I mean, look at Raiden in the freaking trailer, wouldn't that get you people hyped up for a hack'n slash game? Could mean serious competition to Ninja Gaiden as well...

  • Vandrius #45 5 years ago

    The saddest thing here is that even the execs are starting to listen to the mass-hysteria.

    For gods sake, the PS3 has been out a few months, and devs are expecting it to have an installed base bigger than the 360 and Wii?

    Either way, if it does go multi-plat - gg 360, you can finally get yourselves some shoddy ports too... and I seriously doubt it'd be anywhere close to a simultaneous release.

    Still, bad news for Sony.

  • moggsy #46 5 years ago

    The saddest thing here is that even the execs are starting to listen to the mass-hysteria.

    Have Konami already released a PS3 game? If so then they'll not be listening to the 'mass-hysteria' they'll be staring at the cold hard facts of units sold.

  • DJ-Ants #47 5 years ago

    In a bizarre world where the console market was purely microsoft and nintendo, we would be stuck with endless cutesy games on one platform and the same old racers and FPS. And melting consoles galore.

    Compare the numbers of PS3 sales with say Master System and Nintendos from around the same period in their lifespans....it is still a pretty good showing.

    I will own all three consoles as of October, but I am more likely to purchase titles on the PS3 because I have found the 360 to be unreliable and glitchy.