PS3 Slim, price cut due this fall, Xbox 360 Elite replacing Pro in September?

Source: Tech and gaming news site Ars Technica.What we heard: Sony has drawn flack for the PlayStation 3's sticker tag from the moment the top-tier console's $599 price was announced in 2006. And while Sony has released an array of hardware configurations to bring down the price, the PS3...

Source: Tech and gaming news site Ars Technica.

What we heard: Sony has drawn flack for the PlayStation 3's sticker tag from the moment the top-tier console's $599 price was announced in 2006. And while Sony has released an array of hardware configurations to bring down the price, the PS3 consistently scores the bronze in the US' three-way current-generation console race. Last week, Activision ratcheted the price war rhetoric up a notch, threatening to drop support for the PS3 and PSP as early as 2010 if Sony doesn't enact a price reduction for its flagship console. Currently, the cheapest PS3 hardware SKU is the 80GB model, which was introduced during E3 2008.

Analysts and publishers alike believe Sony will eventually cut the PS3's price sometime during the back half of the year, though the same could be said of 2008. This time, though, industry watchers may be right, as Ars Technica's reliable tipster has informed the tech news site that Sony will cut the PS3's price as well as introduce the 120GB PS3 Slim this fall.

Ars Technica's source had no specific information on how much the consoles will cost or whether or not Sony will alter its SKU offerings. However, the source did say that Sony is currently in the process of flooding retail with the 160GB PS3 SKU, while at the same time limiting supply of the 80GB model. The source noted that most retailers have about a 60-day supply of the 80GB model left in stock.

Were Sony to proceed with a price cut, the console maker's newfound competitiveness may be short-lived. Ars Technica's source notes that Microsoft may respond to a PS3 price cut with a SKU jiggering of its own. According to the tipster, Microsoft plans to phase out the midlevel $299 Xbox 360 Pro in July or August, with the publisher introducing a number of attractive software bundles to help move systems. Once supply has sold through, Microsoft will essentially replace the 60GB Pro with the 120GB Elite model, cutting the price of its top-tier system to $299 in early September, the source said.

Of note, Ars Technica's source has successfully sleuthed out a number of retailer-related happenings in the past. Most applicably, the source precisely called Microsoft's across-the-board hardware price cuts for the Xbox 360 Elite, Pro, and Arcade in September 2008.

The official story: "This is completely based on rumors and rampant speculation."--A Sony Computer Entertainment representative. "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."--A Microsoft representative.

Bogus or not bogus?: Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 (and the Wii, for that matter) have seen weakness at retail recently, with Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst Jesse Divnich telling GameSpot earlier this month that all three consoles have "reached saturation at current price points." Therefore, it wouldn't be unheard of for either Microsoft or Sony to be reevaluating their SKU lineup and strategy. Add in the track record of Ars Technica's source, and this one is looking not bogus.

911 Comments

  • hammad647

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    ps3 is still the bomb with the new pricing $299 its one of the best deals out there

  • hammad647

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    pros of the ps3 slim: 32%smaller 36%lighter and uses 34% less energy than the original ps3 $299

    cons of the ps3 slim: No backwards compatibility No touch sensitive buttons No universal remotes No Linux

  • KA3AXCTAH

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 4:48 pm PT

    Hmm... that's $299.99 for a 120GB PS3 Slim... nice
    August 25... And I'll get a PS3, finally!
    Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I0J4VQ/ref=bt_atcg_mm?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1GT8DNR1A3V2DGC6T742&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=486840491&pf_rd_i=468642

  • tom95b

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:26 pm PT

    I'm interested in the PS3 now. I want to play games like infamous and killzone 2.

  • RenegadeTwister

    Posted Aug 18, 2009 4:38 pm PT

    This is awesome! Now when I buy a PS3 I'll save money on gas mileage because it weighs less! Now I can truly afford one. The old one was too heavy, it would have cost me a fortune in gas towing around.

    Also, are people really still complaining about how Microsoft has tons of money? You people know that Sony is one of the top corporations in the world right? They had reported revenues of 77,682 million in 2008 with Microsoft at 51,122 million. Sony is a far larger company, please do not feel bad for them fanboys.

  • LocustWarlord

    Posted Aug 18, 2009 2:25 pm PT

    omg i want one! i might finally get to play killzone 2 or resistance =D

  • Ar4mithSRK

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:34 am PT

    I would love to have another PS3, especially if it was a slim model with 120GB. I run lots of small fighting game tournaments and all the games we play are on PS3.

