No PS3 price cut this year, says Reeves

By Ellie Gibson Published 26 August, 2008

Plus: Home is "absolutely on track".

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss David Reeves has confirmed there will be no reduction in the price of PlayStation 3 before 2009.

"There is no price cut, that is true," he told GamesIndustry.biz. When asked if that meant there won't be one this year Reeves replied, "No."

Reeves was speaking in an interview at the Leipzig Games Convention, where Sony showed off forthcoming PS3 services such as Vidzone during a press conference. There was no mention of PlayStation Home, but according to Reeves that doesn't mean there's any risk of a delay.

"Everything is absolutely on track. I can look you in the eyes and tell you it's on track," he said.

"The closed beta has been expanding, the open beta will come in the Autumn and will be announced by the Home group - either in London or in Tokyo. I don't know when exactly, but they're in control of it."

For more from Reeves, including why he's confident PS3 is ahead of Xbox 360 in Europe, read the full interview over on GamesIndustry.biz.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • RandomTerrain #1 4 years ago

    I can look you in the eyes... Oooo.
    Scary stuff. On track for when exactly?

  • alimokrane #2 4 years ago

    Well here is one for you Reeves. I am looking you in the eye when I say: I wont be buying a PS3 until you drop the price.
    Also, read this extract from the interview:

    "We have to accept more and more that platform holders themselves cannot have exclusives unless they're given millions and millions of dollars not to develop a particular game for one particular platform.

    But for developers, and you could take someone like Quantic Dream for example - a great game, it takes a lot of time to develop, they need a little bit of funding, external development. In exchange, it's exclusive - that works. So exclusivity possibly with developers is more likely that exclusivity with publishers. "

    Wow, the spinning ..... So MS is paying for games to be exclusive but sweet caring Sony is helping fund games and then making them exclusives ... u got love hoe they spin it.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/08 @ 10:09

  • onezeonx #3 4 years ago

    Home will be interesting!

    Just hope when it does eventually come out it doesnt explode!

  • Chufty #4 4 years ago

    woo, here comes a 70+ post rant thread to entertain us this Tuesday.

    The PS3 is the price it needs to be. Do you guys seriously think they haven't spent many, many man hours deciding precisely what retail price makes the most viable economic sense to the company and the product?

  • JohnnyWashnGo #5 4 years ago

    I thought competition in any market was supopsed to benefit the consumer.
    Sony seems to have the impression that it is running a video gaming monopoly with its current attitude.

  • dr_faulk #6 4 years ago

    No price cut, no games, no hope.

  • penhalion #7 4 years ago

    @Chufty

    Do you guys seriously think they haven't spent many, many man hours deciding precisely what retail price makes the most viable economic sense to the company and the product?

    Given current losses on the platform I'd have to say no to your question.

  • Dizzy #8 4 years ago

    "The PS3 is the price it needs to be. Do you guys seriously think they haven't spent many, many man hours deciding precisely what retail price makes the most viable economic sense to the company and the product? "

    By that definition nothing is too expensive. "All products are priced perfectly"-shocker!

  • BlueHaze_Sean #9 4 years ago


    Chufty

    Given the strip job Sony did since the 1st version of the PS3 that launched in the USA, would lead me to think no matter how many hours someone puts in they can still get it wrong

    Credit to them, they took sensible steps to put things right



  • stepneg #10 4 years ago

    I'm still not feeling the need to get a second job to fund a PS3 so will just have to wait for the price cut some time next year.

  • CannonAnBall #11 4 years ago

    You do realise that the PS3 is only £50 more expensive than an elite? From people commenting on here I could be mistaken for thinking it was alot more.

    And I think the price is right, it keeps the chavs away and keeps them on the 360!

  • electrolite #12 4 years ago

    Stupid really. A £50 cut puts it cheaper than the Elite and even, once you factor in wi-fi and a years Live, a Premium. Sony seem to have lost touch with reality though. Oh, and the chance of me buying one until there's a price cut.

  • UncleLou #13 4 years ago

    No sale to me then, this year. \o/

  • Colin8703 #14 4 years ago

    I have no problem with price of a PS3 but haven't bought one purely because of the games available. There is yet to be a system seller released as far as my tastes go.

