Share

Sony to cut PS3 price

Tokyo - Sony is slashing the price of its PlayStation 3 game console across North America, Europe and in Japan, the company said Wednesday, as it looks to spur demand ahead of the year-end shopping season.

Sony Computer Entertainment cut the price Wednesday for 160-gigabyte PS3 from $299 to $249 in North America and from €299 to €249 in Europe, it said in a statement.

Starting Thursday, the company will also lower the price in Japan, from ¥29 980 to ¥24 980, while slashing some 14% off the prices of a 320-gigabyte PS3 in the three leading markets.

Sony's move came after its rival Nintendo cut the price of its slow-selling 3DS handheld console, released in February, by around 40% to ¥15 000 from August 11 in Japan.

Nintendo has said similar cuts will follow in foreign markets by September as it looks to revive the fortunes of the world's first video game console with a 3-D screen that works without special glasses.

The move has been seen to spur sales of the handheld console, which analysts say in turn may have prompted Sony's decision to cut the cost of its PS3.

The company sold 214 821 units of 3DS in Japan for the week of August 8-14 - the second largest weekly sales figure since the week of its launch in February, according to data released on Tuesday by game magazine publisher Enterbrain, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

Sony has sold more than 50 million PS3 worldwide, expanding the portfolio of games and video content on its PlayStation Network to more than 60 000 titles.

In April its PlayStation online gaming network was hit by a cyber attack that compromised the personal data of millions of accounts.

Nintendo shares were up 2.4% at ¥11 980 in Osaka trade on Wednesday. In Tokyo, Sony shares were off 2.64% at ¥1 655.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders