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PS3 Slim for autumn - report News
PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 News by Robert Purchese
Sony may be readying a PS3 Slim model for launch this autumn, while Microsoft may be cutting the price of the top-tier Xbox 360 Elite.
To make way for the Slim hardware, Sony will finally cut the price of existing PS3 consoles, according to Ars Technica's "favourite inside source".
Preceding that, retailers will be given a limited inventory of 80GB PS3 units in order to clear stock.
The same source also claims the Xbox 360 Pro model will disappear at the end of the summer, after plenty of shelf-clearing bundles similar to the Halo 3/Fable II deal.
The Elite will reposition to fill the gap after an "early September" price cut, allowing more users to effectively use on-demand video streaming and downloaded content from Xbox Live.
Sony has a history of thinning its PlayStation hardware. The PSone and PS2 were both reduced in size - the latter four years after European launch. The PS3 didn't launch in Europe until early 2007, so this would be an early move on Sony's behalf - although arguably the pressure is greater than ever before. And, of course, Sony trimmed the PSP after just two years.
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SpaceMidget75
30/06/09 @ 08:03
+6
I agree with daz. Smaller is better, but price is the deciding factor for me.
...wonder if they'll put a faster drive in it? |
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-2
I tend to believe this...
Not claiming this is proof or something, but just last week I was talking to a shop keeper from a big Belgian chain. He told me with definite certainty that in August, PS3's price would come down by a €100. Also, that a few months ago, they received just one shipment (different sku code than the usual) priced at €299 and that the 10 boxes flew out in half a day... I think a lot of people are just waiting for PS3's price to drop and then jump on the bandwagon... just my .02c. |
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+1
Will the Elite be the price of the Pro now then? Is it finally a hard disk price cut? We can only hope, and it'll be good for when the Sky service launches in autumn. I swear my Sky box is about to die (but then again, my 360 is getting a bit noisier too).
As for the PS3, obviously a slim is coming as they've always done it. I wouldn't be tempted to replace my big grilling machine with it though until it dies. I bought it for Blu-Rays and have only watched about a dozen. |
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kangarootoo
30/06/09 @ 08:28
+8
@MeBrains
"with definite certainty" indeed. In my experience there are two kinds of staff in games shops. Those that actually know what is going on the industry and don't talk about it much, and those that have no idea but talk like they do. |
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GamesConnoisseur
30/06/09 @ 08:31
+2
i dont believe that they would add a new faster BD drive as this would create issues by creating two tiers of PS3 owners to cater to... unless they fixed the speed by software to the standard one.
However this is a good news for consumer should the price be attractive and drive the market further along, as Sony would want to make better progress by Xmas 09. |
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+4
So they're going to cut the price of the fat one for a short time, then release a slim one similar to the current price point?
People aren't not buying the PS3 because it's fat, they're not buying it because it's expensive. A slimmer version might be slightly more desirable but nowhere near to the point of making headway into the work the 360's done. Like it or not, Microsoft have the best value games console out there and Sony can't come close to touching it like this. |
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kangarootoo
30/06/09 @ 08:47
+1
@MeBrains
Those sorts of commentary are always "possible", but you rightly point out that in this day and age information spreads fast. Web-savvy folks that we are, it is very unlikely some dude in a shop would know something that we wouldn't then see confirmation of within a week from 8 different sources. I once overheard some expert teenager in a shop stating with certainty that the next PSP would have a 4GB hard drive in it. 4GB...? Hard drive...? What next, steam power and top hats? This was about 3 years ago too. @schnide I would have thought that stocks of the fat version will be kicking about for a little while, so people will have a choice. Current model at a reduced price, or new posh version without a discount. Customer choice is good, no? |
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donnie080208
30/06/09 @ 08:50
-5
although a ps3 price cut is certain i do not think it will be a big amount or provide the injection sony nead.the ps3 slim would be desperation at this stage in their"10 year lifecycle" espicially with a price cut , what happens if these two messures dont provide any significant sales increase what then?.i do not think the main problem with ps3 is price or size it is image with lack of house hold name ips and poor online compared to microsoft and obviously the continued delays and negative media attention in its first few years.although sony sales may break even with 360 eventually the halcyon ps2 days have been smashed.i think a console first has to be VERY sucessful to start launching slims and different colours.
Edited 3 times,
most recently on 30/06/09 @ 09:55
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+6
Until someone points out a more plausible scenario, I'd expect a price-cut within the next 3 months.
Why the delay? Sony need to sell through existing stocks before launching the slim. The purpose of the slim being purely to cheapen production costs, allow for a global price-reduction along with a "soft" relaunch of the PS3 brand. Cutting the price now would just be pouring money down the drain for Sony, yet the endless rumours of a PS3 price-cut are hurting them. Hence the "deny everything" mode Sony's been in since the start of the year. |
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jaguarwong
30/06/09 @ 08:58
+2
First thing I thought when I opened up my PS3 was what a big ugly bastard it is - I don't think it's the sort of thing that would drive huge sales but a more attractive machine would be nice.
