PS3 hits Europe: March 23, ?599 ($776), 60GB only

Well friends, the moment many of you have been waiting for has finally arrived: Sony's just lifted the months-long veil of secrecy that's been shrouding the PlayStation 3's impending European launch. The good news -- and there's not much of it here, folks -- is that March 23rd is indeed the date you need to circle on your calendars; all that talk of an April release turned out to be bullplop. However, there will only be a million consoles available for the entire continent, and as we mentioned before, each and every one of those will be of the pricier 60GB variety. Now, will they cost the same $600 that consumers have been paying in the US? Hardly; expect to drop a cool £425 (that's over 840 freakin' bucks) for the privilege of getting your PS3 on -- assuming that you can even procure one without looting or rioting, that is. We'll have more on the launch as this story develops, but we're thinking that you might wanna stop wasting your time here in favor of securing a place in line at your local gaming retailer -- as we know all too well, things are gonna start getting pretty hairy pretty quick.

Update: Several details need to be clarified (sorry, but this has been a bit confusing; Bloomberg's already on its fifth update). As some helpful readers pointed out, the £425 figure is a UK-only price, and it includes the VAT. The rest of Europe will be paying €599 ($776) for their little slices of gaming heaven, while the folks down under will be shelling out A$999.95 ($780) and NZ$1,199.95 ($840) in Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

[KineticOnline @ Jan 24th 2007 8:14PM]

PS3 = PS£

I hope they dont even sell 1,000 never mind a million. Making europe wait, then charging us $140 usd more (after vat) for the same product is nothing less than plain dumb. Its almost as if sony want to fail in europe

[Lawry Goldstein @ Jan 25th 2007 2:41PM]

Sony is giving you one of the greatest console deals ever, they used to charge Europe several hundred dollars more no including tax, now you pay something like $50 more and a lot of tax.

For example:
Even if PS3 costs exactly $600.00 for Europe, your price because of VAT would be $705.00. Much if not most of the price increase for Europe is VAT. Australia is the one being screwed.

http://www.tiqy.com

[wako @ Jan 24th 2007 8:18PM]

You poor europeans....


its like you guys always get shafted...

[michael @ Jan 24th 2007 8:26PM]

that's why most people in Europe love the xbox 360 :)

[BrandonLehman @ Jan 24th 2007 8:29PM]

On the bright side, you probably won't have a hard time finding one...

*cough*

[Castle @ Jan 24th 2007 8:35PM]

20% VAT will do that, not to mention generally high UK prices due to exchange rates.

[Mike McGregor @ Jan 24th 2007 8:38PM]

Do remember that the £425 is inclusive of VAT (17.5% Sales Tax), which means without VAT it's actually 350.63, which at current exchange rates is $689.69.. still a good $90 over the US price, but not quite as much of a rip off. That said, i'd still love to b*tch slap whoever it was that decided that extra $90 Sony Tax was a good idea...

[humpty @ Jan 24th 2007 8:40PM]

Fill me in here.. what is the justification for the VAT? Thats seems like a ridiculous cash grab. wtf?

[Hugo @ Jan 24th 2007 9:19PM]

VAT is like US sales tax, except:

- It's 17.5% in the UK (slightly more/less in other EU countries)
- It's included in the sticker price (not added at the checkout)

Businesses don't pay it when buying goods for business use (more accurately - they pay it then get reimbursed by the government later as long as they're VAT registered). It's just a consumer tax.

Some goods & services are lower rated - ISTR electricity is something like 8%, and basic food, childrens' clothes, etc, have 0% VAT.

[Dax @ Jan 24th 2007 9:06PM]

VAT is what we pay in the UK because we're an Island, it goes to the government.

That's the simple explanation. Want more detail? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAT

I was expecting the PS3 to cost more than this, for a bluray player, this is actually fairly well priced. Lets hope Sony pull out some decent titles before releasing it over here, though. The current lineup - and technical problems - don't leave much to be desired.

[Harry Bawls @ Jan 24th 2007 8:44PM]

Sony just shot themselves in the foot with that pricing. At this rate, Sony will completely fold before they even have a chance to catch up. Meanwhile, Nintendo is doing great with their Wii console sales. Nintendo 4 lyfe.

[Stephen @ Jan 24th 2007 8:54PM]

They are really late to the market in Australia as well. I think they are going to be charging AU$1000 (US$779) for it too.

[rj @ Jan 25th 2007 10:05AM]

"VAT is what we pay in the UK because we're an Island, it goes to the government."

lol... so is the bahamas.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 25th 2007 5:35PM]

Dax: "The current lineup - and technical problems - don't leave much to be desired"

"technical problems" ??

[me @ Jan 27th 2007 5:32PM]

dont u mean "do leave much to be desired"?

