That's for damn sure. :)

MS is desperate. They know what a PS3 price cut will do to their precious sales. What's more is that even if the 360 cuts it's price a $299 PS3 will still destroy it.

The 360 has been at a great price for a long time. It's the PS3 that'll get the bigger boom by going to a more reasonable price.

Like I said before alot of poeple waiting for this to happen PS2,Xbox

and the Wii people is waiting. When it happen alot of people going to

jump on this day one when it happen. PS2 people can get off that old

system, Xbox people can turn in all them broke system and some of

them have the PS3 already, Wii people is looking for a stronger

system and don't want to deal with Xbox and it Three Ring Circus so

they wait for a price cut to but a PS3.

This price cut is long overdue. Hopefully the holidays will pick up some momentum for them.

Either way, Microsoft will feel the heat when pricepoints are no longer in their favor, and it becomes anyone's game for hardware sales each month. I think when Sony can match MS's prices, MS becomes more irrelevant as the best bang for your buck. MS knows this, and I know that sounds bad, but the sales history of the PS3 at double 360's lowest price justifies that. Bluray hasn't gone anywhere either.

MS would be absolutely crazy to not respond to a PS3 slim release/$100.00 price drop. For competition's sake, I hope they drop the price of the elite, and phase out that junky arcade bundle.

the ps3 already costs in germany 275 euro + 2 games (bundled) and nothing here destroys the 360 so i would like to know where you got your information from:)!

And oh.. also in italy, france, portugal and skandinavia the ps3 80 GB cost 299 euro. In germany theres just a special offer with 2 games right now.

@ hellghan you little f a g .. it would be great for all ppl over the world also the poor one to get a console for the price of a game! Its just a shame to see a console for 299 euro (PS3) selling worse as 3 years ago for 599 euro... so?

The Arcade is a useful system for those who want to replace their broken 360 not covered by the warranty and don't trust Microsoft to repair the problem or might think its worth paying that bit extra for the updated hardware in the newer versions of the console.

None of the prices you listed have been taken in to action yet you dumbass idiot and none of them are Slim bundles.

The PS3 Slim just like the PS2 slim will make a real effect.

Just go and cry over there ------>> BotsCryingOverSlimPS3BeatingTh e360InSales Zone of here

WXER your point is??

"This was a tragic move by Microsoft as the Arcade should be the one to bite the dust and then have the Pro drop to $299 considering most people who have the Arcade suffer from buyers remorse."

I was aware the Pro WAS $299.99...

People like buying things with more options included in the package PERIOD!

how can you they took not in action when i live in germany and the offer comes in TV ads by media-markt??

ITS 339 euro + 2 games - 19% TAX.. its an special offer right now like i said.
= 275 euro!

And other countries like portugal, italy, spain and so on offer the 80 GB model for 299 euro without games.

But still 299 euro is like 299 USD in the USA. Same was with the release of the PS3.. it cost 599 USD in the USA and 599euro in Europe.

Its not a sony price cut but stores sell it for 299.

http://www.gameswelt.de/new...

Wow MS really is desperate:O Acivision is planning to drop their failed 3rd place console, they are on the verge of going bankrupt, 360 is in 3rd place and generating massive losses, 3rd parties are largely immigrating to ps3 exclusively, their 1st party games arent selling so they OBVIOUSLY need to frop the price DUUUH!!! Poor xbbutz lolol, they must feel shame to their poor company of choice ahHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!

Oh wait OLOLOLOLOLOL

Ahh the rage, the sweet bitter Sfag rage:) They were so happy with the thought of pos3 finally outselling 360 just for little while yet MS dropped the bomb before slim was even announced. Poor things, must be weeping day and night:(

http://www.gameswelt.de/new...

Saturn and media-markets lowerd the price in germany from 399 to 299 euro since JULY!! Other european countries followed!

and now media markt made a special offer for 275 euro + 2 games!