  • MasterJ633

    Posted Aug 11, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    I would buy a PS3 if i had the money.
    Main good thing about the PS3 over 360, my friend told me, is the PS3 he said is free to play games online, like the PS2.

    The one good thing, is i bought Rock Band for PS2 many months ago. Since the PS2 band controllers are compatible with PS3, i'd just have to buy the game and not the WHOLE band.

    Where as, if i bought it for 360, i'd have to re-buy everything. And i don't have the $50 a year to play XBL, although the free 1 month i played was fun, i had just wished i had better games to play.

  • FluffyLion posted Aug 10, 2009 7:17 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    FluffyLion

    Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:17 pm PT (hide)

    ya but the ps3 will have massive faliure for online because it will have a poor connection

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Aug 8, 2009 7:46 pm PT

    @B3tches_Killz
    360 lags alot. PlayStation 3 will lag too but I've only got it on multi-platform games (ones also on xbox 360 ).

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Aug 8, 2009 7:37 pm PT

    @ Tempus-X
    I know Microsoft is losing around $125 per plastic box they call xbox. They will be losing more when the price drops this year to $250. The same price I might add that I will buy a PSP Go for.

  • Tempus-X

    Posted Aug 8, 2009 2:42 pm PT

    @cyclonebw: You say it like if M$ didn't lose any money for every Xbox360 sold... They do lose cash, just like Sony, for every piece of console they sell..

  • ShadowDemon9

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    the ps3 slim is coming out this fall and i have it confirmed from an insider wait because has already made it

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:09 pm PT

    @ Dante200X
    Ps3's will have backwards compatibility once PS2's production slows down/stops from what I heard on E3, it may be awhile. But yes i'm looking forward to it too. as long as its not only in the slims? (if they do come out)

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:04 pm PT

    @ mstultz
    First off: I own a xbox 360 Pro and I dislike it very much, I play my PS3 99.99% of the time. (the other .001 is Wii) PS3 has to many awesome features that can not be passed up.

    Second off: I didn't only include online price, I included everything you have to buy seperate to get your Xbox to have close to the same accessories. Third off: I will not buy a PS3 slim do to the fact it will be new, it my have some program flaws just like the first PS3's. (now they are perfect)

    Also: I still don't get why people want a PS3 price drop? They will not drop the price until DVD are no longer in mass production and BlueRay takes it place and it will cost less to make. Sony losses money for every PS3 they make and sell for $400, then make money off of games. (I think PS3's should cost $450-500 personaly...)

  • Aflac100

    Posted Aug 2, 2009 11:10 am PT

    I will buy PS3 Slim If it comes out
    and i also expect a price cut in the slim
    it shouldn't be more expensive then the original ps3
    Im thinking about buying a ps3 but if the ps3 slim is true then ill just buy that instead

  • TWilliamz

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 3:57 pm PT

    I don't care about BC. I have a PS2 sitting on my floor collecting dust. I'm waiting on a price drop and to see if the slim rumors are real. Whichever comes first, but they better hurry because Assassins Creed 2 and Splinter Cell are making me think about dipping into my PS3 funds.

  • Dante200X

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    So is anybody else besides me seriously just wanting PS2 backwards compatability in a newer model that doesn't sell out and get discontinued?

    That's the only thing that's truly holding me off. Sorry, but my PS2 is dying after so many years and I'd rather not buy a new one have to hook it up anytime I wanted to play a PS2 game (assuming I bought a PS3 that didn't play PS2 games). And yes, I've heard of the rumors of an update that allows PS3's to play PS2 games, but it's still rumors. I'll wait for it to actually happen/be confirmed before even thinking of that.

  • eal-zubieri

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 10:14 am PT

    @Burning_Typhoon
    the 360 don"t have even a HD DVD drive built in, it has a normal DVD(dual layer) drive like the older generation.

  • mstultz

    Posted Jul 28, 2009 9:27 am PT

    cyclonebw said:
    You guys think ps3 is expensive? hahahaha! Psn is free where Xbox live you pay $50-70 a year! Ps3 pays for itself easily compared to Xbox after 3-4 years! You people are funny!

    @cyclonebw Have you used Xbox Live? You'll soon realize just why PSN is free; XBL blows it out of the water. And let's be realistic, you can find 13 month XBL cards for ~$40. Don't get me wrong, I own a Xbox 360 and love it, but I am also eagerly waiting for a PS3 slim announcement because I plan on buying one.

