Sony to offer free hardware - maintains PlayStation 2 price point
Microsoft price hack to be fought with product as value perception shows SCE’s future targets.
Talking to assembled press in Tokyo this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment director and key PlayStation 3 strategist Kenichi Fukunaga hinted that Sony may well start offering free hardware bundled with PlayStation 2.
One package possibility mentioned was a PlayStation 2 with broadband/modem adapter and hard drive, to be offered at the current RRP of the stand-alone machine. Fukunaga stated that simply dropping the initial outlay for hardware undermines the consumer base’s perceived value of videogames hardware, a model that is not sustainable for future projects.
He also mentioned that the roll-out of such bundles will see a trial run via Sony’s online store.
“By taking advantage of lower production costs in China and selling hardware through our Internet store, we plan to offer special added value hardware packages,” he said. “These bundles will be sold at the existing price of the PlayStation 2 but will include added items such as the Network Adapter. The possibility of packaging popular software titles is also being considered.”
Similar schemes are expected to hit the US and Europe later this year.
One package possibility mentioned was a PlayStation 2 with broadband/modem adapter and hard drive, to be offered at the current RRP of the stand-alone machine. Fukunaga stated that simply dropping the initial outlay for hardware undermines the consumer base’s perceived value of videogames hardware, a model that is not sustainable for future projects.
He also mentioned that the roll-out of such bundles will see a trial run via Sony’s online store.
“By taking advantage of lower production costs in China and selling hardware through our Internet store, we plan to offer special added value hardware packages,” he said. “These bundles will be sold at the existing price of the PlayStation 2 but will include added items such as the Network Adapter. The possibility of packaging popular software titles is also being considered.”
Similar schemes are expected to hit the US and Europe later this year.
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