So dont tell me its fake you idiot from 10000 miles away!!

I think you disagree cause its the frustration that the console costs her since 1 month 299 euro and still it sells the same.. ouch!

the arcade was the biggest mistake ms ever made it has split the 360 market and condemned arcade users into not knowing the benefits of a hd.

So if the stores do sell it for cheaper then that means that when Sony officially launch the PS3 Slim with a price tag of 300 euros then the stores that you're talking about will just make it even more cheaper then 275 euros. But if it's always been 275 Euros in Germany then that means the selling point is lower then that which means the Slim will launch at 230 euros or even less then that.

But that's not the point everyone wants a SLIM PS3 and thats why it's probably still selling the same in Germany because everyone is now waiting for the Slim PS3 to launch. UK wants it, America wants it, Japan wants it and many other countries want it so of course it'll make an impact and here in the UK it'll definitely make a really really big impact just like the PS2 slim did.

I don't think free3sixty knows how the currency works lol

the 360 is already cheap. but like a bachelor party stripper its goin down again

Elroy Jetson

as soon as the prices are the same MS will only sell consoles to those that need a replacement for a dead 1. If you could get a 120 gig PS3 or a 120 gig 360 for 299 the choice is simple. Most would get the PS3 because of what else you get for the same price, built in Wifi ( add another 75-100 for the 360 ) free online play ( add another 50 for the 360 ) a Bluray player ( add another 199 MS doesn't have anything to offer you here ) more and better exclusives on the PS3 and a system that has a much better failure rate then the 360.

So why would anyone buy a 360 if they were the same price? to get the same as a PS3 would cost you well over 500 bucks if you went with a 360 when the PS3 price drops.

a LOT of Playstation 2 owners have been waiting for the PS3 to drop to $299.

on another note, the Japanese don't like big video game consoles. the PS3 is a monstrously large console.

the PS3 slim, at $299 (i don't know the yen equivalent) would absolutely FLY off of the shelves in Japan alone.

the few of my friends that don't already have a PS3 are simply waiting for that price drop before they pick on up.

even the folks at work are waiting (i work at Activision - i know, don't judge me!)for a price drop as well.

the funny thing is, a large number of people WANT a PS3, but it's current price is a barrier.

$300, while still a barrier, is a much easier barrier to swallow than $400, that's for sure.

i've been planning on buying my wife her own PS3, and if the slim is coming, and at $300, i may have to do just that.

Since they made such a tradeoff and wasn't willing to lower the Pro's price, instead lowering the price of the Elite, I think Microsoft's at it's limit of lowering the price for a while... until they hit some profit mark, I reckon.

In that case, the deciding factor would be what one wants. If they already have a 360 they'll go for a PS3 and vice-versa, or they'll buy the console which their friends are playing to join them. I don't think price would be a factor in this case.

However, many have yet to get themselves a PS3 strictly because price was the one factor restricting them from making a purchase, but now it'll come down to taste.

Believe those out of stock dates. They are just a guess. I use to work at best buy and I always had to look at the screen becuase i worked in the warehouse.

Sony can pull the plug on the 160 gig whenever they feel like and best buy's system will update accordingly. As an employee it wasn't that reliable at all to follow those dates.

I suggested people not put so much tentativeness of the date in those pics. Like I said, Sony can pull the plug whenever they want.

Get your facts straight. In most retailers from Portugal, Spain, France and Italy the PS3 still goes for 399euros. Sure some retailers might have it cheaper or one time offers; and even this monday there was some news going that the prices in countries like Portugal had gone down to 299euros. But I just checked retailers from Portugal and the price seems to be back up to 399euros.

Stop using your 360 fanboyism, and face the fact that there is more ppl out there wanting to get the PS3; and a pricecut and a slim will make more ppl buy the console. Obvious stuff.

I agree that the best move would be to eliminate the Arcade and drop the price of the Pro to the Arcade price. It only makes sense.

