bingo83
15/Apr/07, 05:03 PM
Next-gen.biz reports that the $499 20GB PS3 is to be discontinued in the US as the 60GB machine has proved to be by far the most popular choice with gamers.
“This is based purely on consumer and retailer demand, which favoured the $599 60GB model ten to one,” SCEA PR boss David Karraker told Next-gen. He added that the decision “Supports the notion that consumers are willing to pay more for advanced technology in a gaming console.”
Karraker moved to re-assure existing 20GB PS3 owners – and even took a swipe at rival Microsoft.
“Current 20GB consumers will still be 100 per cent supported with software and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture (unlike if MS were to stop selling their Core system, which would allow publishers to actually use their hard drive for gaming purposes, leaving the Core user out in the cold).”
And still sell it in Japan
No plans for Far East territory to drop lower-end SKU.
Sony has told Famitsu.com that it is not going to discontinue the 20GB model of PS3 in Japan, after it dropped the console from the North American market.
"We're currently not considering changes akin to North America. However we would like to react flexibly with the market," said a Sony representative, according to an IGN translation.
The news comes after SCEA PR boss Dave Karraker revealed that the platform holder was not going to continue to sell the $499 20GB PS3 in North America.
In February, major UK games retailers told MCV that they were keen for Sony to release the model in this territory.
Sony has said that the decision to only launch in the UK with a 60Gb model only was down to “retail and consumer demand”.
Seems a bit of a surprise move for Sony, I would have thought that it would have given it more than 6 months in the US of A.
“This is based purely on consumer and retailer demand, which favoured the $599 60GB model ten to one,” SCEA PR boss David Karraker told Next-gen. He added that the decision “Supports the notion that consumers are willing to pay more for advanced technology in a gaming console.”
Karraker moved to re-assure existing 20GB PS3 owners – and even took a swipe at rival Microsoft.
“Current 20GB consumers will still be 100 per cent supported with software and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture (unlike if MS were to stop selling their Core system, which would allow publishers to actually use their hard drive for gaming purposes, leaving the Core user out in the cold).”
And still sell it in Japan
No plans for Far East territory to drop lower-end SKU.
Sony has told Famitsu.com that it is not going to discontinue the 20GB model of PS3 in Japan, after it dropped the console from the North American market.
"We're currently not considering changes akin to North America. However we would like to react flexibly with the market," said a Sony representative, according to an IGN translation.
The news comes after SCEA PR boss Dave Karraker revealed that the platform holder was not going to continue to sell the $499 20GB PS3 in North America.
In February, major UK games retailers told MCV that they were keen for Sony to release the model in this territory.
Sony has said that the decision to only launch in the UK with a 60Gb model only was down to “retail and consumer demand”.
Seems a bit of a surprise move for Sony, I would have thought that it would have given it more than 6 months in the US of A.