[Reuben @ Jan 24th 2007 9:21PM]

Why don't people in Europe just buy a US of Japanese version off eBay.

[Reuben Rowell @ Jan 24th 2007 9:22PM]

I meant a US or Japanese Version

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jan 25th 2007 3:59AM]

That's actually what many people do. American price + american VAT + european VAT slapped over by customs - very often the sum is still much less than european price.

P.S. I'd say, that price is ridiculous - with 20 games at launch. There are few BD sold in Europe (Amazon.de since advent lists 53 titles). With *spring* being the season when many save money for summer vacations - how many would even consider buying it? Summer/spring (exams+vacations) aren't precisely gaming seasons.

[inlogic @ Jan 24th 2007 9:31PM]

You mean Europeans, or do you mean British people? If it's Europeans, then be aware that the most used currency in Europe is the EURO and not the POUND.. adding that United Kingdom has the biggest % per citizen in the European Member states that is Eurosceptic. Therefore, I would humbly ask you to when referring to Europe, please use EURO(the most widely used currency in Europe and the currently the world's most valuable), or instead of using Europeans use Britain or United Kingdom. Doesn't it makes sense?

Thank you

[Edward @ Jan 25th 2007 12:50AM]

the pound is worth the most, not the euro

[myscrnnm @ Jan 24th 2007 9:32PM]

I'm pretty sure this won't be a problem. Sony is by no means stupid. In fact, this higher pricing is the smart thing to do since the PlayStation family has traditionally been the most popular line of video game consoles in Europe, so the Europeans will be willing to pay more anyway. Not to mention you have to take into account the living costs of the individual countries. Most Europeans simply have more disposable money.

[John Doe @ Jan 24th 2007 9:41PM]

o.O I hope that was sarcasm otherwise that comment is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read on the net. I mean the starting statement alone....Sony isn't stupid. The facts to date on several fronts suggest otherwise.

[Andrew Fong @ Jan 24th 2007 10:08PM]

My impression was that it was Microsoft doing a little better in Europe than in North America, not Sony. Does anyone have last-gen marketshare data for Europe? I'm pretty sure the PS2 wins, but it can't be much higher than in North America.

As for Sony inventions, I think it's glory days are behind them. First, Sony didn't invent most of that technology. They simple were the first to commercialize it on a mass scale (e.g. CDs, li-ion battery) or simply copied it (Motion Eye? C'mon, webcams were in existence way before Motion Eye). Second, some of the inventions have been doing downhill. I mean, ATRAC? MagicGate? Maybe some interesting technology, but they're not exactly marketplace successes. More like annoyances really.

[myscrnnm @ Jan 24th 2007 9:47PM]

"o.O I hope that was sarcasm otherwise that comment is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read on the net. I mean the starting statement alone....Sony isn't stupid. The facts to date on several fronts suggest otherwise."

Let's see, Sony invented Trinitron technology, the portable cassette player, the compact disc, Blu-ray disc, AIBO, the lithium-ion battery, Super Audio CD, ATRAC, SDDS, the Motion Eye webcam, MagicGate encryption technology, et cetera.

Right, they're so stupid.

[Cosmos @ Jan 24th 2007 10:35PM]

Those technologies are all thanks to Sony's R&D departments. These are not the same people that run the company and make decisions like "hey, lets make a site that looks like it is run by a couple of PSP fans, it'll be a big hit!"

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Jan 24th 2007 9:55PM]

Well, it wasn't really Sony's business people that did that. I'm sure their team of developers would be perfectly fine elsewhere.
(And I see they are doing really well with those batteries :P)

I do agree, though, Sony has produced a great number of innovations.
(Just not their current grasp on video game consoles).

[Jimbo @ Jan 24th 2007 10:05PM]

Umm, I don't know if any of you guys noticed this, but the markup in England for the 360 and the PS3 is nearly identical as far as I can tell. PS3 price in US 600, price in UK= 425. Divide= 1.41 Ratio for 360 is 400/272= 1.47.

[myscrnnm @ Jan 24th 2007 10:14PM]

"I think it's glory days are behind them. First, Sony didn't invent most of that technology. They simple were the first to commercialize it on a mass scale (e.g. CDs, li-ion battery) or simply copied it (Motion Eye? C'mon, webcams were in existence way before Motion Eye). Second, some of the inventions have been doing downhill. I mean, ATRAC? MagicGate? Maybe some interesting technology, but they're not exactly marketplace successes. More like annoyances really."

Actually, they did invent the CD, it was co-developed with Philips Electronics. Motion Eye is by no means the first webcam, but it was the first one implemented seamlessly into a computer. Admittedly, ATRAC is anything but successful, but you have to hand it to Sony that the compression ratio is incredible. MagicGate on the other hand has done reasonably well in the market, with Memory Stick being challenged only by SD and CF in general.

