Live from gamescom: PlayStation 3 Now $249

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Live from gamescom: PlayStation 3 Now $249

Hello PlayStation Nation,

I have some exciting news to share with you today. As many of you know, it has been nearly five years since the PS3 first came to the U.S. market with its built in Blu-ray player, integrated hard-drive, built-in wireless, and unmatched hi-def gaming. Today, more than 50 million PS3’s have been sold worldwide, more than 2,495 Blu-ray titles are available and the PS3’s expansive portfolio of games and video content on PlayStation Network exceeds 60,000 titles.

While others in the space are losing steam, PlayStation 3 is gaining momentum and giving gamers everywhere more of what they want: an unparalleled line-up of exclusive games and access to the best in sports, movies and TV, all at a great value.

Today, I believe that value becomes even more evident. I’m excited to share with you that effective immediately at retailers throughout North America, the 160 GB PS3 and the 320GB PS3 are now available for $249 and $299, respectively. In addition, a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle is now available at participating retailers across North America. The bundle retails for $299 and includes a 320 GB PlayStation 3, a copy of inFAMOUS 2 and a 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus.

The new price will make the PS3 more accessible than ever before, so there’s never been a better time to join PlayStation Nation. We know that while future-proof technology is important to you, content is still king — that’s why we continue to focus on bringing you exclusive “must have” titles that are unmatched by anything else on the market. With games like Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One and one of my personal favorites, Uncharted 3, all on the horizon, there’s a lot of great entertainment in store for you.

Of course, PS3 owners also have free access to PlayStation Network and its lineup of marquee content services for watching hi-def movies, TV and sporting events. Netflix. Hulu Plus. Vudu. MLB.TV. NHL Gamecenter. We have them all for you…and it just keeps getting better.

We take our commitment to the millions of PlayStation fans out there very seriously. We don’t just want you to be part of the PlayStation Nation, we want you to be proud to be a PS3 owner. We have many exciting things planned for you in the months ahead, but suffice it to say we are hard at work to bring you more of what you want and more of what you expect. Stay tuned, there’s more to come…

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213 Comments

  • While this price drop is good, i think a smarter choice would have been $200 and $250. Especially with all the great AAA games coming out thru the rest of this year, and including the beginning of next year (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning).

    Think of how much more ps3 sales and game sales you would have if you had really dropped the price down to those numbers. Not only would it be a great deal, but in this bad economy it would make ppl more willing to buy one at the cheaper price.

  • I bought my PS3 160GB a month and a half ago from the PSN RLS website for only $200 which included two games with it.

  • I would think that anyone who frequents PS Blog would already have a PS3, and, therefore, this news wouldn’t really be relevant to very many people here, excluding the shareholders who likely have better sources than PS Blog for news relevant to their holdings… which leaves me wondering, why does this matter here? I’m not trying to be difficult, I just see people here getting excited about it and I’m not entirely sure why.

  • @102, this site is basically a source of information for the press.

  • Now I know the reason why the newer PS3 models are ledless…. ;)

  • @86, OC: 5 ps3’s and thinking of a 6th?!!! OK, you win.

    Oh, and to whoever who said why do you need more than 1? I have 2 now, the newest one upgraded to 500 gig (so easy; don’t sweat it). I use both all the time, and they’re both attached to same hdtv. It’s convenient to switch between games (and BD live blu rays) without swapping discs. Yes I am that lazy.

  • this is great news for me

  • COOL BEAMS!!! …but people will still complain about the price…(*reads comments)..yep people still complaining, sigh

  • Thank you! Now maybe my brother will finally get a PS3.

  • Thanks Jack! It’s good to know you guys make it easier for first prospective purchasers. So guys what are you waiting for? There’s a ton of games to be played!

  • Jack Tretton is a stud.

  • i guess i need to quit buying thing the prices drop a few months later

  • hell yea nice job ps3 will get more players now. everyone wins with a price drop thank you sony

  • where is the store update? Should be up by now. Hope there is some good deals this week.

  • don’t care got a 160 gb ps3 at gamestop for 299.99 and got a 50$ gift card so ha!

  • please ff5 and 6

  • Finally Sony, but it should have been a $100 price drop or release a PS3 SKU

  • @110, KidCommando: You don’t post often, but when you do, I always have a laugh.

  • Great news! :)

  • Finally Sony, but it should have been a $100 price drop or release a PS3 SKU with less than 160GB for $199.99, I actually have no idea why this hasn’t been done yet, the 4GB 360 at $199.99 sells like crazy.

