60GB PS3 being discontinued after July (in US only)

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Bad news for people who will buy the PS3 next month.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26704

'All they're doing is taking their stock and marking the price down'

SCEE president David Reeves has told GamesIndustry.biz that the 60GB PlayStation 3 will no longer be available in the US after stock sells out - which he predicts will occur by the end of the month.

Reeves was speaking at an E3 event to announce the introduction of a new PS3 bundle in Europe. When asked about possible criticisms over whether SCEE should have given consumers the option to pay a lower price, as SCEA has done, he replied, "Well, they're not really are they, because what the US are offering from the 1st of August is a USD 599 version with one game.

"All they're doing is taking their stock in trade that they've got at the moment of the 60GB model, marking the price down and it will all be gone by the end of July."

When asked to clarify if this will mean the end of the 60GB model, Reeves answered, "In America, yes."

SCEA announced a USD 100 price cut for PlayStation 3 earlier this week. A new 80GB model will come bundled with a copy of Motorstorm and will retail for USD 599.
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http://atvs.vg.no/?id=10235
Well, again, just from a hardware perspective, the 499 dollar price adjustment that we did for the 60 GB version, for the american market, uh, we're no longer in production for that product, so uh once that product is gone from the retailer shelves, then we're back to the $599 SKU only, so it's not like we have a two price strategy here in the US market. We found out very early on, you know, consumers react mostly to just having one SKU as opposed to two
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Wow, just wow... I don't know why did they do that. A lot people were buying the PS3 because of the 499$ price and now they're putting a "better" one with 1 game for the normal price. This isn't smart either...
 
That could explain many store being sold out of PS3's but I find this hard to believe and a bad move for Sony. It does counter greater losses the system has in its current EE equipped state. Having a single SKU is also better than 2-3

Edit: Why is the SCEE prez spilling the beans on?
 
Remember everyone, whenever Sony has good news, bad news of the same magnitude will follow within days. Happens every flippin' time.

Looks like Sony just conceded Christmas to Microsoft and Nintendo. Unless they screw everyone over and drop the price by $100-200 two months after and ditch the MotorStorm bundle.
 
I'm actually suprised to hear this info for only one reason.
A month ago in my local bar a friend told me this was going to happen!
Kind of a suprise since the guy isn't particularly knowledgable regarding tech stuff. Oh well. :p

As for what a stupid move this is...
I can't really say it's all that stupid.
Fact of the matter is that for people like me who absolutely need a wireless system with the next gen console, there will still be only a 100 dollar difference between the 360 and PS3.
With that in mind, if you will buy a 500 dollar system instead of a 600 dollar system on price alone then I'd say you're a fool.

There are just so many other factors to consider besides price.
 
I just saw Kaz's video and I have to say they should have just come out and said the 60GB was being "discounted" and "discontinued" in favor of a higher valued system(shoulda had a remote pack in) for the original price.
 
this is confusing as hell, why would they make a big deal about a price cut if it's only lasting until supplies dry up... Can anyone confirm whether this is actually going to happen or not?
 
I have to say this was an odd occurance as well. Over on Digg, it has been kinda funny reading about what is going on, not in a "bad for Sony" way, but more or less because its a big head-scratcher for so many people.

So, let me get this straight:

The former $600 60GB model will now be $500, so then the 80 GB model swoops in to replace the 60GB model at $600. Then, once the $500 discounted 60 GB models finally sell-out, nothing has really happened except them (Sony) adding 20GB and a game?

Its a bit messed up, to say the least. There are going to be some upset shoppers who walk into Best Buy looking for a $500 PS3 when they find out only the $600 models are left.

Just an awkward, awkward story.

(And before I get flamed, yes, I realize Microsoft has had plenty of problems too. See how I was nice up there? Yeah, I'm trying...)
 
YSSMAN
I have to say this was an odd occurance as well. Over on Digg, it has been kinda funny reading about what is going on, not in a "bad for Sony" way, but more or less because its a big head-scratcher for so many people.

So, let me get this straight:

The former $600 60GB model will now be $500, so then the 80 GB model swoops in to replace the 60GB model at $600. Then, once the $500 discounted 60 GB models finally sell-out, nothing has really happened except them (Sony) adding 20GB and a game?

Its a bit messed up, to say the least. There are going to be some upset shoppers who walk into Best Buy looking for a $500 PS3 when they find out only the $600 models are left.

Just an awkward, awkward story.

(And before I get flamed, yes, I realize Microsoft has had plenty of problems too. See how I was nice up there? Yeah, I'm trying...)
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I wouldn't worry about a flame for that, considering SCEE and SCEA can't seem to agree. Plus if this is true, then what you described will probably happen anyways. Theres no way SONY can't look at least a little foolish on this one
 
Just when I thought sony was doing good with a new PSP, they go and screw it up with this.

