While digging around at Amazon.com(NASDAQ:AMZN) this week, it was interesting to find that the Sony (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation 3 moved up to the top of the list in terms of gaming console sales as of this past Tuesday -- one day after Sony dropped the price on the game console from $599 to $499. Did a $100 drop in price immediately result in Sony's PlayStation 3 pulling ahead of the Nintendo Wii, which has consistently beaten it in sales since both systems were launched in November of last year?
This is interesting, though I don't know the exact specifics on how Amazon.com calculates this type of ranking. By "most popular," does Amazon.com mean most sales? Most looked-at? What? Maybe I am missing something here. Regardless, if a $100 price drop from Sony on the PlayStation 3 can be correlated to almost-instant increased popularity (however that is defined), what is in store for the Nintendo(NASDAQ:NTDOY) Wii's sales? How about Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Xbox 360 sales?
It's hard to see how Sony is making any profit (read: losing its shirt) by selling technology that costs over $600 for now less than $500 (similar to Microsoft's profitless Xbox 360), but if it is betting on engaging consumers with a lower price, maybe future volume shipments will give it some breathing room as it tries to sell more consoles. Both Nintendo and Microsoft have a pretty substantial lead on unit shipments over Sony so far, and price cuts generally are reflective of a degree of desperation when they happen. In Sony's case, I think this is very true.
Last updated: February 13, 2012: 11:47 AM
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2007 @ 1:52PM
Ben Kessler said...
Although this has been advertised as a drop in price, it is not that at all. Turns out that Sony is actually dropping the 60GB model in favor of a new 80GB model with better technology for backwards compatibility with PS and PS2 games.
The current $499 price is actually a firesale to move all of the existing 60GB units out of stores before the new $599 priced 80GB makes its way on to shelves.
8-20-2007 @ 4:29AM
Numanthia said...
1. Don't understand the point of this article. Just a straight out attack on Sony? And for what? Reducing the price of their PS3 Media Center Console? This product is proving to be one of the greatest next generation offerings of any electronics product. It houses the best next generation DVD technology - Blu-ray, a full media center (music and video management), Internet browsing and online gaming (Playstation Network), a virtual social gathering enviroment (HOME), and a gaming system. This is the first console that is truly bringing convergence of all of these different features to one centralized system. The only thing this article should have been about was the unbelievable savings such a break through electronics product like the PS3 is delivering to consumers worldwide.
2. The price reduction is a price reduction plain and simple. The thing that amazes me is how people take a really silly and lame response from the Microsoft people and actually repeat it regardless of how silly and stupid their comments really are.
Pre July 10th 60gig PS3 was $599 after July 10th 60gig PS3 is $499. Clearly a $100 price reduction. However it is clear though the attempted dissemination of misinformation, by their closest competitor, SONY has really struck fear into Microsoft. When executives start to lie publicly it is a concern that Microsoft share holders should be very weary of.
Kudos to SONY for being a visionary company and truly delivering on those visions!
7-13-2007 @ 3:37PM
greenallgreen said...
You've gotta be kidding me.
7-13-2007 @ 3:37PM
Matt G said...
Actually, no it's not a 'firesale' to move product out of th way of something to replace it. The comments about the 60GB model were made by a representative of the European branch of Sony, not the US branch. Hooray for off the cuff, uninformed industry comments.
Where Sony is looking to recoup money is down the road. With more PS3s in homes, that happens to be more Blu-ray drives in homes. If people are buying Blu-ray to the point where it beats out HD DVD, Sony can reap the rewards of that. Given, of course, that it also takes over as the format of choice from standard DVD.
7-13-2007 @ 3:39PM
Matt G said...
One other thing to consider is that every game that's honestly been worth purchasing for the Xbox360 .. oh that would be Gears of War .. is being ported to PC. First person shooter .. PC or console .. No comparison. The desperation here should be from 360 owners who watch the sole reasons for having that console come out for a PC they already had.
And that, all, is called wasting money.
7-13-2007 @ 7:31PM
jesus said...
Well... in response to the story.
I seriously doubt the PS3 is costing Sony $600+ to manufacture at this point, with the production of Blu-Ray drives gearing up and costs coming down. $500 should hardly kill them.
Furthermore... do you not realize that the extreme bump in sales is mainly because this price cut has been HEAVILY rumored for the last 1-2 months. I'm sure there was a healthy backlog of PS3 buyers just holding off on purchase until the price cut was announced. That's not enough buyers to "save" Sony, but it's certainly more than enough to give them a huge bump for a week or so. And that's exactly what you're seeing on Amazon. Granted, the real issue would be seeing if Sony can sustain a decent volume of sales.