2013 is set to serve as the arena for the next-gen console battles,
and although we’re still at relative rumor stage and thus can only make
assumptions, a report from Japan suggests the PlayStation 4 will arrive with a
price point of around $430, which coincides with one of the previous reports published back in January. Japanese site
the AsahiShimbun seems convinced the
console will cost around 40,000 Yen, which equates to about $428 at the current
exchange, and although the cost is more an indication than a guarantee,
suggests Sony will be pricing its next-gen console much reasonably than it did
its current one.
The
launch of the PlayStation 3 back in 2006 was a year following the Xbox 360, and
it’s fair to say Sony priced itself out the market considerably with its 60,000
Yen initial cost. As a result, gamers poured to Microsoft’s offering, and a
combination of the pricing and other factors has since seen the Xbox 360
overtake its rival to the summit of the console market.
In a sense, this is the first real inkling we have as to how much the
PlayStation 4 might cost. At $428 or thereabouts, consumer are more likely to
make the purchase, and with Microsoft also purportedly bringing the Xbox 720 at
some point this year, it’s vitally important for Sony to give current
PlayStation users a reason to remain loyal when they decide to upgrade their
hardware.
The
cheapest PlayStation 3 variant now coats 24,980 Yen in Japan and $269 in the
US, and although age (and the imminent arrival of its successor) are both
contributing factors to its current low price, it’s fair to say a ~$400 cost at
launch for a PlayStation 4 would be gratefully received.
Further to the Japanese report, other reports have also chimed into
the PS4 debate by claiming the announcement of the next-gen PlayStation
console. The reports suggest an announcement of the PlayStation 4 on February 20th, and
although it’s certainly not the first report to suggest this month will see the
showcasing of the console, it only serves to corroborate such a notion.
In
addition to offering an ETA, it is also being said that Sony will team up with
Gaikai to infuse cloud technology into its next-gen entertainment system. The
gaming service, which Sony paid a cool $380 million for last year, could be a
key component in the PlayStation 4′s introduction into the gaming world, and
we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any updates on this story. [RedmondPie]
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