    I will get one but probably not until God of War 3 comes out and by then it may be less anyway.
    Plus i'll get one when team Ico has release on the horizon. But that's it so far.

  • Steroyd #15 4 years ago

    Wow, the spinning ..... So MS is paying for games to be exclusive but sweet caring Sony is helping fund games and then making them exclusives ... u got love hoe they spin it.

    You're looking at it wrong, I think it's about 3rd parties/1st parties, how many Exclusives are on the PS3 that are not published by Sony (which in this case Heavy Rain is published by Sony).

    Given the strip job Sony did since the 1st version of the PS3 that launched in the USA

    They only took out PS2 BC ffs, it's not like they took out the Hard Drive or the Blu-ray drive.

  • Beano #16 4 years ago

    "Apparently BC is making it back at some point through pure emulation. "

    Really?.. where did you get that from?

  • Vanmunt #17 4 years ago

    alimokrane

    bet he is gutted you won't be buying one..

  • alimokrane #18 4 years ago

    @Steroyd

    Ok true, yes but what about MGS4, FF13 in Japan and FF13 Versus ? isnt sony paying to keep them exclusive ? In terms of First party, I think MS is also doing a good job. they are co-publishing Infinite Undiscovery with Square, they are publishing games from Mistwalker, they are published Crackdown ... and the list goes on.

  • alimokrane #19 4 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    I couldnt care less ..... What matters is that I know where to spend my money.

  • michaelius #20 4 years ago

    hmm i don't get all the crying about price even with 100 pounds diffrence that's what 2 or 3 games ?

  • johnnybrn #21 4 years ago

    So does 'The year of Sony' TM start in 2009 then?

  • rotmm #22 4 years ago

    @Chufty: "The PS3 is the price it needs to be. Do you guys seriously think they haven't spent many, many man hours deciding precisely what retail price makes the most viable economic sense to the company and the product?"

    I think the problem is that Sony is gouging EU customers to make up for losses elsewhere.

    For example, in the UK the RRP for a new 80GB PS3 is £299. At todays exchange rate that equates to $548. And yes the RRP in the US for the same machine is $399.

    Now, you may say that all companies do the same and therefore that's ok. But the new 60GB 360 is £199 (RRP) in the UK, equating to $364, with the US RRP being $349 for the same product.

    So clearly MS are not playing the same game of gouging the UK (and EU, as it's the same story in Euro's) customers as Sony. But of course, MS is trying to break in to Europe, whereas Sony knows that it's the safest and largest territory for them and Europe will take it up the arse from Sony and still smile about it.

  • CannonAnBall #23 4 years ago

    @ mem

    ...seriously, how old are you?

  • CannonAnBall #24 4 years ago

    @ rotmm

    As long as I can remember electronic goods and everything else for that matter, has always been cheaper in the US than it is over here. Nothing has changed and nothing will.

  • barabbas #25 4 years ago

    @rottm:

    You think Sony is gouging UK customers? In Finland 80GB PS3 is 479€, or 698$.

    For comparison, 360 60GB is 269€, or 392$.

  • moggsy #26 4 years ago

    No Sony exec is going to admit to a planned price cut - it'd stop sales in their tracks.

    I predict a £50 price drop before xmas - still be the most expensive console out there though.

  • Rodriguez #27 4 years ago

    Hmmmmm, is it just me or does anyone else find that big game companies usually deny a price cut....... a few months before announcing a price cut!!?? I dunno, maybe if Microsoft make a move on price this year then Sony will follow - win-win for the consumer!!

  • alimokrane #28 4 years ago

    I know MS is planning a price cut in the US but is the same thing happening here in europe BTW ?

  • ChuckNorris #29 4 years ago

    New to EG. Just a thought. When comparing the comment section on a Sony exclusive article or news, and a Microsoft one, there is a tremendous difference. The same ppl talking normaly about the ins and outs on the microsoft side, just talk a bunch of hateful shit here. It is really annoying, and I havent seen it on any other game site, cept gametrailers. Would be wonderful if the haters could keep it down, cuz its on every fecking piece of news or any announcement. Franky says RELAX!!!

    . sry bout the spelling or language. Swede

  • TonCapone #30 4 years ago

    When asked if that means there WON'T be a price cut this year Reeves answered "No".

