40GB PS3 Information and Speculation
By Stephany on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at 12:36 PM PST In Gamer Life, Games, Games Industry, Sony, Sony
Lots of news concerning the PS3 today.
At a Target price check kiosk, the 40GB PS3 has shown itself, and despite the backlash Target has received in the past for advertising consoles, systems, and video games before official release dates are issued – they have decided to leave the past behind them and surge forth once again to be first to show off their new wares. Reportedly, the system will be “officially” released in the US on October 28th, and supposedly be bundled with the upcoming Spider-Man 3. Does this mean than an official release date for the 40GB PS3 is on the horizon – or is Target jumping the gun once again?
Despite recent announcements of a PS3 that is more money friendly being released in Japan and Europe, Sony has yet to confirm a similar model for the US. However, with Target showing-off the above referenced lower-priced SKU and Sony filing documents with the FCC on a new product with designs similar to existing PS3 models, it seems we can expect the console to become available by the early part of November at the latest.
Joining in on all the rumor hoopla, The Hollywood Reporter has recently reported that both an industry source and a retail buyer expect the new system to be released on November 2.
“These rolling announcements suggest to me that Sony has an inventory control problem, with too many unsold 60GB units out there, and they don’t want to have to cut the price to clear them,” said Wedbush Morgan securities analyst Michael Pachter. He seems to think that Sony will wait to announce the 40GB model after the majority of 60GB units have been sold, or they will “accept reality and bundle the 60GB with a game and an extra controller for USD 499.99, giving consumers some value for their money.”
Pachter, like other analysts, feels that the price reduction will not significantly drive sales volume. He instead estimates that the Sony may pick up 50% for every hundred dollars in price reduction. Pachter also thinks that the loss of backwards compatibility will not be an issue.
“I don’t think most people who waited this long care enough about backwards compatibility to affect their decision either way,” he said.
Patcher also explained that while Nintendo has stated that the Wii will, once again, be in short supply this holiday season it will not encourage gamers to purchase a PS3 instead.
“In my view, the typical Wii buyer is either someone who would not have otherwise bought a games console but was intrigued by the Wii, or is someone who fully intends to buy a PS3 or 360 eventually, when price or software support is sufficient to prompt them to do so,” explained Pachter.
Meanwhile across the pond -PS3 hardware sales soared to a whopping 178% last week with the introduction of the two new SKUs, which was the system’s third highest week since launch in the UK.
Data has revealed that although the PS3 saw a considerable boost in sales, the Nintendo DS still outsold everything else followed by the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively.
Thanks: GamesIndustry.biz, Engadget, and again, GamesIndustry.biz
The UK sales spike is very impressive. The 360 has just had its biggest game released yet a price drop made the PS3 (with no big games released at all yet) more attractive to customers even though its still more expensive than the 360.
Hilariously some people still think its going to struggle
I wrote out a whole long comment, but in the end, I don’t see what the point is when it can be summed up in the following.
Show someone a cheaper price, they’ll get it. If something else comes down in-price and remains cheaper, they’ll get that too or instead. The Wii is selling fine and the 360 equally so over here. Fact is, Sony has done it at around the time of the christmas selling. Had it have been a month or two earlier, I think the difference will have been neglible.
“Include a game and controller” Whomever thinks that is a option is an idiot. Bundle $120 of stuff with a console. So for $100 more than this 40 gigabyte system, you get 20 more gigibytes in the hard drive, two more usb ports, 1 extra controller, a game, and backwards compatibility with 5000+ games. Who would buy the 40 gig version without all that extra stuff just to save a $100. I would buy the 60 gig just for an extra game or controller. Fucking idiot game bloggers.
Personally I am still holding out for the 60GB PS3, but I am having a hard time finding one around here. I will most likely have to purchase one online, but I keep getting a “negative” from my live-in who seems to think he needs a “say” on what we do and do not purchase in the household, yet he buys whatever the heck he wants. ARGH. I am buying a PS3 to sit next to my 360 and Wii period. Call me a console hog if you must.
Joelteon7 said: “Show someone a cheaper price, they’ll get it.”
You completely missed the point of what I said.
PS3 + lower price and no big games is more popular in the UK than 360 + Halo 3 + even lower price than PS3 (remember the 360s UK price dropped 6 weeks ago).
@Norbit
I totally get what your saying.
Seriously how can people not give the PS3 respect when its selling with so called no games more than the 360 with their flagship title and a lower price right now?
I can agree with Daniel. His comments are true. That extra $100 is worth all those awesome PS2 games alone. the usb ports and extras is just iceing on the cake, or PS3 i guess.
I hope the 60GB PS3s get lowerd because of the 40 GB junk. I have too many great PS2 games i want to play on a PS3, upscaling alone is worth it.
Norbit, I did see your point, though I believe it was you who missed mine.
Many people will buy something cheap, even if it has no immediate use. Granted, it has blu-ray and the handful of decent games to play (okay, so not many AAA titles, but games that are fun) some people will get it, knowing they have it, believing that it may only be (cheap) for a short amount of time. As for beating the sales of the console with its flag-ship title, well…360 has been out for a longer period of time. Comparison charts shouldn’t be doing it on a as-is basis, but a ‘where where they at this point in their life’ comparison. The people who have Halo 3 are the ones who more likely already had the console. Considering the size of the install base and the amount of pre-orders, this would seem to be sufficient evidence to prove my point.
I’m not saying people don’t want the PS3 and it has sold well in Southern England (as much as my last bit of info goes too, unfortunately the retail group and source of information closed, so this news is now becoming old) at least, but there is the prospect that some may purely want it just because they can get it cheaper. I still think Sony though are sucking in people with their lack of content on that one, a very hypocritical Sony moment, especially on backwards compatability.