    It seems strange to release a 320GB PS3 bundled with inFamous 2 for $299.99, it seems like these lower prices are just to get rid of the current stock and release new SKU’s, if this is the case keep the same price or better, lower them or release a $199.99 SKU with a smaller HDD.

    I assume there’ll be a new lower price for the PS3 Move bundle right? it only makes sense. You should really improve the bundle as well.

    A price fix on Move, Eye, Navigation and the Move bundle (with a Navigation included) and add motion to the Nav and fix the four player Move and Navigation combo and I will definetly buy.

  • where is PSN support for the Xperia Play? the Playstation Certified smartphone that wont sign into PSN.

  • Also, to reply to a some posts, like #3, just because the PS3 and Vita are $249.99 doesn’t take anything away from Vita because PS3 is a home console and Vita is a portable console which are two different things but I agree, Vita should be released at a lower price and it only makes sense that it does because it makes the Vita more attractive when the PS3 price is the same price and some people like #3 see it as if Vita and PS3 are the same price, I’m going to get a PS3 instead or will see Vita as overpriced and some might see the PS3 as weak and since the 3DS is $179.99.

  • The new psp for 100 bucks has no wifi correct? Even though the psn was kinda worthless on psp, didn’t it kinda give the psp a little life? Now its just outdated hardware not worth investing in.

  • @119, a 4GB hd?!!! You must be joking. That would be a reason NOT to buy it, rather than an incentive. My original 120 slim wasn’t enough for me so I went for a 160 and still upgraded to 500.

    You must not know anything about Sony. They have never tried to be the cheapest, and highest selling. That’s for other brands. My family has been Sony consumers long before it became the multinational entertainment mega corp it is now. We always knew that if you want the best and you’re willing to pay for it, and have it almost forever, then buy Sony.

    Now that they’re the multi national mega corp, they’ve slipped up here and there in that legacy, but I still trust them.

  • Can someone please tell me where to buy the infamous 2 bundle for 299.99? My gamestop doesnt have it.

  • I love you Jack.

  • Is there a way to get some giftcqrd if you bought it less than a month ago? This is just horrible for people like me. Apple use to do that. I hope Sony behaves the same way.

  • @40 (altrodesi)

    @mastorofpuppetz

    And yet the crapbox is still crap with no games. $200 for a console with no HDD (unable to play features from popular games like Halo Reach and Forza 3 and completely crippled for DLC/game, movie download and streaming/HDD installs. I’d rather have a PS3 for $400, oh wait, it’s only $250…you get the point.

    Since when $250 + $250 equals $350?

    Not many people who are into consoles are also into portables and vice versa. If anything, a retailer may have some discount on the second system you buy if you buy both.

  • that sucks i got my second ps3 like 2 months ago for 350 but the 320 gb move bundle, good thing i got socom 4 for free but i would of preferred infamous 2 i also got a 20 dollar free gift card well it wasnt that bad of a deal lol

  • @123

    I never said release a 4GB PS3, reread what I posted, I said release a PS3 SKU with less than 160GB for $199.99. Everyone doesn’t buy a lot of games from PSN, or have movies on their HDD, or photos or whatever. Some people that would buy a console will just use to play games on it and some are casuals that just play casual games, a large HDD isn’t needed for everyone, just because you ran out of space doesn’t mean everyone does. Also, there would be three SKU’s, a sub 160GB one, a 160GB one and a 320GB, all for different prices, and people have the OPTION of buying the one that is best for them, for some people will benefit them more to buy the sub 160GB one and some the 160GB one and some the 320GB one.

    Sony isn’t the only good electronics company. I’m not a fanboy to anything because that is stupid, I buy what is best for me and speak the truth.

    @127

    The “Crapbox” actually has a lot of good games, just to clarify. The 4GB is for casuals and people that will just have game saves and nopt many DLC’s. At least those people have the option for a SKU that is better for them at a lower price. If the 4GB 360 was so crap than it wouldn’t outsell any PS3 SKU at $299.99+ wouldn’t it?

  • Sweet!

  • @129, I read what you said. I don’t want Sony to go lower, I want them to go higher. That was my point. They choose not to appeal to lowest common denominator, and I applaud that. That’s what makes them Sony.

    Yes, there are other good companies. People who couldn’t afford Sony tvs would have to buy Panasonic, back in the day. A good alternative, just not the best. Lucky for all of us, there are way more options today. That’s why you can be happy with your Other Console, and good on you for that.

    I prefer my choices.

  • @74, you are clueless, creed with guns? They are noithing alike. uncharted is this gens standard barer for Sp games for a reason…

  • @127 – Xbox has many good games, stop being a blind fanboy…. I like PS3 better but xbox is no slouch.