    That means there will.

  • SeesThroughAll #31 4 years ago

    They're introducing a 160GB for 50 euros more. I think they'll also drop the price of the 80GB slightly, considering it will have stocked up enough by the time the larger HDD model comes.

    @ Interfector: Please do not tease me so.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/08 @ 12:21

  • CannonAnBall #32 4 years ago

    @ ChuckNorris

    ...get used to it. The PS3 is hated in these parts.

  • IneptPercy #33 4 years ago

    No pricecut no sale.

    To me I don't care what the 360 costs now, I bought a 360 2.5 years ago for £280, and now Sony want me to spend £300 on a PS3 which does nothing better than the xbox I got a long time ago for £280...

    Is the DS3 pad in with the 80GB? that will at least help.

    To me there is now 2 ways Sony will get me to buy a PS3.
    1, £200 with a DS3 in the box
    2, At least 10 exclusives which I think are good enough to warrent the purchase.

    Which will come first? who knows...

    This is nothing to do with loyality and fanboyism, its called playing games on a budget.

  • Chufty #34 4 years ago

    Yes there's a DS3 in the 80GB box

  • Gaol #35 4 years ago

    "When asked if that means there WON'T be a price cut this year Reeves answered "No".

    That means there will. "

    Can't believe you are the first to point this out.

  • systems #36 4 years ago

    @IneptPercy - you don't want much do you? ;)

    You want a BD 2.0 profile player, which incidentally plays PS3 games, plus a DS3 controller, plus the 80GB disk, all for £20 more than the Wii? There are already 10 exclusives for the PS3 - they're called Blu-Ray discs. No other console can play them so that makes them exclusive. If you want exclusive games how about:

    GT5:p
    Buzz
    Uncharted
    MGS
    Warhawk
    Motorstorm
    Everybody's Golf World Tour
    Ferrari Challenge

    I think the PS3 is a good price (which it why I bought one). I also think the 360 is a good price, so I bought that as well.

  • The_Programmer #37 4 years ago

    @CannoAnBall
    You do realise that the PS3 is only £50 more expensive than an elite? From people commenting on here I could be mistaken for thinking it was alot more.
    Why are you comparing the price of the Elite with the PS3. You should be comparing the £199 60GB Xbox 360 with the PS3 and that makes it £100 cheaper.

  • Bangaioh #38 4 years ago

    €299 and I'll buy a PS3 immediately!

  • Bangaioh #39 4 years ago

    MGS isn't an exclusive... we all know it's just a matter of months and it'll be available on 360... mind you I wouldn't mind having a PS3 with MGS, just won't buy it for that single game.

  • CannonAnBall #40 4 years ago

    I remember the good old days of the original Xbox. MS then fucked me over by dropping all support for the system.

  • belziah #41 4 years ago

    @fartimus

    For the same reason you always turn up in threads about a machine you have no interest in.

    Now Fuck off you fraud.

  • mcbi4kh2 #42 4 years ago

    ^^^ +1, its not over-priced its over-featured.

  • CannonAnBall #43 4 years ago

    @ farticus

    "but for a very large number of people the PS3 is a '3rd console'"

    Is this for people who own all 3 consoles (and would rather play on a Wii and 360 first) or for the people that are too tight to spend their cash and don't own a PS3? (Therefore use a Wii or 360 or whatever)

  • Law07 #44 4 years ago

    IneptPercy you sir are a dick.

    What are you like 5 who only gets £5 for pocket money every month?

    GTFO

  • actionfitz #45 4 years ago

    @Chufty
    26-Aug-08 10:09:28

    "woo, here comes a 70+ post rant thread to entertain us this Tuesday.

    The PS3 is the price it needs to be. Do you guys seriously think they haven't spent many, many man hours deciding precisely what retail price makes the most viable economic sense to the company and the product? "

    in short.
    No.
    Im not getting one for the current price.
    and im not alone.

  • CannonAnBall #46 4 years ago

    When you look at the price of a Wii at £170 and a PS3 at £300, from my point of view, the PS3 is a decent price - thats why I bought one. When I bought my 360, it wasn't far away from being near the £300 mark (about 12 months before the PS3 UK launch). Were people complaining about prices then?

