Analyst Arvind Bhatia has told investors that Sony has learned its lesson from the PS3-launch.
The PlayStation 3 was an expensive machine at launch. Not mildly expensive like a gift card-less meal at Olive Garden. We’re talking expensive to the degree that the money you spent on a launch-PS3 would probably be enough to fly you to the manufacturing plant to build one yourself. Suffice it to say that consumers weren’t pleased with the console’s initial price tag and sales languished for years until Sony finally dropped the sticker price to something people other than the Walter White-crowd could afford.
With the PlayStation 4 announced and E3 just a few short days away, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia believes that Sony won’t make the same mistake again. “We believe Sony will aim to keep the price point for PlayStation 4 below $400,” said Bhatia, in a note to investors. Bhatia’s elaborated that the PS3 definitely suffered in its early years from its high price point and that Sony will likely aim to stay under $400 even if it means taking an initial loss on sales of the console.
While it will be up to Sony to confirm a sub-$400 sticker price, it would certainly be music to the ears of gamers hoping for a new generation of consoles that won’t leave them fiscally bankrupt. As for Sony’s competitors, Bhatia doesn’t expect Microsoft to price the Xbox One at E3 and warned investors to “never write-off Nintendo.” Considering Nintendo’s current troubles with the Wii U, that might be advice some would discard. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time Nintendo made a comeback.
Source: GameSpot