  • -BILLY-BAD-ASS-

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 6:05 pm PT

    i like my ps3 just how it is. but it is kinda bulky and heavy

  • rusnock007

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:26 pm PT

    I've always wanted a ps3 and i will get one if they drop the price AND make it slimmer

  • Ghosty1212

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 12:10 am PT

    i hope it gets a price cut, it's gonna be so sick if it does

  • darkxxchris

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 7:06 pm PT

    i hope the ps3 looks cool and has full backward compatibility

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 7:16 pm PT

    @ DeviousJAZ
    There is parental control and I believe it won't let you play games above your set age? Anyone can put a false age it's just if the parents care that your playing a M game or not.

  • Burning_Typhoon

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:07 am PT

    @B3tches_Killz

    360 can, and does lag, I've experienced some lag where the match was ended by the game because the lag was stupid. Wasn't my fault, but, still, find the right idiot online, and anything will lag.

    I get lag on PS3 sometimes, but, it doesn't make anything unplayable, and sometimes, it's barely noticeable. I don't play 1st person shooters, so, there's nothing on 360 that I want that's not already on PS3. I like my fighters, which plays better on PS3. If I wanna shoot something, I'll pop in MGS4.

    BTW, for those who say PS3 is expensive, how much is an xbox + wireless+ 2 60 dollar games + 1 extra controller?

    Head over to radio shack, and get a USB converter, sure, it for computers, but, it does convert the PS2 controller to work with PS3. PS3 has wireless built in, and Well, you still gotta buy games, lol... My first game of choice was from PSN.

  • Xaviersx

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:52 pm PT

    @cyclonebw

    How does PSN compare to Xbox Live Silver, better, much better or just the same as far as paid content for dlc, demos, gamer nights, match making etc etc. As an Xbox 360 owner, and someone who's not going to upgrade to a Gold Account, do you know that if I got a PS3 and PSN that I would be starting off better (online) . . . I mean I know my biggest money pitfall is that I own only four PS2 games and no PS3 so I'd have to buy something to play something new and whatever comes with the newer games - trophies and such. Thanks.

  • cyclonebw

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:18 pm PT

    You guys think ps3 is expensive? hahahaha! Psn is free where Xbox live you pay $50-70 a year! Ps3 pays for itself easily compared to Xbox after 3-4 years! You people are funny!

  • rockband360

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    i really dont care about this crap.

  • Bufta posted Jul 8, 2009 9:25 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Bufta

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 9:25 am PT (hide)

    PS3 needs a price cut down to about £49.99 so the true crud of society can purchase one.

  • Cathan

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 7:21 am PT

    These price cuts mean nothing to me because I got my 360 off a back shelf for half price!

  • jpsaply

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 6:40 am PT

    Burning Typhoon says: "They both have their games, but, at least the failure rate for the PS3 is no where near as high as 360, and PS3 won't scratch your 60 dollar games either."

    Uhm...They fixed that a year or two ago.

    Burning Typhoon also says:"and Xbox live, as well as PSN can and does lag, and can lag horribly "

    Had the same problem. Because it was both systems, I knew it wasnt the consoles but my network. Change your routers NAT to open. That fixed it for me.

  • B3tches_Killz

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 5:13 am PT

    @Burning_Typhoon xbox live never lags..atleast not on my box.and the psn lags often as people say. but 360 got way more better games than Ps3 but i still like the PS3

  • slayersdeath200

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 3:03 am PT

    @blindside8zao

    Probably not as they stopped the updates on the newer versions of the ps3

  • blindside8zao

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:30 pm PT

    Is there any chance that this new slimline model would reincorporate backwards compatability?

  • Nocturnal_Speed

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:59 pm PT

    Bring on the Slim... I have like 5 friends waiting for a price cut. (cheap ass friends)

  • Burning_Typhoon

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 5:49 pm PT

    Stop saying PS3 doesn't have good games, that stopped being the case 2 years ago, and Xbox live, as well as PSN can and does lag, and can lag horribly (both of them).

    Graphic wise, the systems are both equal, but, the PS3 can just do more with bluray than the 360 can with HDDVD. The only exclusives are the ones made by 1st parties... for the most part, but, Agent is going to be PS3 exclusive, even though it's rockstar.