  • actionfitz #47 4 years ago

    @systems
    26-Aug-08 12:41:46
    "If you want exclusive games how about:

    GT5:p
    Buzz
    Uncharted
    MGS
    Warhawk
    Motorstorm
    Everybody's Golf World Tour
    Ferrari Challenge"


    please tell me you're being sarcastic :o
    I know its all about personal taste but ffs.
    out of that list i'd say GT5 and maybe MGS are the sort of exclusives that shift consoles.

    If that list read something like:
    GTA4
    FF 13
    Street Fighter 4
    Left 4 Dead
    etc. now that would a list that get even cheap buggers like me to beg borrow and steal to get a hold of a PS3.
    as it stand the chief complaints are - lack of games not already on or coming out for the 360, and the price.
    sad but true.

  • CannonAnBall #48 4 years ago

    @ farticus

    I have a PS3, I play lots of games on the system, both exclusive and multiplatform that are excellent. The PS3 does represent good value for money as far as I'm concerned. Having owned all 3 consoles, you're not going to convince me otherwise.

  • zedzee #49 4 years ago

    "sometimes it's an advantage to be last..."

    Surely not when it comes to console sales and p*ssing off the fanbase?!

    By that very statement, Mr Reeves is UNQUESTIONABLY ADMITTING that Europe IS always last.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #50 4 years ago

    @cannonball

    For me personally £300 for a 360 was too much which is why I waited until it was £200. Don't forget though that when the 360 was £300 the PS3 was £425 so for a lot of people it still came down to "how much do I need to spend for some decent gaming?"

    It's really that simple for a lot of people.

    You can go on & on about about added value of the extras on a system all day long but not everybody wants them. For example my house is wired for Cat5 so I didn't need a WiFi adaptor. I also didn't want a HD Optical disc for movies. If there's one thing I'll give MS credit for with their console was that you have a choice. A mate of mine has just bought an Arcade for £150 and can play every game I lend him just fine. I think that's a bargain personally.

    That's not to say that the price for said options is reasonable but that's another story!

  • Chufty #51 4 years ago

    Sony, believe it or not, need to make a profit. That's why the PS3 is the price it is. If you can't afford it, tough shit, you can't have one. It's not their fault. I'd quite like a Ferrari but the price is a little prohibitive so I don't buy one. It's called Capitalism.

    And to the person who said blu-ray offers no advantages over upscaled dvd:
    LOL. Get a new TV.

  • SeesThroughAll #52 4 years ago

    farticusmaximus, the matter of "decent exclusives" is one of opinion, is it not?

    I think the lack of BC is hurting the sales more than the high priced tag.

  • shotgun44 #53 4 years ago

    Pretty sure you can get a second hand ps2 pretty cheap anyway? Plus doesn't half the world already own a PS2? My PS3 has BC but it's not like I really needed it!

  • belziah #54 4 years ago

    Retards that run around claiming to be something their not.

    Retards that point the fanboy finger in every other thread whilst acting like the biggest fanboy on the board.


    Sorry Retard, what was that?

    Once again, Fuck OFF you hypocritical lying fraud!

  • ronuds #55 4 years ago

    I don't think the issue is one of value for the money for a PS3. I think it's more an issue of...are you getting what you want for the money spent and is it possible to spend less and get the same or possibly more?

    It's nice that there's a cell, but not everybody needs cell, nor is it even necessary for gaming. Blu-ray's a good feature, but not everybody has an HDTV, nor the desire to replace their current DVD collection. WiFi is ace, but can be sometimes iffy for gaming purposes depending on the strength of your connection.

    Yes, the ps3 is certainly good value for the money, but a lot of people don't necessarily need or want much of what it has to offer and therefore the features are unnecessary. In which case it would make more sense to purchase the cheaper console that has everything you want and is, well, cheaper. That's the point: gamers looking to strictly play games don't need to have a PS3 in their collection just yet, especially considering it's the most expensive of the 3 consoles...unless, of course, they meet criteria a, b and c.

  • makeamazing #56 4 years ago

    It just amazes me that people get so angry and have to swear on an internet site. Seriously worry about todays human race who cannot have a serious conversation without Chavtastic swearing all over the place.

