BERLIN (Reuters) - Sony Corp does not plan to announce price cuts to its flagship PlayStation 3 games console at Europe's biggest video games fair in Leipzig, Germany next week, a company spokesman said on Friday.
"It's not going to happen. If you're coming for that you'll be disappointed," Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Nick Caplin said.
In the 12 months ending March 31, Sony sold 9.24 million units, below its initial estimates of 11 million sales.
But in an interview with Reuters on July 16, the company's video game chief said the firm was on track for the current year's target of 10 million sales.
Cuts to the Playstation 3's original high price have helped boost its fortunes in Sony's three-way battle with Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Co Ltd in the global video game industry.
Sony ruled the video game industry for about a decade from the mid-1990s with its original PlayStation and PlayStation 2.
In the current console cycle, Sony has found itself in an unfamiliar position, trailing Nintendo's Wii and competing neck and neck with Microsoft's Xbox 360 for second place in monthly sales in the United States.
The Leipzig games fair runs from August 20-22.
August 18, 2008 at 3:22 PM
When you take into account worldwide sales I believe the PS3 is doing better than the 360, but there is definitely a very competitive landscape going on in the U.S.
If you have yet to buy any of the 2 systems, you should check out this Stacker 2 going on where you design a 6 Hour Power t-shirt. If you win you get the system of your choice, along with a copy of the game Rise of the Argonauts, 10 t-shirts with your design on it, and a year's supply of 6 Hour Power energy shots. There are less than 170 entrants so far so there is a decent chance of winning. For the contest details go here: http://www.brickfish.com/Entertainment/Stacker2?tab=overview
Let me know if you have any questions. If you enter, send me an e-mail and I'll be glad to vote for your design. Good luck!
Franklin Keane
www.6hrpower.com
Franklin6hrpower@gmail.com