The folks over in Redmond are playing price limbo with the Xbox One, and that puts Sony in a precarious position. Having already smashed September sales records with its Destiny bundle, the platform holder doesn’t necessarily need to price the PlayStation 4 any lower – but it suddenly finds itself with the most expensive console on the market in North America, and may need to react as a result.
This is something that it’s been doing in the UK for months now, matching Microsoft at every move – but there’s been no sign of a response to its competitor’s temporary price promotions overseas. However, a leaked Black Friday bundle suggests that the Japanese giant may not be rolling over after all, as it’s readying an online exclusive door buster with Dell, which will see you nab a 500GB console, a copy of Grand Theft Auto V, and The Last of Us: Remastered for $399.99.
While the miserable among you may be eager to point and laugh at the presence of two PlayStation 3 re-releases, this is an impressive deal – especially when you consider that, like it or not, these are likely to end up the two highest rated releases of the year. And with this deal not set to go into effect until 27th November, there’s plenty of time for comparable options to be announced. The price war is only just getting started.
[source bfads.net]
Comments 23
GTA V would be a smart move, best way to try and win a sales battle is to align your console with Rockstar's biggest property.
this is a pretty good deal I'll buy it if I was in the U.S.
399.99 which would be £250 in the UK. We're seeing price drops here because they know we've been overcharged since launch, pretty pathetic really. I guess NA can quit the whining about the EU/UK getting all the best deals now. I'm assuming though that it doesn't include tax, still craps on UK prices though.
Great games pity they're just last gen ports though.
They have to do something. So much is about momentum. It is not that they need to the sales etc, it is that they do not want to give MS a foot in the door. They need to be unrelenting to win, and therefore, they should price match. Why sit back and give MS a foothold, from where to start a rebuild. I wouldn't.
It will appeal to new customers I'm sure, most ps3 owners will have played TLOU and most 360 owners will have played GTAV. They need to release a PS Bundle, with Knack, Shadowfall, Infamous, TLOU, Driveclub and LBP 3. In time for crimbo me thinks.
Not interested on GTAV and I already have TLOU on PS3, so I will pass.
GTAV will be the entry point for so many to go next gen. When you spend good money on a console, you need something that you know you'll enjoy and can put a lot of time into it to make the most out of it early & what better then GTA?
"finds itself with the most expensive console on the market in North America, "
Now that wasnt so hard, was it? Well said.
"miserable among you"
Very pre-emptive of you, but it seems to be lost on almost everyone
Nov 27 is Thursday, not Friday, but evetybody will refer to it as a BF sale anyway, just an FYI.
Dell? Most Americans probably think Dell is bankrupt, Sony better find other outlets for its console. Gamers will find these deals anywhere though. CAG traffic must quadruple this time of year.
I still havent played either of these but Im still holding out on PS4 until after Zelda U. Knowing Sony these 2 games will be on PS3 PS+ early next year
In my opinion it's always better to make your console the cheapest, without any games or accessories bundled. It's nice to have that option, but people react to low prices way better than they react to bundles. If a standalone PS4 would be on the shelves for $299 and the One AC bundle for $349 the latter is arguably the better deal, not taking console preferences on account, but people will be more likely to pick the cheaper one. But as you know, can't do anything with a ps4 alone, so mommy buys an extra controller, 2 games, ps+ Subscription and maybe a camera.... Just by offering the best deal moneywise, you don't just attract more customers, I actually believe you get them to spend more: the unexpected scarcity of the PS camera in the beginning of this gen kind of proves that. Xbox owners were forced to buy it bundles and didn't want it, ps4 buyers were persuaded into buying one because they had "the best deal" anyway.
please watch the language -Tasuki-
@Boerewors I could not disagree more. The gamers that are fickle enough that they follow the lowest price, rather than factors such as game selection, ecosystem, etc..., are gamers that either cannot afford this hobby (and thusly cannot afford to buy many new games) or gamers that have no control over the purchases (kids that have their parents get them a console). In either case, they are not very good revenue streams for the platform holder, or game developers in general, so pandering to them by lowering your price, is a bad move.
Not to mention that if price were such a big issue, the WiiU would have sold like hot cakes.
$399.99 is still not (X1)$349.99 so i am still not sure if SONY will win Nov + Dec in the US.of.A
It's worth noting that Dell is also selling the Xbox Assassin's Creed bundle for $329.99... it comes with AC: Black Flag and AC: Unity.
@thedevilsjester
I feel most gamers have already made up their mind, although they may not have switched yet, and it really boils down to the battle for the casual gamer/ soccer mom. The Wii U would have done a lot better is those type of gamers would realize there is a differnce with the original Wii. I actually bought 3 Wii Us today to send back home and I asked the girl behind the counter if they weren't selling like mad with these prices ($180 with a controller and 2 games) and she literally said: I think that's a lot of money for such an big tablet. That is the same girl that has to inform people about their choice of console.
I think price is a huge factor, but of course I'm not sure. I just notice that the One is gaining momentum now, and I hardly hear anyone talking about halo MCC, so I figured it must be the price cut.
@Boerewors the point is that the casual gamer and soccer mom are not going to be revenue streams for Sony or Microsoft because they don't buy enough games to make the loss worth it. If they still sold the units at a profit even on sale, then those sales would matter, but they wouldn't so the sales actually hurt the bottom line, not help it. A few years down the road when the units are much cheaper to make, is a different story.
As for the WiiU the reason I think most casual gamers and soccer mom's are not upgrading is that those people don't care about hardware specs so why would they upgrade their hardware when the Wii still works great for them?
@Bad-MuthaAdebis I agree. This seems to be an entry point for those who want the new systems. Although personally I'd like to see that PS bundle idea just because I'm tired of seeing mostly last gen releases.
So this isn't coming till Nov. 27, eh? That's my girlfriend's birthday. Oh decisions, decisions......
@thedevilsjester
Excellent point! Didn't even consider the attach rate. The casual gamers I know usually go out and buy a brand new console with all extras and accessories, but don't buy a lot a games in the years that follow like you said. I think Sony is at a point where they make a decent profit on their ps4s, but their choice for this type of internal memory (excellent one might I add) is eating away profit...prices aren't falling as fast as for other components.
I said it before: I would not know what I would do if I had to call the shots this holiday season. I keep on thinking a price cut could mean the knockout punch, but seeing the state where Sony is in I'm not sure who it will knock out :S
Wow, you're really giving me 2 old games, one with 2 releases and the other that's got 3 releases, while xbox is gonna give me a new triple a game and the price is cheaper,hmmmmm.... Which one should I buy, way to screw the pooch Sony, you jack legs
Buraku Furaidei Banduru!
Although that bundle sounds like a great deal, it is just ports, especially GTAV.
That's an amazing deal, though hopefully someone will be selling the bundle for $350 NEW or cheaper somewhere on the internet or inside stores.
@Gamer83 GTA V was last year
@artemisthemp
Really? Didn't know that when I playing it on my PS3 in Sept. 2013.... It's still a big release for the PS4/X1 this holiday.
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