I'm probably stating the obvious, but why doesn't sony just offer the 80GB PS3 at $600 and the $60GB PS3 at $500 or lower? It keeps everything simple and keeps everyone of all budgets happy.
 
It still amazes me these corporations think that WE (gamers) want a system plus a crap game thrown in.

As for this discontinued system... eh... whatever. Sony lost it a long time ago so whatever they do is normal. :dopey:
 
I'll believe that they will drop the 60GB when I see it. Its simply too stupid of a move to be believable. At a $499 price point, the 60 GB model would have completely killed off the 360 Elite, so killing off the 60 GB model in turn seems quite silly.
 
:dunce: Oh wow. This is the BEST move SONY will ever make. just wow.

Who runs this thing again?
 
Somehow, I get the impression that there is more to the story. It is so unbelievably foolish, I'd like to think that Sony has something up their sleeve......
 
DWA
It still amazes me these corporations think that WE (gamers) want a system plus a crap game thrown in.

As for this discontinued system... eh... whatever. Sony lost it a long time ago so whatever they do is normal. :dopey:
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since when is Motorstorm a crap game? Since when has SONY lost "it" (and what is it anyways?)
 
Not sure why the SCEE president is commenting on something the SCEA would announce (or not as the case may be).
It doesn't make any sense. I wonder if there's just a little confusion going on. It would'nt be the first time.
Also shame no price cut in EU/UK. Saying that it's not a bad bundle really. I got my 360 with two controllers and two games last year for £400. For a long time all you could get were 360 bundles. Still a price cut would have been better. Maybe by Christmas?
 
Well... I was thinking about buying a PS3 but guess it's back to waiting again.
 
Anyway, thought I'd post my take on this. There could be more than meets the eye, but there's some full moon out so tons of whacky crap like has been happening lately, so it's not like it's impossible.

So, let's assume the 60GBs aren't being produced much and the 80GBs are the main focus. Starting on August 1st they will fully focus on the 80GBs. Let's assume it takes until at the latest the end of August to clear out the 60GBs. Then there'd be one 80GB SKU.

Now, we all know that this 80GB SKU w/ MotorStorm is a "Limited Edition". Here's what could happen when this limited edition is discontinued.
  1. Sony could bump up the HDD space to 120GB and sell it by itself (like the 60GB), and/or pack in a game like Resistance. This was hinted at a little bit by David Reeves when asked why the 80GB wasn't coming to Europe.
  2. Sony could ditch Motorstorm and sell the 80GB by itself.
  3. Sony could change nothing about the hardware and pack in a different (or another) game.
With the first part, I doubt it would happen since Sony wants to bring the hardware costs as fast as possible. The reason the HDD was bumped up 20GB is because the extra cost is nearly non-existent, and it was more of a "why not?" deal.

With the second part, that's the most likely scenario, but what would they price it at? $550? $500? With $500, I'm not sure they would eat another $50 per console, and make the 80GB MotorStorm bundle seem like a ripoff to PS3 bundle purchasers mere months after the bundle is released, and thus upset some of their userbase. I don't think people would have liked being charged an extra $100 for a $60 game not everyone truly wants.

Sorry if I'm sounding a bit confusing in that area.

With the third part, that's IMO the second most likely scenario. They could change the game from Motorstorm to Resistance or Warhawk or something that would capture the interest of people that weren't interested in the MS bundle. Or they could add a second game (or a Blu-ray movie, or an extra controller, etc). Sony would lose less money than Part 2 I described, and they'd add more value to the bundle out there.

But nonetheless, this is a colossal screw-up. Coming off as the decisive winner of E3 with all the cool games, but then seriously botch your pricecut at the end of it all, that leaves a bad taste in people's mouthes.

It will be interesting to see what Microsoft (and subsequently Nintendo) will do in terms of pricecutting this fall... Sony will need a ton of luck and hope they botch theirs or not do it at all.
 
Does it really matter? Will your PS3 suddenly stop working just because they don't make that particular model anymore? Because I don't know about the rest of you, but my 20GB unit still works just fine, thank you very much.

On the plus side, Sony already debunked this. On the down side, they also debunked the price drop rumors last week. So nobody knows what to believe anymore.
 
I'd like to suggest this all could have been a very intentional scripted "price drop" on Sony's part. Well right up and until the the SCEE executive screwed up with his clarification. The logic I'm using, flawed as it might be, is that Sony was trying for the old 2 birds with 1 stone adage, give their PS3 sales a nice shot in the arm (hit) and maybe, just maybe, get MS to blink and announce a 360 price drop as a knee jerk reaction (miss). Then MS would be probably all price dropped out for this holiday and Sony could swoop in with another pre-xmas price drop (or bundle) with the stage all to themselves.

Didn't happen this way obviously, but it would explain things a little better from a tactical feint/poker perspective. Or maybe they're just locco ;)
 
icelt
I'd like to suggest this all could have been a very intentional scripted "price drop" on Sony's part. Well right up and until the the SCEE executive screwed up with his clarification. The logic I'm using, flawed as it might be, is that Sony was trying for the old 2 birds with 1 stone adage, give their PS3 sales a nice shot in the arm (hit) and maybe, just maybe, get MS to blink and announce a 360 price drop as a knee jerk reaction (miss). Then MS would be probably all price dropped out for this holiday and Sony could swoop in with another pre-xmas price drop (or bundle) with the stage all to themselves.

Didn't happen this way obviously, but it would explain things a little better from a tactical feint/poker perspective. Or maybe they're just locco ;)
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I think I see what you're saying there. If that was the plan (or something similar) their lack of communication really screwed it up.

I'm really hoping SONY aren't as stupid as this is making them look right now
 
Jedi2016
Does it really matter? Will your PS3 suddenly stop working just because they don't make that particular model anymore? Because I don't know about the rest of you, but my 20GB unit still works just fine, thank you very much.
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Lower price = more sales = more good games being developed on PS3 = more value to my purchase.

On the plus side, Sony already debunked this. On the down side, they also debunked the price drop rumors last week. So nobody knows what to believe anymore.
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Erm, the "debunking" was SCEA damage control in response to David Reeves. Then Kaz Hirai confirmed the discontinuation of the 60GB after that, so it isn't like no one knows if the 60GB is getting canned.

Unless you know something I don't.
 
Duċk;2713491
Lower price = more sales = more good games being developed on PS3 = more value to my purchase.



Erm, the "debunking" was SCEA damage control in response to David Reeves. Then Kaz Hirai confirmed the discontinuation of the 60GB after that, so it isn't like no one knows if the 60GB is getting canned.

Unless you know something I don't.
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Duck, you aren't thinking of the big picture.

Lower priced 60GB = at least another million sales. People will run to buy it (sort of) because $500 is better than $600.


Also, if you think the 80GB will be $600 this fall, you're lying to yourself. It'll be $499.


This is not a screw up, once again, the overractions and sensational opinions never fail. This is actually a really smart business choice to build a user base very fast.
 
icelt
I'd like to suggest this all could have been a very intentional scripted "price drop" on Sony's part. Well right up and until the the SCEE executive screwed up with his clarification. The logic I'm using, flawed as it might be, is that Sony was trying for the old 2 birds with 1 stone adage, give their PS3 sales a nice shot in the arm (hit) and maybe, just maybe, get MS to blink and announce a 360 price drop as a knee jerk reaction (miss). Then MS would be probably all price dropped out for this holiday and Sony could swoop in with another pre-xmas price drop (or bundle) with the stage all to themselves.

Didn't happen this way obviously, but it would explain things a little better from a tactical feint/poker perspective. Or maybe they're just locco ;)
Click to expand...

There was a lot of talk about what Microsoft would do in the wake of a PS3 price drop, and most of the rumors were pointing to a $100 cut. But, we were proven wrong, and it was probably a smart decision. If Microsoft would have cut the price on top of the three year product extension just wouldn't look good in the eyes of consumers. That being said, if Microsoft were to cut the core models, and leave a $100 or so difference between the Premium and Elite packages, it would be a much more attractive counterpoint to the Sony model...

...But, Sony isn't going to do it anymore. At least thats what Kaz said...

Kaz Himself
"Well, again, just from a hardware perspective, the 499 dollar price adjustment that we did for the 60 GB version, for the American market, uh, we're no longer in production for that product, so uh once that product is gone from the retailer shelves, then we're back to the $599 SKU only, so it's not like we have a two price strategy here in the US"
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Video Evidence

So generally speaking, they're pushing the lower-spec model out in order to get the "better valued" one in. Okay. Its not a horrible idea, but why not keep the pricing lower to compete better with Microsoft?

Speaking as someone who generally sides with Microsoft, a $500 PS3 seems like a much better deal than a $600, given that I'm getting the Blu-Ray player added in (compared to a similar-spec 360 which would cost $679, but you get extra HDD memory).

It has been a fumble, IMO on their behalf, which is unfortunate. Microsoft called their bluff by not cutting their pricing, and attentive fans caught on early as well.

Still, a $500 model is still a good deal, so get one while you can...
 

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