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Will the PS4 cost $400?

Did Japanese newspaper suggest $400 price tag on Sony's upcoming console?

The reports swirling around suggest that Japanese newspaper, Asahi News, priced the PS4 console at $400. However, as Kotaku pointed out, the report only stated that the console was expected to sell for more than ¥40,000, which converts to about $427.



The PS3, when it launched, cost ¥60,000 in Japan, and $499-$599 in the United States based on the HDD space. Heading into the holiday season - when the PS4 is expected to ship in North America - with a price tag of $400 would be very interesting, but that's not what the Japanese report said.

Instead, it seems to have just been speculation that was lost in translation and became just another leaked detail about the PS4.

We are unlikely to know what the PS4 will cost for some time yet, even if most details are given at the event on February 20, as there is a big difference between producing early development models, and producing for the mass market.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 7 Feb 2013 17:27

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• 6 comments

• Mysttic

  If they implement their DRM patent on the PS4, they will run into the same fight MS is about to have with their next gen console. I really hope Kaz thought about his consumers first when it comes to the 20th announcement.

  7.2.2013 18:24 #1

• Interestx

  The Wii U has made sure $600/£425 is not happening again.....and the new Xbox similarly will not be able to command a high launch price.
  I'd expect prices to stay higher than they might tho as they attempt to get a return on the R&D much sooner than has been the case this gen (especially if Sony given their financial state).
  
  As for the claims about 2nd hand games/DRM?
  Last I heard that can't happen in Europe thanks to EU rulings.....and there's no way I can see Microsoft doing anything to hurt a repeat of their US success.
  
  A handful of game companies might try it out (& I bet EA is one of them itching to try it out on a couple of titles.....until the protests hit their pockets hard) but there's no way I can see it being a typical situation.
  

  8.2.2013 03:25 #2

• Mr-Movies

  Sony is experiencing big problems just trying to sell their new Vita and they didn't exactly do well with PS3's, like they did with the PS2, so they might want to price lower then $400 to compete with the Wii U and get their customer base back, which will draw more software companies back to them, win-win.
  

  8.2.2013 09:27 #3

• SoTired

  I don't care what the PS4 costs. Sony's anti-consumer policies in the name of fighting piracy have been so Draconian that I'll never buy another Sony product.

  8.2.2013 12:24 #4

• Interestx

  Originally posted by Mr-Movies: Sony is experiencing big problems just trying to sell their new Vita and they didn't exactly do well with PS3's, like they did with the PS2, so they might want to price lower then $400 to compete with the Wii U and get their customer base back, which will draw more software companies back to them, win-win. Given the vast multi-billion $ losses Sony have been making over the last 5yrs the last thing they need is a repeat of PS3 (where they make no money out of it until it is in its final years & the margins are slim on a much lower price).
  
  That is to say they made no money out of it in terms of paying back the R&D (esp the Blu-ray side of things) costs but now make a small margin on each sold.
  That's a disaster.
  Just as Vita is turning into another difficult one for them.
  
  Some Sony fans point to Xbox having a net cost to Microsoft of about $4 billion (still).
  But Microsoft make more post-tax profit than that in less than 1 quarter.
  
  If they have to launch at the usual initial loss making price greater than expected (thanks to Wii U) - even with the cheaper rumoured 'off the shelf' components - that is hardly any kind of win for them.
  
  PS4 may indeed turn out to be the rumoured 'last Playstation'.....and if the rumours of its spec are true it's not exactly going to out (if it does) with a bang.
  I think that's a pity.
  

  8.2.2013 12:45 #5

• Tarsellis

  Originally posted by SoTired: I don't care what the PS4 costs. Sony's anti-consumer policies in the name of fighting piracy have been so Draconian that I'll never buy another Sony product. ++1 !!!!!!!!

  8.2.2013 15:58 #6