    Even though I generally disagree with farticusmaximus, the one point he makes is true, the PS3 wont sell lots more than the Xbox/wii until it has a price reduction - people are price sensitive. Now dont get me wrong I love my PS3, and it is real value for money, but as many people buy based on price they would be put off by the £300 price tag. Unfortunately Sony have to keep the price up because of the original development costs. Of course you compare it to the Xbox and its great value for money, and compared to the wii...well lets not go there... congrats to Nintendo for getting so little in a box and selling it for that price (by the way i own one, so what does that say...lol).

    But I suspect once the new cheaper to make PS3 is out (who knows when), then i suspect there will be a price cut.

  • IneptPercy #57 4 years ago

    I can't believe how upset some people are about my comment.

    To put things in perspective, I don't live off £5 pocket money, I have a mortgage and credit car to pay. To me £300 is a lot to spend on something which doesn't do anything new for me.

    Bluray playback, no problem, my PC plays both HD-DVD and Bluray and therefore makes me safe with the 2.0 profile.

    My £200 or 10 games rule isn't all that silly one will happen eventually, as mentioned yes there probably more than 10 exclusives, but right now I would say I am upto 5 which interest me.

    Its simple, this generation its going like this:
    1st, 360 first released so will pay whatever.
    2nd, Wii its cheap
    3rd, PS3 when its cheap enough

    I will add last generation it went:
    1st, Dreamcast first released so will pay whatever
    2nd, PS2 (Dreamcast was losing speed)
    3rd, Gamecube its cheap
    4th, Xbox (you guessed it, for £200 with 8 games at £5-£10 each)

    So does the last generation make me a sega fanboy (probably the most true out of the lot)

    I am trying to point out I have no loyalty to any of them and as an adult I have had to make decisions on which to buy and I don't have an unlimited budget for new toys unfortunately. I made the point as I guess I am not the only one how is looking at it in a similar way.

    I have already said I wish to own a PS3 eventually, I haven't claimed it is superior or inferior to any other consoles.

    I did think I could make an adult comment on the situation on the price, but it would seem some children may have taken it badly.

    The pure and simply fact is that IN MY OPINION considering MY SITUATION the PS3 is too expensive and doesn't do anything new for me to justify the cost.

    Aren't we all meant to love games on here? so why are people so hostile, people having different consoles and different reasons for owning them doesn't make them love games any more or less, so can't we all just grow up and get along?

    Rant over...

  • dudeluvspussy #58 4 years ago

    £300 seems acceptable to me, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
    IMO its worth it for the BD and the Linux compatibility on its own
    But I i didn't buy my PS3 to play games, the 360 has got that area covered quite nicely.
    If I had I would be quite upset, that 20 odd month since its release there are 2 games of note.. one is a racing demo and the other is a pretty average interactive movie.

  • bdgr #59 4 years ago

    I got me a ps3 on Saturday. Why? Mainly because my dvd player's packed up, and thought it's a damn good excuse to get a blu-ray player. Not too interested in the games as I've got 360 and a wii for that. Oh and the other reason was that by getting a ps3 i could trade in about 10 games i've not played in a while and get £100 off! 80gb ps3 for 199 quid? yes please!!!!

  • Bitkari #60 4 years ago

    Home just doesn't need to arrive, it also needs to herald the arrival of a massive overhaul of the Playstation online experience.

    No matter what fancy trophy rooms, or matchmaking lobbies they set up, they first need to get the basics of logging in, managing personal data, smoothly updating the system, and actually getting multiplayer games running in the first place.

  • electrolite #61 4 years ago

    Judging when the price is acceptable is entirely subjective so listing a lot of features is not going to sell it to people like me who

    A) Aren't in any way arsed about Bluray
    B) Aren't in any way arsed about Linux
    C) Aren't in any way arsed about MGS4
    D) Are arsed about BC

    Obv. my opinion alone and I'm happy for other people who did see those as a selling point, but for me it's not worth £300 as a games machine. £250 maybe, £200 definitely. However, it's a personal preference, keep that in mind people

  • Law07 #62 4 years ago

    OMG YOU GUYS IM LIKE TOTALLY GONNA SELL MAH PS3 AND GET A 360 NOW THX TO YOU'S LOT!!!!!



    Hope you've achieved something, assholes.