Desperate? Not at all. Clever? Absolutely.

Two consoles which do nearly exactly the same things yet one of them is cheaper than the other, which one are you going to buy? Like I have said alot on N4G, if Sony decides to do another price cut then they will lose BILLIONS due to the pricing imbalance. I really don't know why anyone mentions this.

Pricing the PlayStation 3 below its production cost caused Sony to lose $2.16 billion in 2007 and $1.16 billion in 2008. What do you think would happen in 2009 if they decide to do another price cut? If they decide to do it then 'that' will be an act of desperate to fend off Microsoft. Where they will leave themselves naked in front of Microsoft.

Looks like the jokes on you Playstation Loons. That's irony. =)

if i need another xbox i just slap my old hdd on the new arcade model

If both of them is going to be $299.99 which one you going to buy?

PS3? OR Xbox?
(Agree)-(Disagree)

You Choose?

I know do you?

I have the original Arcade. Bought it 3 days before release date. thanks you gamestop.

that 256 MB memory card lasted me 6 months, then I got the 20GB, and then about a year and a half after that. I bought the 120GB. really. I love the arcade. when it came out it was the only thing besides the Elite that had HDMI.. most people didn't know that. And still don't know that.

well... judging from the fact that you guys are reading up news n such on a video game website would lead me to believe that you are more than just casual vidjea game peoples..

There in lies my point. The arcade system isn't exactly geared towards the demographic of hardcore gamers .. it's made for 7 year old johhny Q douchebag to play pokemon occasionally on weekends n stuff; also for his waitress working mom's boyfriend to have a dvd player when he comes over to rail johnny's mom.

Is the arcade for me? Hell to the no. Is it for some of you? Meh, possibly but i wouldn't bet anything on it.. not an intelligent business move, but as far as i'm concerned for johnny and his mommy.. a necessary one.

this is a stupid f*cking post !!!

the pro is already $300 and the arcade is $200 also elite is $400 .

Anyone ever heard of a warranty ?

$100 every 2 years ! Dughgh

But, I know how most of you F*CK HEADS are, you like to buy a console every years and flush your money down the toilet .

I agree, when I was in the process of buying a next gen console a while ago I asked everyone that I knew who owned a ps3 if they regretted buying it and they said they did not, and that it was worth every penny that they payed for it. I then did my research and tested all 3 consoles out. Then I thought about all 3 console prices and what they had to offer for their price. Here is my conclusion: Nintendo: motion controllers are not very accurate and buggy, being a gamer for 20 years my tastes lean mostly to the hardcore type games(90%) but still like other games(10%) to some degree and the wii seriously lacks in this department, even though the nes is one of my favorite consoles I will have to pass on the wii this console generation. Microsoft: The xbox 360 was initially at first thought/glance the most economical out of the 2 high-end consoles, it has a decent library of games and to my guess a good online service, it is strong in the third party games department but lacks a lot in the first party games department. But the inexcusable hardware failure rate of the xbox360(which still remains to be remedied since its introduction 4 years ago), that and the deceptive marketing nature for the xbox360 by nickle and dime-ing their costumers eventually resulting in the console itself costing more than its other high-end console competitor the ps3, and also the arrogance(among other personal reasons) of the company itself leaves a bad taste in my mouth and mind, I will have to pass on the xbox 360 this console generation. Sony: The Ps3 is expensive and has some flaws but those minor flaws are overshadowed by the benefits- in English the system itself gives you more bang for your buck than the latter 2: wifi, play games for free online, web browser, superb first-class quality first party games and for the most part good third party games(currently),not to mention great exclusives that are coming in the future. these are just some of the benefits to owning a ps3. There are some flaws like I stated earlier like mainly: the inability to play your own music in any game that you are playing, and constantly having to press the "ps" button on your controller every time that you want to play a game(though it is only a minor flaw and is bearable considering the benefit). Sony might have been a little arrogant coming into this console generation at first but I think that they have learned their lesson and are now just beginning to deliver the goods in the games department. At the end of the day I am very satisfied with my metal gear solid 4 bundle ps3(which is backwards compatible with ps1 and ps2 games)which I think is worth every penny that I payed for it. And lastly I dont care about npd sales, console wars, or fanboys or any other nonsense like that,I am a veteran gamer and have always enjoyed video games since I was young(4 years old, I am now 24) and will continue to enjoy them.

