No PSP price drop for Oz

Aussie PSP base price to remain fixed; Sony Australia "evaluating market conditions."

Aussie gamers hoping the recently announced PlayStation Portable price drop for Europe would apply down under needn't hold their breath, with a Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCEA) spokesperson today confirming there are currently no plans to lower the price of the handheld unit.

The SCEA spokesperson told GameSpot AU that whilst a PSP drop wasn't imminent for Australia, the company was "evaluating local market conditions" for a possible future price reduction. "We will make an announcement when a decision has been made," the spokesperson said. In Australia, the PSP Base Pack retails for A$349.95 ($291).

Sony last night confirmed it was reducing the price of the PSP for UK and European gamers. From May 4, the handheld's core price will drop to £129.99 (from £149.99) in the UK, and to 169 euros for the rest of Europe. The price of US PSPs dropped $30 to $169.99 in early April.

79 Comments

  • vaejas

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 7:09 pm PT

    And they probably don't accept those $249 dollah billz, yo?

  • king_pin_87

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 4:24 pm PT

    darklord888:
    I'm not paying $350 for a damn hand held. I don't care if it's as powerful as a 360 it's not worth it. Sony has no idea wtf they're doing.

    Sony just so happen to be the only company other than Nintendo to release a handheld system that didn't die after a year. Sony aren't doing that bad at all with the PSP, the DS is just doing ridiculously well, which makes the PSP look bad in comparision. And its been out for about 2 years now, and has sold slightly over 20 million units, which is about the same the Xbox and Gamecube did in 5 years, WITH PRICE DROPS. Looks like it is doing just fine to me.

    olthof:
    When we start to get treated like everyone else, in a global market, will they see more sales. Stuff you Sony

    Do you honestly beleive the mass market goes on the internet to read news on video games to find out about PSP price drops? Do you think the Mass market knows anything about how it "treats" australia? Of course they don't, most of them don't care, and most of them are the people that will buy PSPs. Nerds on internet forums aren't the only people who buy video games you know.

  • darklord888

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 2:05 pm PT

    I'm not paying $350 for a damn hand held. I don't care if it's as powerful as a 360 it's not worth it. Sony has no idea wtf they're doing.

  • litcarthoume

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 1:46 pm PT

    Aussies just keep on getting gypped, don't we?

  • -SlipSkull-

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 11:34 am PT

    That sucks. I was hoping that they would get a price cut too.

  • olthof

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 9:24 am PT

    Australia gets everything last, including price drops.. yet they have the nerve to give us second rate hardware (no emotion chip in the PS3 etc). When we start to get treated like everyone else, in a global market, will they see more sales. Stuff you Sony

  • Agret

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 2:41 am PT

    @tribe81
    Maybe you should've bought a game for it, I understand that looking at a main menu isn't very exciting.

  • king_pin_87

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 1:36 am PT

    To all of you idiots who are bashing sony since you rely on GS news as your bible, they said they are evaluating the market so they can decide whether to drop the price or not. They haven't said they won't do it, they are just checking to see if they should. Just because it was done for europe and the US is silly business to assume the market is the same as those even though it could be different.

    "Devilwillcry"
    Tekken: DR Burnout: Legeneds Wipeout: pure
    GTA:VCS and LCS SOCOM FTB 1 and 2

    It also has a very bright future, especially this year. With titles such as:

    Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
    Final Fantasy I and II remakes
    Final Fantasy Tactics remake
    Silent Hill: Origins
    Earthworm Jim
    Devil May Cry
    God of War: Chains of Olympus
    WipeOut: Pulse

    Anyone else see a problem here? While you listed more, the fact is these are the kind of games you can play on your PS2 already, and offers little to nothing else different. Thats why the DS is winning, there are games you can only play on a DS which is something the PSP lacks in greatly.

  • langrisser2005

    Posted Apr 25, 2007 12:40 am PT

    Oh well that settles my decision whether to get one. Like $349, no way.

  • chutup

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 7:58 pm PT

    lol why doesn't sony just take a dump on our faces, that's obviously how they feel about the australian market

  • salvaster

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 7:55 pm PT

    I have been saying this for the past year already, i'm not buying a psp until there is a price drop. Drop already, so you can see people will buy it if it is cheaper!