  • Sony needs a 199 ps3, arguing over what is better value is irrelevant, many dumb consumers only see the price and go with the cheapest. sony should have a 199 sku. It would own in sales then. PS3’s only issues has been its the most expensive console. Its the best value for sure, but many consumers are dumb quite frankly (Only seems to be in the US for some reason, easier brainwashed by marketing maybe?).

  • @134, you hit the nail on the head. It’s a US market thing. Why is there a Wall-mark, why is Boarders belly up, why are all our jobs going to other countries? Because we have to get the cheapest thing, not the best thing.

    I think $199 for the 160 is a smarter price, especially since I bought mine for that. The PS3 is the best value but many American consumers look at bottom line price, not value. That’s fine for them, I don’t begrudge that. But I do like having the best whenever I can afford it. As my parents taught me, you never regret getting the best.

  • @mastorofpuppetz

    Everything the crapbox has it’s also on PS3, minus what? 2 games? please. There’s really no reason to buy a crapbox except for having the same console as your buddies and play online (paying $50+ per year at that). $50 measly dollars make no difference in buying decisions when you consider the online fee. And then the PS3’s got all the other advantages starting with having like 20 or so 80-95 metascore exclusives and more coming. Really, if people want to be dumb consumers and go for the $50 piece of crap with 1999 DVD tech, then let them be.

  • @136, Marino: not to prolong a blog fight, but “1999 DVD tech”? LMAO.

    i am currently going thru all my DVD collection–which is extensive–and giving them away to friends, so I can have room in my bookshelf for the blu ray versions. What I tell them is “DVDs are for little people”. Yes, my friends hate me, but love me for my generosity. Amazon is having a blu ray sale right now. Going to pick up Bourne trilogy and Austin Powers trilogy.

  • @135

    Now you say you think a $199.99 160GB is a smarter price, but you just said what you said in earlier posts. Anyway, obviously it would be better for the 160GB to be 199.99 but if it’s going to be 249.99, shouldn’t Sony release a, let’s say 80GB for $199.99?

    @136

    The “Box” has many good exclusives and let’s not forget the great online features and apps it has the PS3 doesn’t, as well as the controller.

  • I just found out about the 30 day PS Plus membership with the 320GB inFAMOUS 2 bundle. That’s great! I think all PS3’s should come with that as well as a good enough headset wether wired or wireless.

  • @138, yes, 199 would be a smarter price for the 160 gig. I don’t want Sony to dumb down to get a larger piece of the market. Your original post, which is so far back now I’m too lazy to look, was about reducing gig for lower price. I say lower price for same gig, 160 entry level. I bought my new 160 for $199 so I would like everyone to have that opportunity.

    So, more for less, not less for less, is what I advocate.

    this is not directed at you, but I’m not going to get drawn into an other console debate. To each, his/her own. I have a Wii and a GameCube and will probably buy the Wii….U (dumbest name ever, taking the honor form “Wii”) because I love a very few of the big N games. Yes, I never use my big N consoles anymore, but that may change someday.

  • @SoleAddict23

    And vice versa…. you put it like the PS3 doesn’t have its share of online features and apps the crapbox lacks. And the controller thing is a completely subjective/preference thing.

  • wasn’t it in 2009 gamerscom that Sony also announced the PS3 Slim and the Price drop to $299? Seems like yesterday. But this news today is definitely good news! Hopefully a new SKU will be released…. U3 Bundle anyone?

  • Anyone know if the PS3 in the Infamous 2 bundle is the new CECH-3000 model or the old CECH-2500?

  • at this price point i might just get another ps3 a 320gb good news

  • @141

    Can you name some please?

    The box controller is better than the DS3 controller in some things and vice versa but the controller that wins in the feel in your hands and how easy and comfortable it is to press any buttons and box controllers wins.

  • love ps3 i still remember buying my first ps3 for 600 when it came out in craigslist.

  • this might mean good stuff for ps vita if this is 250 people will obviosly buy ps3 over vita so if playstation want to succeed on vita they would have to lower the price :) :D

  • I was considering a PS3 for the last year but was waiting for a price drop. I finally decided to get one a couple months ago after no announcement of a price drop at E3 2011. Then, a month and a half later, it gets a price reduction -_-

    HOWEVER, I am not sad because I bought my PS3 (slightly used) for $214.00 off Amazon (that great price is what made me tip the scales and invest). So in the end this is good news since it will (hopefully) make the PS3 community even larger!

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