60GB PS3 to be discontinued in USA

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 13th July 2007
Comments (18) Stumble
Sony announces that the 60GB version of the PS3 will not be restocked in the US and that the price cut is temporary.

Sony announces that the 60GB version of the PS3 will not be restocked in the US and that the price cut is temporary.

America has it lucky and right now - there are a lot of European gamers who are wishing that they could get over to the US of A and pick up a discounted 60GB PlayStation 3.

Well, if you are one of those people then we only have one piece of advice for you: hurry!

The President of SCEE, David Reeves, recently told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview that the 60GB version of the PlayStation 3 is being taken off the market in the US, only a week after Sony revealed a $100 price cut on that particular model.

Apparently, although the price cut has supposedly doubled sales for the console-making mega-corporation it won't be staying as long as everyone thought and, once the 60GB version is sold-out then Sony will not restock it for sale in the USA. Instead, the 60GB line will be replaced with the 80GB model which will retail at the original price of $599.

"All they're doing is taking their stock in trade that they've got at the moment of the 60GB model, marking the price down and it will all be gone by the end of July."

So, like we said; you'll have to hurry if you want to grab a discounted 60GB version.

Why has Sony announced such a short-term price cut and is Sony ready to watch their sales be halved again when the US returns to the opinion that $600 is too much money to pay for a console, even if it can do everything the PS3 can? Hell if we know.

Got an opinion on Sony's latest antics, or do you just want to call us all fanboys? Either way, drop your comments below.
Quote lamboman 13th July 2007, 10:39
They just don't get it, do they! People will not pay that much for a games console! The reason the PS2 was so successful was its value for money. Sony, just bring the f-ing price down!
Quote DougEdey 13th July 2007, 10:39
I find it intriguing that it was SCEE (that's EUROPE folks) talking about the US market. You never see that happening with anyone else, especially Nintendo and Microsoft.
Quote cyrilthefish 13th July 2007, 10:45
Sooo... an extra 20GB of space is worth $100? or am i missing something obvious?

Look on online shops for hard disks and you'll find the price difference between 60gb and 80gb notebook drives (the PS3 uses these right?) is virtually nothing.

Shouldn't sony be including 120GB drives for that money? At least then it'd be a noticeable difference... :|
Quote Mister_X 13th July 2007, 11:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrilthefish
Sooo... an extra 20GB of space is worth $100? or am i missing something obvious?

Look on online shops for hard disks and you'll find the price difference between 60gb and 80gb notebook drives (the PS3 uses these right?) is virtually nothing.

Shouldn't sony be including 120GB drives for that money? At least then it'd be a noticeable difference... :|

A fine point sir
Quote Bladestorm 13th July 2007, 12:05
I think theres a reasonable chance that the HDD manufacturers would want to discontinue the production of the 60gb drives and producer bigger, more profitable drives and so would be offering sony a bigger size at equal or a bit lower prices to incentivise a switch. Sony of course cuts its own costs a bit by removing the emotion engine chip from the new U.S. units.

It makes sense for them to want to offload all of the 60gb consoles before the 80gb units become available or (outside the US anyway) nobody will want the 60gb ones.

It might be a cosy deal for the HDD manufacturers and sony - sony keep getting the excuse that you are getting more with each successive upgrade so they can keep the price high for a time, whilst HDD manufacturers get to offload old stock of HDD's in successively bigger sizes ? all whilst offering some units at lower prices to boost market share a bit and generate a bit of good publicity.

Edit add : Or I may just be getting very cynical these days ;p
Quote Swafeman 13th July 2007, 12:43
haha, so its not a price cut after all

sony pay 5$ extra max for the 60 -> 80gb, and then remove the PS2 inside it, apparently worth about 25$ to them, and keep the price the same. it costs you the same, but sony are probably now making even more money out of you !
Quote oddball walking 13th July 2007, 17:11
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrilthefish
Sooo... an extra 20GB of space is worth $100? or am i missing something obvious?

Yes they wont more money.>:(

Its not much of a price cut but at least the us get one.
Quote Neogumbercules 13th July 2007, 18:05
Gah! Why Sony, WHY! You were starting to get the frikin picture and then you went and F'd it all up!
Quote Neogumbercules 13th July 2007, 18:40
You know what, I'm actually past the point of being mad at Sony. Right now, all you can do is laugh. Every time they take 1 step forward they fall 2 steps back.
Quote DougEdey 13th July 2007, 18:56
I thought you were pro-sony?
Quote Amon 13th July 2007, 19:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
I thought you were pro-sony?
I think he, as am I, are indifferent. Sony's alright. This stunt involving the European market and the PS3 is just a blemish, I hope. Overlooking that, they've provided us with exceptional service and quality merchandise for many years prior. It just seems to me that the PS3, their trump card, turns out to be their antithesis.
Quote benjamyn 13th July 2007, 19:54
I thought you could put your own hard-drive in the PS3 anyway?
Quote Neogumbercules 13th July 2007, 20:11
I wouldn't go so far as to say I am "pro Sony" just that I think the PS3 is a good system and represents a lot of value. It's just that every time Sony does something good, they screw something else up. There's no way I'm gonna be able to get a $499 60GB model before they sell out. What I'm hoping for now is for Sony to stop selling the motorstorm+extra controller package and release a "bare bones" 80GB box for $499, and I'm not expecting that to happen until around or after the holiday season.
Quote EQC 13th July 2007, 21:07
At least according to Engadget, this story is actually a misinterpretation of something some Sony guy said:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/sony-says-499-60gb-ps3-is-staying-alive-alive-in-us/


At least according to that article, the $499 60GB PS3 is NOT being discontinued in the US.
Quote Neogumbercules 13th July 2007, 23:52
*lets out a sigh of relief*
Quote Bladestorm 13th July 2007, 23:58
Quote:
Originally Posted by EQC
At least according to Engadget, this story is actually a misinterpretation of something some Sony guy said:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/sony-says-499-60gb-ps3-is-staying-alive-alive-in-us/


At least according to that article, the $499 60GB PS3 is NOT being discontinued in the US.

That engadget piece has been updated with confirmation from the third sony CEO that the 60GB model has indeed ended production. :)

The comment there about the three sony CEO's acting like the three stooges made me chuckle I have to say.
Quote Neogumbercules 14th July 2007, 00:04
Stop pulling on the strings of my heart, Sony!
Quote HourBeforeDawn 15th July 2007, 05:02
huh well I guess its time for me to buy a PS3 60gb model while there are still some left.
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