For my money the original PSone redesign took it from being the ugliest machine ever designed to the best looking (with the exception of the rubber keyboard speccy) but I doubt they'd make that radical a change to the PS3. |
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designerheadache
30/06/09 @ 09:03
0
I thought i read a report ages ago that Microsoft were discontinuing the 360 Elite? Or did i get that totally backwards?
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+2
"with lack of house hold name ips"
Say what now? Some of the games on the PS3 have been about longer than the Xbox and MGS even pre-dates the PS1. People moaned there was no good games, apparently, on the PS3 so Sony get a lot of them out in a reasonably short space of time, which didn't really boost sales to a major extent. So if Sony reduce the price will everyone buy a PS3? I still doubt it, it'll probably have a bigger effect than releasing a AAA exclusive every few months but it will take a while to close the gap between them and the 360. A price-cut in September will make the most sense as it is in time for the Christmas rush, and the release of Uncharted 2.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 30/06/09 @ 10:09
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+1
@kangarootoo
Nice idea mate, but are people going to buy what will in comparison be a big, fat ugly PS3 for £100 less when they know the more desirable (but also prohibitively expensive) PS3 is out there? I think not - and if they do, it won't be in numbers big enough or fast enough to drastically turn around the fortunes of the PS3. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted the PS3 to succeed, but I gave up hope of that happening some time ago. Sony are making mistake after mistake. The main thing they'd need to do now is release the slim PS3 at the reduced price point. It'd be enough to change public perception of the console and give it a virtual relaunch. As it is, this method of revision is only damaging the brand. |
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donnie080208
30/06/09 @ 09:36
-5
EL DEV i am not saying their isnt any good exclusives on ps3 but sony have lost all the household names like gta etc..since the ps1/2 days with nothing to replace them.uncharted infamous and the like are un known outside of gaming cicles unlike microsofts halo brand.the sales figures alone show this game quality oes not drive hardware sales on its own
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Mentalist(air)
30/06/09 @ 10:07
+5
are people going to buy what will in comparison be a big, fat ugly PS3 for £100 less when they know the more desirable (but also prohibitively expensive) PS3 is out there?
I would. |
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0
"sony have lost all the household names like gta etc..since the ps1/2 days with nothing to replace them"
Not wanting to start a list war but look how many new IPs Sony has brought to this Gen nevermind sequels to already existing IPs. Everytime Sony "lose" an IP to cross platform they generally have a new one to replace it, and this gen what they are bringing is generally much of an improvement over what it is replacing. This Gen war has now shifted from game quality to numbers which is a shame. |
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Monkey_Puncher
30/06/09 @ 10:38
+6
A good price cut and a solid holiday line-up might convince me to part with my cash, I could do with a Blueray player.
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svd_grasshopper
30/06/09 @ 10:58
-3
ps3 is doing just as well as the 360 considering the xbox has more than a year head start. and with the price of the 360, it should be slaughtering the ps3 - just isnt happening.
lots of people are holding off for a ps3... i severely doubt the same can be said for the 360!
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 30/06/09 @ 13:08
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SpaceMidget75
30/06/09 @ 11:04
+1
Tescos are now doing a Blu Ray player for £69 in store!! That's the start of the cheapo player explosion that we saw with DVD.
That is bound to effect one of selling points of the PS3. The same thing happened with the PS2. A lot of people stopped using it as a DVD player a few years after launch. The big difference is that by that time the PS2 was the 'must have' games console too. It will come down to how much people are willing to pay for PS3 exclusives. Either they have to pay for a second console as they already own one of the others or they have to pay more than the competing consoles for their first purchase. I'm waiting for The Last Guardian, which might swing it for me, but currently I don't have neither the inclination nor the money to buy another console. |
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Britesparc
30/06/09 @ 11:21
0
I think the PS3 Slim packaging we saw around E3 time is legit, so this story has basis in truth. However, cynic that I am, I agree with those who are saying that the existing "fat" PS3 will get the price cut to clear shelf space for the Slim.
Xbox-wise, maybe they're getting rid of the Pro to introduce a high-end Natal model. I was hoping they'd loss-lead by replacing the Arcade with a Natal bundle, thereby attracting "teh cazuals" (Wii price point is what they should aim at, if poss). But if they are dropping the Elite price, PLEASE can they cut the price of the hard drives too?! Get rid of the 60gb, make the 120gb the price of a new game, and bring out a 250gb or 500gb model for about £60. Surely the proprietry tech & software they stick in em can't make them THAT much more expensive than an ordinary PC drive? |
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+3
@m0ther4
"Wonder what we're losing in the slim version?" Allegedly the ability to install a different OS. Though I'm not sure how that saves them money. @SpaceMidget75 I think there are a few differences this time. Cost of Blu-ray discs need to come closer to DVD's for a start. The other difference is that as a DVD player the PS2 was actually quite poor. The PS3 is a very good Blu-ray player (something the Cell processor does very well). How good is the £79 player? The PS3 also offers some good entertainment extras above a standard BR player that the PS2 didn't - playing movie files and the optional Digital PVR functionality (PlayTV) for a start. |
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SpaceMidget75
30/06/09 @ 11:34
-1
I don't deny that there are differences. Lots of them. I'm simply saying that if blu-ray players have dropped to £69 it is bound to affect some purchasers.
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M_of_the_sys
30/06/09 @ 12:09
-1
Tesco also sell cheap HD TVs but I would never buy one. You get what you pay for.
I find it quite amusing that people are already whinging about a price drop for the PS3 slim.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 30/06/09 @ 13:11
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0
And of course no one bashes Sony for bringing out a new versoin that doesn't add anything. I hope no one that has posted so far has bashed Nintendo for it (specifically the DS line).
I would love to buy a PS3 or even an Xbox 360 but sadly I'm not allowed. Still, I am very content with my Wii. There are so many "good" games for it that I still haven't played. |
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SpaceMidget75
30/06/09 @ 13:22
+1
Tesco also sell cheap HD TVs but I would never buy one. You get what you pay for.
I didn't say anything about quality, or that you do or don't get what you pay for, or infact what YOU would buy. My statement was very clear. I find it quite amusing that people are already whinging about a price drop for the PS3 slim. I'm assuming that's aimed at someone else. |
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0
If Blue Ray goes massive because of cheap players and people start buying Blue Ray films instead of DVD then this would be a good thing for PS3.
If you're gonna buy your kid a new console, you buy the one that supports all your films DVD and Blue Ray IMO and as a bonus you get a machine that can also playback DivX and stuff without needing a Windows PC actively sharing content over your network. |
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menschenfracht
30/06/09 @ 14:07
0
damn, they really ought to make a 45 nm PSP Slim instead. maybe it will last more than a couple of breaths with Wi-Fi turned on.
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Petulant_Radish
30/06/09 @ 14:21
0
When have Microsoft ever announced the discontinuation of the Elite?
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Machiavellian
30/06/09 @ 14:29
+3
If you are a Dad, you get your kids the system they want. Usually kids want what their friends have. This was the case in my home since I had a 360 and my son's friends also had their parents get them a 360 because that is the system they play on the most. People usually get the system their friends have especially if they play online. The bigger the lead the 360 gets the harder it gets for Sony to overcome no matter what they do.
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M_of_the_sys
30/06/09 @ 14:33
-1
@ SpaceMidget75
My apologies. You made the very obvious statement that if they release a £69 blu-ray player then it's bound to have an impact on some purchases. That is bound to effect one of selling points of the PS3. I was simply pointing out (albeit not too clearly) that I don't think it will at all. If you're looking for a good blu-ray player with plenty of multi-media functionality, which I think is one of the selling points of the PS3, then I doubt you'll go off to purchase this £69 blu-ray player. That is assuming that it is actually crap. Perhaps it's not... but I think it will be. I'm assuming that's aimed at someone else. It was. :P |
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Machiavellian
30/06/09 @ 14:39
+1
I do not see the Slim going down in price. If anything it will stay at the price point of the PS3 now. Sony is bleeding money so it would make perfect since for them to reduce the cost of building the PS3 but not pass that cost to the consumer. As with the PSP Go, Sony is looking to make a nice profit not stay in the red. The PS3 Slim will have that markup in price and Sony is hoping just like the PSP Go that it will be attractive to early adopters to splurge for the added cost.
Personally, I am in the market for another PS3 in my bedroom because of the Ability to play DVD, Stream from my PC and play Blu-ray movies. I will be more than happy to purchase the fat PS3 for the cost reduction instead of the Slim. |
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+1
My fat PS3 is a launch machine with PS2 BC, memory card slots and a 350GB HDD, so it's only going to leave my "cold dead hands".
I was wondering (in the OP) if the ability to swap out the hard drive might disappear with the slim version. We already know that some people have had problems with the extra heat larger drives create - that problem's likely to be magnified in a smaller and more compact machine. |
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0
@ Machiavellian
I do not see the Slim going down in price. If anything it will stay at the price point of the PS3 now. Sony is bleeding money so it would make perfect since for them to reduce the cost of building the PS3 but not pass that cost to the consumer. As with the PSP Go, Sony is looking to make a nice profit not stay in the red. The PS3 Slim will have that markup in price and Sony is hoping just like the PSP Go that it will be attractive to early adopters to splurge for the added cost. Yep, I'd have to agree with that, the (daft) PSP Go prices suggests to me that Sony expect people to pay more for "style" even if it means less "content". If the current chubby one drops in price by €100 and the new super sexhay slim stays at the current price, well then, I'll get a big-boned one. If the slim comes out for €50 more and there is no price change on the stout one then I'll continue waiting to buy one. There's no real rush, the number of good games on PS3 continues to grow and my PC and other consoles mean I'm not exactly starved for entertainment. |
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