microsoft has arcade for 199 right? even tho is piece of crap!! they can always say starting 199.. get me? that price tag is there only to attract consumer into believing all 360s are like that!!

The reason Ms have phased out the xbpx360 pro and brought the elite down is because there is a new SDK coming out, xbox+ is the slim model,
Every body should be able to work this out by now, And you might be able to use your own HDD on this model as well so will see,

sony should put patent on slim game consoles prior to be fat then slim.lol

Attempts always backfire!

God MS is being really harsh with prices on sony.

It just goes to show that MS are worried about the ps3 taking market share. When you think about how well the ps4 has kept up in monthly sales despite being so much more expensive, a price drop could really change things for MS...

Now that Jim Ryan is gone just need to remove Herman Hulst from his position! And maybe give Shuhei the position he deserved.

This gen hasn't been the best for games, last gen consoles are still out there and now there's been talk of the PS6 and Xbox Two for a year or so. Many games this gen will be ported to next gen and the cycle will continue. The re-release of the Neo Geo AES+, games on cartridge for £70 ($95), gaming is going back in time. Gaming has gone pricing mad with the high cost of games, consoles and controllers. The men and women at the top are clueless.

It’s always interesting to hear behind-the-scenes stories like this, especially involving veterans like Shuhei Yoshida and leadership figures like Jim Ryan. That said, there are usually multiple sides to decisions at that level. It could be less about not “listening” and more about differences in long-term vision for PlayStation. Yoshida played a huge role in shaping the brand, so whatever the reason, his impact is undeniable.

If true, and I'm inclined to believe it is, it goes to show that Sony lost their way when they became more western/didn't respect the PlayStation origin story. Andrew House and Jack Tretton did great work, but they also didn't try to fundamentally change the PlayStation DNA. Ryan oversaw the death of Japan Studio and a live service direction.

I already figured this, good lord imagine if Shuhei took over instead, would've been a platinum era 😩

I miss the first three generations of PlayStation. The way they turned PS3 around, we knew they meant business. We were all worried for a bit there around launch. Eventually from 2008 they started shifting slowly. But since Yoshida was fired, it's never been the same. Still enjoy my PS5 daily. I got a backlog dating back to PS2 lol So I'm fine but new games aren't as appealing anymore.

It seems like we were thrown on to the worst timeline possible where everything is too expensive and the wrong people were put in positions that makes the world a shitty place. We could have had Shu as the head of PS but we got the shitty alternative. Same goes for everyone in power around the world. Doesn’t matter the company or country the majority of us got the shitty picks and the world is declining like never before. I do think PS can come out of this because of their studios, talent and IP but they need someone more in touch with gamers leading things like Shu was. They’re still the best place for console gaming imo but it could be much better than it is especially without the massive live service failures. The rest of the world I have a lot less hope for right now. Hopefully the pendulum swings back towards the good ole days but I’m preparing for the worst.

There goes illuminati distraction story

So now there's certifiable proof that Ryan was in fact "fired", as opposed to when it was first announced that he "retired", in order to save face.

There's another guy who recently "retired" as CEO of another large gaming company, after doing a dismantling job as lead for well over a decade.

seems legit, the business man, fires the one who has ideas to move the business forward.

Jim Ryan is the reason why we are entering year 6 since the PS5 launch and many of us don't feel like the PS5 has gotten started as yet.

I hope going forward, we will see a return to form.