If the rumor mill is correct, we’re only one day away from learning the details of Sony’s PlayStation 3 successor. We already have a number of quasi-trustworthy reports regarding the console’s hardware , and several convincing controller pictures were recently leaked. But the console’s purchase price is still remains a relative mystery.
Yesterday, however, Murad Ahmed, a Technology Reporter from The Times , claims to have received a bit of insider information regarding the PlayStation 4’s price point. Ahmed writes: “Industry sources and leaked internal documents suggest that Sony is considering pricing the new device at about £300, more than £100 cheaper than the starting cost of its predecessor, the PlayStation 3.”
£300 translates to about $465.63 if you live in America, which is significantly less expensive than the $600 price tag that was originally attached to the PlayStation 3. However, $465.63 isn’t a very photogenic number, so we’ll probably see Sony knock the price down to $450.00 for advertising purposes.
Earlier this month, though, a Japanese newspaper called Asahi Shimbun placed the PS4’s purchase price at 40,000 yen , which is about 430 American Dollars. At the moment, there’s no way to tell which number is more accurate. So, just to be safe, you should probably plan on $465.63.
Murad Ahmed also believes that Sony won’t reveal any pricing information at tomorrow’s event. Instead they’ll wait until Microsoft has had a chance to show their hand and respond according.
Both Sony and Microsoft are reportedly planning to release their next-gen consoles in time for the 2013 holiday season, but if you’re one of those people who’s been holding off on a PS3 for the last seven years, you might be cracking open your wallet very soon.
According to Michael Pachter, an industry analyst at Wedbush Securities, the PlayStation 3 could get a major price cut as early as this week. In an email interview with GamesIndustry International , Pachter indicated that the PS3 would drop to $199 by “February 21st.” Even though Pachter’s analysis may seem a little rash, it would be nice to see Sony’s console fly off the shelves in its final days.
 | By Josh Engen News Director Date: February 19, 2013 |