    They both have their games, but, at least the failure rate for the PS3 is no where near as high as 360, and PS3 won't scratch your 60 dollar games either.

  • B3tches_Killz

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    okay here's the thing. Ps3 got Awesome graphics, it got free network(may be laggy at times though) and its got blue ray But its exspensive(worth every dollar though)
    360 got Live (no lagg) , awesome games(ps3 doesnt have that many ), and alot of gamers on every single game ( heck i even find full matches on Turok and Magic) ps3's console is better than360 .. 360s games is better than Ps3 But the thing is that we 360 fanboys cant accept the fact that the ps3 console is better.i own a 360 and a new gaming Pc but im soon buying myself a 120gb Ps3. the reason for that is blue ray, less trouble(like rrod), Awesome graphs and some of my favorites ( MY opinion) ALOT of awesome Anime based games. which i never find for the 360. but personally i think both consoles are great and im tired of all the "my consoles' better than yours" discussions.

  • Temmex

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:30 am PT

    bobert
    the ps3's that bricked from those software updates were simply repaired with the new update sony released a few days later. and the fact that sony quickly responded to the problems far outshines the zero attempts MS has made to fix the RROD

  • shadowysea07

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10280043-1.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5#addcomm
    apparently cnn is saying the slimm will be 300 dollars DX
    man their so far off.
    and yeah the 360 does get the rrod quite a few times in the past but most new ones don't. and also don't act like the ps3 is perfect its not no system is. the ps3 has had hardware glitches but there just not as famous as the rrod. and with the slim coming out i'm sure alot of them will set on fire due to the terrible cooling system sony's known for in those models.

  • puerto_nican

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 12:58 pm PT

    My PS3 has never had any hardware problems, but my 360 already had the red ring and freezes occasionally. Also, why is it that whenever Sony announces a price cut for the PS3 a newer model, usually with a bigger hard drive except in this case, is always announced with the price cut?

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:48 am PT

    bobert_20
    u cant compare xbox failure rate with ps3

  • bobert_20

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 12:43 am PT

    Thirdrail1 I have had my 360 since launch and had no problems whats so ever and you mention no hardwear problems wit hthe PS3. Sony released an update for it once that bricked the console or did you forget about that. Atleast none of the 360 updates do that

  • Thirdrail1

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 5:19 pm PT

    I think it's funny that the ps3 got branded as the "too expensive" console of this generation. If you buy one of the 360 models that actually works they've been almost exactly the same price the whole time. I don't know one 360 owner, including myself, that hasn't had to have their 360 repaired or replaced. Conversely, I don't anyone, including myself, who has had hardware issues with their ps3.

  • ExireHG

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 12:04 pm PT

    I just bought a 360 Pro and now they say this. So basically, I payed the same amount on an inferior 360 package, the same price that the superior Elite will cost, at the end of the year. Nice for those thinking of getting a 360, but it sure would have been nice to know about this sooner. I would have held off on buying the Pro than. And I know, I know, 'its just a rumor'. Then why is it that neither company confirmed or denied? Because they can't lie and say they aren't doing it, but they can't say yes and 'ruin the surprise'. Simple as that.

  • 20darkspirit

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 10:57 am PT

    good

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 7:40 am PT

    "micrsosoft has tons and tons of money"

    what so sony dosn't

  • wormwood69

    Posted Jul 4, 2009 5:29 pm PT

    I own a PS3 and a XBOX360 and I love both of them. However,the ps3 is top notch (graphically-the exclusive games). I payed $500.00 for my 40gig ps3 and it's was worth every penny. For all those people who complain about the price,how long has the ps3 been out now,if you saved 30 or 40 dollars a month you could of already had one now. In fact comparing a xbox360 to a ps3 is like comparing a Lamborghini to a Ford Taurus (360). But like I said I love my xbox 360 for games like Fable,Gears,Halo L4D online play etc. But now I'm not buying as many 360 games,unless their exclusive e.g. Halo,L4D2,because I would rather own/play them on the ps3. I know of and have heard of so many people having problems with their 360's several times on the same console,even on the elite models. I personally had the red rings of death on my 360 too.and i didn't even play it that much. I'm glad Microsoft fixed their cheaper made product free for me and so far so good. I will say one thing though enough time has gone by now that maybe Sony should lower their ps3 price. It would only help them out in the long run. But my concern then would be cheaper parts, result in more problems?.

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