Start scrounging for change, the next-gen might come with a hefty price tag.
by IGN Staff
January 27, 2006 - Those lucky enough to have gotten their hands on an Xbox 360 will tell you that after the hardware, games, and other miscellaneous peripherals, controllers, etc., buying a next-gen system 'aint cheap. But as much as a 360 may have hurt your pockets, it's looking like a PS3 will even more so. In fact, it's feasible to assume that the PlayStation 3 could retail at anywhere between $300-$800 at launch.
Though the system's final price tag is still completely unknown at this point but Sony president Ken Kutaragi has stated that the PS3 "Will be expensive". He has also said the company wants "for consumers to think to themselves 'I will work more hours to buy one'. We want people to feel that they want it, irrespective of anything else."
One thing however is widely known; the PS3 won't match the 360's $399 price tag, and here's why:
It's cost will ultimately be determined by two things. One is the PS3's unique Cell processor that was co-designed by IBM, Toshiba and Sony. The second is the systems Blu-ray drive. Now, certain analysts in the industry believe the latter will drive costs up hundreds of dollars on its own, and there's no reason to believe that to be untrue. Pioneer, one of Sony's Blu-ray partners, has marked the MSRP of their top-of-the-line BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player at $1,800. Other companies like Samsung have priced their comparable, but ultimately lower-end model, players at $1,199 retail. So, by the time Blu-ray players are available for consumer purchase, which should be around the same time the PS3 is expected to launch in Japan, they'll be going for an average of over a grand.
Yeah, I want a PS3, sure; but I'm not putting in extra hours at the office just to buy one.
With that said; here's a worst case scenario: What if with all games, peripherals, and the add-on hard drive included - it will cost you over $1000 to get a PS3 at launch? Will you buy it? Do you think this is just way too much to pay for a gaming system, even though it's fitted with the highest-end DVD player on the market? Are you willing to shell out this much cash for what's likely to be comparable to the Xbox 360 (according to some developers), as a gaming system? Or is the Revolution looking sweeter and sweeter now with its sub $300 price tag?