  • xtasty

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    I couldn't care less about the price drop, I have owned my PSP for over a year now and bought it from japan anyway so that I could run homebrew on it. It is the best tool for on the run, I have to sit on a train twice a day for 1.5 hours to get to work and its perfect for videos, eg TV shows and games and the like. I haven't used a DS yet so I won't comment about it unl;ike some other people. If you want one, get one from the states, with the dollar being so strong it works out to be so cheap compared to $349... check it out.

  • mkurts

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    Thanks Sony - you have once again shown off your ignorance, stupidity and utter disregard for actual market conditions.

  • kandre

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    Ripped off! Bloody Corporations........

  • WithTheDawn

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:15 pm PT

    Its a shame the PSP is such a rip-off here, but I'm pretty contented to wait for the remake/remodel/second version, etc anyway. At that point I can either pick up a current model PSP nice and cheap, or go for the newer model and have something that is nice and snazzy. The library is (finally) starting to look tempting, but I still have a tonne of last-gen games to finish up anyway...I can wait a year or two longer before I pick this up if need be.

  • majestikk

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 10:02 am PT

    Whenever the PSP drops to $99.99 I'll consider buying one.

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 9:37 am PT

    devilwillcry:

    "please do not blindly bash anything, it makes the gaming fanbase look like a bunch of pompous fools."

    Unfortunately, the gaming fanbase *are* a bunch of pompous fools. (at least the ones vocal enough to post on GS)

    edit - yes, I know that includes me.

  • -_-Nintendo-_-

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 8:38 am PT

    **** sony

  • Kdbba

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 7:47 am PT

    Reldas89 cool i love sony, they marketing strategy is like the best i have every seen. they are like , guys the psp isnt selling much anymore what should we do, lets drop the price around the world but leave of australia because they own in all sporting events lol

    Yeah because the aussies are great at cricket and............... oh wait that is the only sport they are good at lol. jus playin, but its soo stupid when these compainies are so territory discrimative, price drops should be world wide, but I guess because of tax and currency differences its not that easy

  • Knisathianterly

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 7:27 am PT

    At a guess, i think it's because sony is doing well in Oz. So they think theyt can squeeze more out of you guys, but like i said it's just a guess.

  • zixarga

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 6:15 am PT

    boo hooo..

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 5:56 am PT

    price drop or not.... there is no reason to get a psp anyways.

  • Foolz3h

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 5:18 am PT

    Sony really hates us!

  • W_Claiborne

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 5:06 am PT

    Why don't you tell us. You've rated some Playstation games pretty high on your profile.

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 4:07 am PT

    Haha, isn't it funny that anyone who is a fan of the failing systems like the PSP and Pay$tation 3 is absolutely obsessed? How many drugs to you have to take to want those in the first place?

  • Devilwillcry

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 3:20 am PT

    Wow, the fanboyism in these comments is hilarious. Who exactly is still calling the PSP a paperweight? I guess everyone has had their head so far up the DS that they haven't had the time to even look at what the PSP has to offer, or what it is doing in the future. It has a great library of games right now such as:

    Syphon Filter: DM
    Tekken: DR
    MGS: PO
    MGA 1 and 2
    Locorocco
    MH: Freedom
    Burnout: Legeneds
    Wipeout: pure
    Daxter
    R&C: SM
    GTA:VCS and LCS
    VP: Leneth
    Lumines 1 and 2
    Every Extended Extra
    Exit
    SOCOM FTB 1 and 2
    Killzone: Liberation
    and more...

    It also has a very bright future, especially this year. With titles such as:

    Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
    Final Fantasy I and II remakes
    Final Fantasy Tactics remake
    Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
    Silent Hill: Origins
    Earthworm Jim
    Devil May Cry
    God of War: Chains of Olympus
    Exit 2
    Dead Head Fred
    Disgeia
    Breath of Fire remake
    MH: Freedom 2
    Several new Tales games from Namco
    WipeOut: Pulse

