PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

[Caspian]

Welp, it could happen. Unconfirmed reports are saying NEXT spring. Not only that, but it could be hella expensive.

There's some interesting Blu-ray Disc news today. On Friday, Wall Street brokerage firm Merrill Lynch issued a report suggesting that the launch of Sony's Blu-ray compatible PlayStation 3 console could be delayed as much as a year from the company's initially anticipated Spring 2006 target date. We'd been hearing that the launch might be pushed back to November, but this could mean Spring 2007. What's worse, some cost estimates place the launch production cost of each PS3 unit as high as $900 ($230 for the Cell processor alone, along with another $350 for the Blu-ray Disc drive). That would mean a likely retail price for consumers at between $700-800. The news has set Sony's stock falling and actually impacted the entire Tokyo stock market on Monday. Sony has denied these reports, but has yet to announce official details on launch date and price. Ouch. You can read more here at Gamespot.

Read it here, I didn't go to the Gamespot article b/c I'm at work and it doesn't work quite right here b/c the filter here sucks.

[Mog]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

Welp, it could happen. Unconfirmed reports are saying NEXT spring. Not only that, but it could be hella expensive.



Read it here, I didn't go to the Gamespot article b/c I'm at work and it doesn't work quite right here b/c the filter here sucks.

The blue ray technology is what's going to drive the price so high, but 900$? Jesus christ, I'll be better off getting a 360 instead.

[Xyphere]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

Sony won't sell the PS3 more than $400.. price is a strong factor that affects how a console sells...

[Caspian]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

Sony won't sell the PS3 more than $400.. price is a strong factor that affects how a console sells...

I hope you're right, but they've already said it won't be the "average man's console". Now, that could mean $500 or it could mean $900. Won't know until they make an official announcement. I just hope that report isn't accurate..... Another year???? Suck

[Xyphere]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

I hope you're right, but they've already said it won't be the "average man's console". Now, that could mean $500 or it could mean $900. Won't know until they make an official announcement. I just hope that report isn't accurate..... Another year???? Suck

I doubt they'll hold off till 2007 either. It's critical for the PS3 to be on store shelves by this Christmas/Holiday Season.

[Mog]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

I doubt they'll hold off till 2007 either. It's critical for the PS3 to be on store shelves by this Christmas/Holiday Season.

Indeed. They'll make a killing if they start selling around thanksgiving time.

[bikkebakke]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

They are not stupid enough to try and sell the PS3 for much more than its competitor.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

It's all analyst talk. They know nothing of what Sony is actually planning, and it has already been rumoured that both Blu Ray and the Playstation 3 would be delayed. Neither the Blu Ray Disc Association nor Sony have said anything to support these rumours.

[Caspian]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

I'm curious as to where the actual leak came from. Sony could really help their case by making an official statement on release date and price. The stock falling doesn't mean a whole lot since stock brokers like to overreact at a moment's notice.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

It's just because Sony's so quiet in February, even though they say they're still on schedule for a Spring launch. A few developers have said that they don't plan on having their titles ready for spring, but that's a few out of the dozens of different studios who are working on titles for the PS3's first year.

A Sony representative stated that while they were on track for a spring release, the launch could be delayed if certain specifications aren't finalized on time. That's just stating the obvious. Analysts don't really know how far along Sony is with those finalizations.

[Caspian]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

A Sony representative stated that while they were on track for a spring release, the launch could be delayed if certain specifications aren't finalized on time. That's just stating the obvious. Analysts don't really know how far along Sony is with those finalizations.

Like the BD software encoding for piracy protection? I just really hope it makes it by this summer. Not holding my breath, but really hoping.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

I believe that was already announced to be a falsehood by both the developers of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. Both formats are still planned for release before the summer. I highly doubt Sony will launch Blu-Ray without its main supporter, the PS3.

[kuu]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

Meryl is full of BS on this one it seems to be the consensus.

Almost all of the numbers point to BS, or rather fuzzy beyond norm.

BR drives does not cost that much. Sony not only can make it's own BR drives inhouse, and not limited to PS3, but also other companies are making it.

The initial cost will be high to retool everything.

But economics of scale will greatly drive it down. It's sunk cost vs estimated cost here.

There will probably be maybe 7-10 million BR drives made in a year. They're counting like the 1st quarter, which shouldn't reflect price.

Not to mention they don't know crap about the other components as well, since no one has seen the components yet.

Oh yea, and the BR DRM specs is kinda bogus also. The hardware is finished. Sony can, and most likely will do it like they did the DVD player PS2. Firmware is software and easily updated.

I.E-> release now, wait for DRM specs to finalize, update firmware.

P.S. Let's also remember how much Meryl priced the PSP. Oh hundreds and hundreds.

I'm curious as to where the actual leak came from. Sony could really help their case by making an official statement on release date and price. The stock falling doesn't mean a whole lot since stock brokers like to overreact at a moment's notice.

They have, they're firm on "spring".

[Caspian]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

I believe that was already announced to be a falsehood by both the developers of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. Both formats are still planned for release before the summer. I highly doubt Sony will launch Blu-Ray without its main supporter, the PS3.

It was? I missed that announcement then. I knew Toshiba got around having to wait, but I thought Sony was going to have to hold back by a month or two (nothing major) to make sure it was all ironed out. I agree that it would be unlikely and unprofitable for Sony to not release at the same time or near the same time as BD. The fact that its supposed to be much closer to HD-DVD player's prices are a huge selling point for those that want BD but don't want to drop $1500 on one. In all likelihood its the biggest advantage they have over HD-DVD and will most likely greatly contribute to BD winning the format wars.

EDIT: Kuu, is spring official? I hadn't read any offiicial statements saying for certain, everything I've read was unconfirmed and suspected. Granted, I've missed a lot of interviews and such where it may have been said.

[kuu]

Re: PS3 in '07??? Say it ain't so!

Yep.

Doesn't mean sony can't BS at the last minute, but they have deined Meryl as full of crap on '07.

"PS3 is still on track for spring release".