Sony to cut PS3 price in Japan, offer new model

[Uber_Tiny]

Sony plans to cut the price of its PlayStation 3 game console by 10 percent in Japan and launch a new model, in a bid to ignite demand in the run-up to the critical year-end shopping season.

The move follows a similar announcement from Sony on its European game operations last week as the Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment conglomerate plays catch-up with Nintendo's hot-selling Wii.

The PS3 has lagged the Wii in sales since the devices were launched late last year due to the Sony machine's high price and scarcity of strong game titles.

Sony said Tuesday it will lower the price of the PS3 with a 20GB hard drive from about $425 (49,980 yen) to about $385 on October 17.

It will also start selling its 60GB model for about $470. Sony has not so far suggested a price for the 60GB model, but it currently retails for about $510.

Besides the price cuts, Sony, which competes with Microsoft and Nintendo in the game industry, plans to launch a new PS3 with a 40GB hard drive for about $340 in Japan on November 11.

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Getting closer to a price I would purchase it at!!

To bad that's in Japan though and not here.

[FiggyG]

As of right now (today) the 80GB PS3 is $499 and there should be a 40GB model coming out that's at $399 shortly, however the 40GB completely lacks backwards compatibility.

[magnawiz]

Sony seems to be preparing something big for the holidays. New SKU's and what not. Hope it's not too confusing. I hear good things in Europe already, with the new $399 Sku.