Honestly, today, Sony is still developing some of the most cutting-edge technology out there. For instance, co-developing the Cell Broadband Engine architecture with IBM and Toshiba, inventing Blu-ray disc with Philips, SXRD LCoS, and more recently, the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio OLED displays.

[amihuman @ Jan 24th 2007 10:25PM]

I think I will buy one even for that price. Until march I can only buy the PS3 share on trendio http://www.trendio.com/word.php?wordid=470&language=en and there I can even make some profit

[MattWright @ Jan 24th 2007 10:37PM]

Just out of curiosity myscrnnm, do you work for Sony? =)
(Had to be said...)

[myscrnnm @ Jan 24th 2007 10:50PM]

"These are not the same people that run the company and make decisions like "hey, lets make a site that looks like it is run by a couple of PSP fans, it'll be a big hit!""

However, SCEI is by all means not the first company to implement viral marketing. What about Microsoft's I Love Bees campaign? People simply hate what Sony does because it's Sony, not necessarily because what because they're doing is bad.

[Dixonij @ Jan 25th 2007 2:15AM]

I love bees was COMPLETELY different from that All I Want For Christas Is A PSP site because I Love Bees was viral marketing from the start and people were aware of that. The All I Want campaign was viral trying to pass itself off as legit. That is what people had beef with.

[LZBravo @ Jan 24th 2007 10:56PM]

No matter how great the R&D or product line up of a company is, if that company doesn't have a management team that is making intelligent decisions the next great products won't be accessible to the consumers that the company is trying to serve.

[Colin @ Jan 24th 2007 10:57PM]

The PS3 is a 32% price premium vs US assuming state sales tax of 6%
The Xbox 360 is a 30% price premium " "
The Wii is a 33% price premium " "

It happens on ALL the consoles boys...be fair.

[Terra @ Jan 24th 2007 11:09PM]

What is the big deal, I spend well over $2000 each year for my gaming computer upgrades and that not include the monitors that I buy, sounds like you guys can't afford to get a Playstation 3. Thats OK with me, all I can say that I glad its expensive so you guys can't get one :D. I bought the 60Gig PS3 with the built-in Blu-ray. I would have to pay $700 for a Blu-ray player. NO. NO the PS3 is a good deal and it can also play older ps games titles that is a deal I can live with. It may be expensive to some, but its cheap for me!

[Dax @ Jan 25th 2007 7:09AM]

You'd think that with all that money you'd be able to afford a basic education. Your spelling and grammar is disgusting.

Back on topic, I wouldn't personally say I dislike Sony - I loved my Minidisk player (this was back before HD/RAM-based MP3 players) and used it whenever I got a chance in college; you could run a decent high-end Minidisk player on a single AA battery for 3 days solid (72 hours) before it ran out of power, which is much more than can be said for current MP3 players!

They also brought us some pretty fantastic televisions, and will no doubt to continue to do so. No, I don't dislike Sony, I dislike Sony's marketing department. They don't have a goddamn clue what they're doing.

As a Nintendo fanatic, I must admit it is fairly painful to say, but give the PS3 a year or so and they'll have an established games library and it will no doubt replicate the success of the PS2. It is expensive, it currently has problems, and it currently has next to no games - the only problem there which I can't see Sony solving anytime soon is the expense aspect.

I won't be getting one myself until they make a slim version, I currently have my slimline PS2 modded into my PC case, a project which was rather fun to accomplish, yet surprisingly messy!

Anyway, long post short - Sony has brought us some cool stuff in the past, and no doubt will in the future. It is their marketing department which deserves your unrelenting, furious hate, not the company in general.

...and no, before we get any smartasses quoting this with 'LOL U R WORK 4 $ONY!!!11', I actually work with the UK military in an IT Administration position. So there.

[EatingPie @ Jan 24th 2007 11:14PM]

"Just out of curiosity myscrnnm, do you work for Sony? =)"

Yeah because he said something GOOD about Sony! That's... like... NOT ALLOWED on the Internet... Is it?? :p

-Pie

[Heather Flanagan @ Jan 24th 2007 11:54PM]

I wanted to show you a video I made at the Microsoft Alumni Network's "After the holidays party". I think Microsoft makes an interesting anthropological subject:

http://pugettown.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/is-there-life-after-microsoft/

[Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jan 24th 2007 11:58PM]

Where are all the Sony Fanboy's saying Engadget hates the PS3?

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 25th 2007 12:06AM]

Shut you mouth if ya Anti Sony. Without the Walkman, there would be no iPod. Without the Trinitron TV your TV would look like crap. PS 3, PSP, Cell, OLED TV, Blu ray, Sony E Reader, Bravia TV and of course the Walkman Phone, which Sony sold about 18 millions in 2006. The Sony innovations are as strong as ever.


