An analyst firm has warned that the price of the future Playstation 3 console could be as high as $500 (£275), due to its expected added media features. Industry analysts Michael Pachter and Edward Woo, who authored the Wedbrush Morgan Securities report, reckon that Sony will try to flog the PS3 off with way more functionality than current consoles, including among others digital video recorder, or DVR and a DVD burner.
According to the report, by late 2006 – currently accepted as the earliest possible launch date for the PS3 – all of the system's extra features will cost about $250 to include, which will in turn lead to a $500 price tag.
Another possibility is that Sony will release several variations of the console, including a minimalist version that will be designed purely as a games console. If they do this, users will be able to choose between the "regular" games system and the more pricey media centre. It's nice to see that Sony will be releasing a purely games console, because the companies save Nintendo seem to be getting far too wrapped up in "media centres" and are forgetting about the games.
In related news, Microsoft has spoken out against rumours of its Xbox 2 system having no backwards compatibility. However, in its statement Microsoft did not deny the rumours. If Microsoft wants to compete with the PS3, having backwards compatibility would be advisable – after all, one Xbox in the living room takes up quite enough space. Imagine two of them.
Story source:
theinquirer.net.
