PS3 will be $300 to $400 at launch, according to Sony CEO

Peter Lewis of Fortune has written up a little PS3 love fest that heavily quotes Sir Howard Stringer, the CEO of Sony, and drops a few juicy details on the forthcoming console. We have little doubt that the timing of this piece is meant to coincide with a certain console's launch, but maybe that's just us. First off, the much rumored price will be directly competitive with that of the Xbox 360, ranging from $300 to $400 at launch mid-next year, with the US launch to follow a few months later. The console will come bundled with games, movies, and TV shows, but we're hoping those won't be the only value adds for the different prices, and that a hard drive bundle might work its way in there, even though Sony has stated they won't be shipping a drive with the console. Sir Howard Stringer also states right up front that Sony will be selling the PS3 at a loss to promote the Blu-ray standard, which seemed pretty obvious, but that won't stop them from bragging about it. We're not sure any of this will slow the current Xbox 360 fervor, but it's good to know that Sony can still nab some positive PR.

[Thanks, Jimmy]

Update: CNN Money retracted! See here.

[[e-mail] @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Awsome I hope it's $300

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

This post should be updated. The original article now includes the following:

"Correction: An earlier version of this story appeared with statements erroneously attributed to Sir Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony Corporation, regarding pricing and availability of the PS3. Stringer has not commented publicly on how much the PS3 is expected to cost, or how soon it will appear in the US after the Japanese launch in spring 2006."

[Wes @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

i don't understand why anybody would want to buy a $300-400 system that is almost exactly like it's predecessor. i.e., i played the 360 at wal-mart yesterday and i have to say that it looked the same as the XBOX. i can only imagine that the PS3 will be the same. Maybe it was just the game i saw but damn, i remember when this site said the 360 would be 30-35 times more powerful than the XBOX. 1st off, systems have always been 2-3X more powerful ( 8, 16, 32, 64, and now 128) so, the new systems should be around 256 bit. well, it only looked to be about 0.5x more powerful than the XBOX. I prefer individuality in just about everything so instead of paying 300 dollars for another DVD player, why not but a game system for the GAMES. not TV shows and Movies. i don't know. i just don't understand the fuss over the 360 and PS3. 360 did just as i expected which is why i'm glad i never got the 1st box and the PS2 just dissappointed me. i still have faith in SONY though to do something right ( not counting the PSP, worthless piece of shit), plus the new design aside from the spiderman font looks good ( almost like a VCR too)

[Capital @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

first of all, $400 is highly unlikely as Ken Kuturagi (srry i forgot how to spell his name) already stated a more expensive price. But lets say it does hit the $400 mark, HEY!!! GREAT!!! OMG...er wait..hard drive sold seperatley, theres an automic 100-150$$$$$$ charge. yikes.

[Begbie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

But knowing Sony, the console will self destruct if it's pried open and a retina scan will ensure that you can play only your own games and no one elses. The Blu-ray movies will also be encoded on a video version of ATRAC so you can't watch it anywhere else except on a Sony product.

[nemi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Like every other PS I have owened, I will wait on this one until I can buy Gran Turismo (designed) for it.

I will also make sure it is not rev 1.000 firmware/hardware I walk out the shop with.

See what happens to Xbox 360's when you have rev 1.000
http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/11/23/138200.shtml?tid=128&tid=211&tid=10

[oscar @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

look ppl y waste ur time and money on the 360? its so over rated!!! i mean come on every one thats getin or already has a 360 got it for one damn reason and thats halo!!! i mean halo is a good game dont get me wrong but its so damn over rated juss like lebron james!!!!!!!! lol!!! last time i checked i didnt see any good rpg's for xbox! and another thing i hate that everytime a system comes out its alwayz near x-mas!!!!!!!!!! im gettin tired of that shit! im glad ps3 wont do that (i hope). i was down with sony since day 1 and will b there till they stop. fuck the 360 and every one that is in love with it. metal gear solid 4 is goin to rule and put halo in its place!!! i knoe im juss talkin shit about 360 and the ppl that love it but come on now microsoft should juss keep on makin stuff for computers.... i think ps3 will runn about 350 and another 150 for the hard drive then 60 more for the games.. thats my thoughts any one that disagrees with me e-mail me. PS3 RULES BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!