Despite the beating it’s been taking from both the press and the buying public, Sony is refusing to change its PlayStation 3 tune, issuing a press release claiming that neither the Xbox 360 nor the Wii can compete with it on equal terms.
As the most expensive of the three major gaming consoles on the market, the PlayStation 3 has lagged behind the Xbox 360 in worldwide sales and been absolutely demolished by the Wii. Strategic price cuts have proven successful in the past – Microsoft saw a major jump in Japanese sales of the Xbox 360 after it lowered the price in September 2008 – yet Sony has remained adamant in its refusal to make significant reductions of its own in order to boost sales. And in response to a recent Microsoft statement that its sales lead over the PlayStation 3 is growing, Sony has countered with a claim that its console offers more dollar-for-dollar value than either the 360 or the Wii.
“The Xbox 360 requires additional money, multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet and adds clutter to the entertainment centre,” Sony said. “The PS3 is the perfect example of a product featuring superior technology and a sophisticated design creating an ideal all-in-one entertainment product.”
And despite the fact that Sony doesn’t consider the Wii a competing product at all, it doesn’t escape the company’s attention. “The Wii’s lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution,” the statement continued. “So as PS3 continues to evolve without the need for additional parts or expenses, expect the competition to continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up with the Jones’.”
Sony claimed that upgrading the Xbox 360 Arcade, the entry-level Xbox console, to the level of the PlayStation 3 would cost between $449 and $499, and added that many of the PS3 features simply cannot be had on the Wii. “The Xbox 360 and Wii offer a set of features in their own right. However, when you take a look at the feature offerings side by side, there is only one true winner in delivering total value and price,” the press release said.
Sony may very well have a point, and kudos to them for sticking to their guns, but it doesn’t appear to have much relevance to the average consumer, who continues to insist on buying lower-priced consoles that provide immediately-accessible fun rather than high-end, comprehensive entertainment systems. It may not be fair or even reasonable but it’s also no secret, and Sony’s insistence on beating the same drum is looking more and more like a losing strategy.
Source: GamesIndustry, Gamasutra