AS for the PS 3 in Euro, Sony are shipping 1 millions units and their goals is 6 millions by march. 425 euros are a good price, sony are losing 200-300 on each console sold. They're charging what they think are a good value for their products.

If you don't like it don't buy it. The number console sold over the holidays season are the PS 2, do you do think make that?

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 25th 2007 12:10AM]

"Where are all the Sony Fanboy's saying Engadget hates the PS3?"

Yes, they Do hate or Anti Sony...These idiots think apple charging $600 for the iphone are cool and a must have, but $600 for the PS 3 are a sin or an act of evil.

[Jypson @ Jan 25th 2007 1:42AM]

PS3 a game machine? Gaming is definitely second horse for them this time around. With BD on the line and all the royalties they will soon enjoy from all of the movie studios, are they really that interested in 1st class gaming? I doubt it. The PS3 is Sony's Trojan Horse to push the BD format for early adoption and a solid consumer base. Sure it's a decent price for a 2x BD player that you can play "next gen" games on, but don't be fooled into thinking that they will be serving the gaming communities best interests with the PS3. If you truly think that they developed the PS3 for 1st class gaming...enjoy all of your exclusive titles!!!

[Mike A. @ Jan 25th 2007 2:25AM]

Nobody seems to get the prices right between the USA and the EU :

- In the USA prices are WITHOUT sales tax
- In the Euro zone, prices are INCLUSIVE sales tax

Sales tax, as are most taxes, are higher in the EU than in the USA.
I live in Germany, sales tax is 19% !

So 599 euro divide by 119 times 100 = 503 euro without tax.
503 euro = 652 dollar.

Also keep in mind that the exchange rate fluctuates and the price of consoles does not. If the dollar gets more expensive (as in the past) prices here are actually a bit lower than in the usa. At the moment the ps3 is "only" about 8% more expensive than in the usa.

For that 8% extra the EU zone gets 2 year warrenty instead of the USA 90 days.

All in all we get about the same deal for the same money.
Forget about the UK they use pounds and the UK is know to its inhabitants as "RIP OFF country".

Why are the taxes so high in the EU ? Well that's because of "socialism" as in : if you don't have work or are ill/old/dead you still get enough money to live on.

[TheLostSwede @ Jan 25th 2007 2:34AM]

Well, it's $856.50 or there abouts in Sweden, but that includes 25% sales tax, which makes it around $642 before tax. Still too damn expensive...

[bo @ Jan 25th 2007 2:59AM]

@thegoodolekicker:

so basically if i go through and list all of the products made by say...LG, successful or not, it makes them innovative?

ford made great cars 100 years ago, but not anymore. sony made great products 20 years ago, but now their PR department alone has ruined them in the public eye, along with the decline in quality products being released. proprietary and different does NOT equal innovative.

[fraggle_rocker @ Jan 25th 2007 3:15AM]

I guess this means the Irish price of 630 euro, is true. Ireland has a higher vat than the Uk, our vat is 21% while the British vat is 17.5% but in Britain they will still be paying a couple of pound more. Doesnt make much sense to me. Seems like japan who recently got a price reduction has the best deal?

[Mark @ Jan 25th 2007 3:58AM]

I'd have to agree that here in Japan we've got the best deal in terms of price. Then again, the PS3 is Japanese, so it's to be expected that you'd get the best price here...

[ck @ Jan 25th 2007 4:08AM]

All you "sales tax makes it even" people: how do you explain the horrific US$840 price tag in New Zealand when the sales tax is 12.5%? Shouldn't that be US$675 instead? Are Sony spending the extra US$165 on beer?

I'm pretty pissed off about it. That beer could have been for me.

[derceto @ Jan 25th 2007 4:32AM]

Why does Sony think everyone needs 60gb HDD, wi-fi and memory card reader? I surely have no need for either. Microsoft can thank Sony a lot.

[Dimitris @ Jan 25th 2007 4:41AM]

I personally loved the PS and PS2 but I am not that stupid to be posting negative opinions around the web.
It is REALLY STUPID and too soon to judge the PS3 and compare it to the XBOX360.

I really don't care that so many STUPID people bought it in Japan and in the US without checking first for available games and game-quality.
Regarding to this matter, I am really happy to be living in Europe.
I am not buying any console, just to say to my friends that I bought it.
There must be great games first.

I agree the XBOX360 is Great and has Super games!
...but it is out for more than a year so NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO COMPARE IT TO THE PS3.

It will be wise to decide which console to buy, around July or August.

If the REAL PS3 games are nice (and better than xbox's) then I will buy the PS3.

If the REAL PS3 games suck, then I will REALLY buy the XBOX360.


WAKE UP PEOPLE!