    I am not going to even go into the nearly limitless media features the PSP offers. Games, Music, movies, photos, internet, all in the palm of your hand. What more do you want? Plus Sony has done a great job of keeping the firmware updated, and they have added so many features to the PSP since it first launched. If Homebrew is your thing, the PSP is unmatched in that area. Plus, it is awesome, knowing that Sony is adding more to their PS store everyday, such as the PS1 classics, which are playable on your PSP. Plus with future implementation of the PS network/store and Home in the PSP, you won't even need a PS3 to appreciate all of the features it has to offer. The handheld, is worth its price now, its going to be worth more than its price in the future. Imagine playing FFVII, MGS, GT, RE2, and Xenogears on the go!
    The honey is sweet now, and its only going to get sweeter. So maybe everyone should just step down from their fanboy soapbox, and just try the PSP before you blindly bash it. The PSP is a great companion to your DS (great console), just give it a try, and please do not blindly bash anything, it makes the gaming fanbase look like a bunch of pompous fools.

  • MarioMainic

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 3:11 am PT

    Great move Harry.

  • spliff787

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 3:09 am PT

    psp sucks i gave mine away At least I have a happy sister.

  • Rhubarb9

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 2:33 am PT

    the PSP has many great games with more to come and works great as a wide screen media player the price is fair.

  • Khoo1992

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 2:15 am PT

    it will drop soon

  • menmau

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 2:01 am PT

    Sony will drop the price...
    Well somewhere in the future

  • TrumpyTheDog

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 1:38 am PT

    So, its the Aussie's turn to get screwed over by Sony now, give it a month or two and it'll be the US's turn again.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:54 am PT

    Well that is not for us.. but anyways who cares.. you buy it or you dont... but every one that is criticizing the psp.. I bet any amount of money YOU couldnt make something better, dont criticize someone elses work, when the only work you probably do is school work

  • zsc4

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:46 am PT

    Well considering the price after the price drop for the UK....it is still expensive compared to the US.

  • InfinityTomorro

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:39 am PT

    Kirbyfanatic: You're a retard go back to your Nintendo forums you fanboy

  • ta1snake

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:15 am PT

    that sucks mate.

  • MATERAZZI_23

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 11:54 pm PT

    @RaiKageRyu

    Good one.... lol the Loco-motion....

  • Mriceguy

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 11:30 pm PT

    What about new zealand!? price drop... please...

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 10:56 pm PT

    Do the price drop. Everyone else is doing it.

  • Doolum

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 10:22 pm PT

    i hope they do come up with a price drop in Australia-to be fair

  • acekicka

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 10:20 pm PT

    I never really had a use for my PSP, so I sold it, I wouldn't really worry about buying one...

  • legend133

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 10:00 pm PT

    holy rusty metal Robin... 291 US dollars for a core PSP in the land down under.

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:58 pm PT

    sucks for them

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:28 pm PT

    That sucks.....

  • fox-orian

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:27 pm PT

    Sucks that they have to price drop for specific locations. Price drops should universal, *sigh.*

    Too bad its so expensive in AU, the PSP really isn't a waste of money. For $300, I can understand being way hesitant to buy it (you could get a Wii or a 30GB iPod for cheaper,) -- but for the reduced price it's certainly something not to be overlooked. If Sony gets their act together and just gives it to you guys like they have to europe and the US, well, the world will be that much happier

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:23 pm PT

    No surprise they charge us $1000 for the PS3 here (over $800 US), the PSP has only dropped $50 and when Pokemon D/P come out in less than 2 months then the DS will further demolish the PSP in sales.

  • malkav11

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    Jesus. I knew the Aussies got boned, but their PSP pricing sure doesn't sound like it's gone down at all, ever. And it was about $100 too much over here (maybe $130), so that's nuts.

    I just now (with the drop to $170) felt comfortable buying a used PSP on eBay. $150 got me the PSP, carrying pouch, manual, charger, and 32 MB and 2 GB memory sticks. That, I think, was very much worth it. But I wouldn't have paid much more. It's a neat system but it's criminally underutilized and it has to be hacked to realize anything close to its full potential.

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    Keep the price high. Maybe people will then realize how bad the PSP is.

  • DoctorFu

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 8:55 pm PT

    This system is a waste of money. Please don't buy this even if the Aussies are getting the dirty end of every video game related stick..

  • qubeley

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 8:45 pm PT

    The price of PSP has dropped to AU$200 in HK already. I'm wondering why there is no price cut for that in Australia - as usual ripping off our market. Anyway, not going to get one - it's just a dumb machine trying to pretend as everything while it is nothing.

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