Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is saying that Georges Fornay’s comments about the expected price of the PlayStation 3 were “misinterpreted.”
It was reported earlier today that Fornay said the console would launch with a price that’s well above the going rate for an Xbox 360. In fact, Fornay’s comments on French radio led to the belief the console would launch for a price of more than $600 USD or 499 to 599 Euros.
The idea that Fornay's mention of 499 to 599 Euro price ranges was an indication of the PS3's price point is "a mistranslation or misunderstanding of the discussion, which was actually focused on the relative value of PS3 as a Bluray Disc player," according to SCEE corporate communications director Nick Sharples.
The SCE France boss' discussion of the pricing on French radio station Europe 1 was focused on the fact that the PS3 would be priced very competitively compared to other Bluray products if it were to emerge at $500, but that this price point is well above the range of other game console products, according to Sharples.
"Mr Fornay explained that, with BD and HD functionality, PS3 at this price would be cheap for such functionality, but that current video games machines were significantly below this price," Sharples told GamesIndustry.biz.
Games Industry
No actual price range was given out during the back-pedal maneuvers, but a lot of speculation is flying around that suggests Fornay’s comments are probably closer to the mark than Sony wants to admit. Only time will tell what the real price tag will be, but regardless, if Sony runs into the problems Microsoft did at launch, the retail price and what gamers end up paying for the console could be two very different things.
Related:
PS3 Price Rumors Have Console At $600-Plus
PS3 Finally Has A Release Date
Blu Ray to Blame for "Expensive" PS3?
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