Sony Finally Turning a Profit On PS3s 117
When the PS3 launched in 2006, estimates pegged the price of producing the consoles to be as much as $250 more than the price at which they were sold. Production costs have dropped since then, but there have been several price cuts as well. Now, almost four years later, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida says they're finally turning a profit on the hardware.
"This year is the first time that we are able to cover the cost of the PlayStation 3,' Yoshida said. 'We aren't making huge money from hardware, but we aren't bleeding like we used to.' In May, Sony began shipping new PlayStation 3 consoles with smaller and more cost-effective graphics chips. Now, Yoshida said, Sony is looking at replenishing retail stock that has been running on empty since January rather than cutting the price. 'When we bring the cost of hardware down, we are looking at opportunities to adjust prices if we believe that will increase demand,' he explained. 'At the moment, we are trying to catch up our production.'"
Nintendo says... (Score:5, Funny)
"What's that?! Speak up! I can't hear you from this giant pool of money I'm swimming like Scrooge McDuck!"
And just in time! (Score:5, Funny)
Now, they can start not making a profit again when they ship Move!
Re:Why cut prices? (Score:2, Funny)
The empty shelves claim again, Sony? Really? (Score:3, Funny)
Good job Sony! (Score:2, Funny)
Dear Sony (I know your a shiver corporate hivemind is lurking here)
Like to topic says, good job and congratulations on finally turning a profit on your product!
You only had to alienate a large section of your customers and potential customers. Hell you even managed to piss off The USAF, so that's something at least.
Unfortunately, they had to cut a few features (Score:2, Funny)
To make this profit, though, Sony had to cut a few features from consoles (retroactively for already-sold ones as well, unfortunately):
* Linux can't be used anymore (we already know about this one)
* Blu-ray playback now includes commercials every 15 minutes
* When connected to the Internet, you must allow it to be a node in a botnet, or online play will be disabled
* To save cost, gaphics are now displayed as in The Matrix, but they say you'll quickly be able to see everything in 3D with some practice