EB Games Rumor: PS3 Price Drop Set For Next Week

We can't count how many times Sony has had to shoot down PlayStation 3 price cut rumors. However, be prepared for another denial shortly...or, if magic happens, a confirmation.

It seems an EB Games employee has some inside knowledge, and he let it slip to a customer. According to 2Old2Play, one of their community members was in an EB Games, where he heard that Sony was preparing to issue a price drop for March 22, just in time for the Game Developers Conference (that's only five days away, people). The price of the standard 80GB PS3 would be dropped $100 down to $299, and Sony will provide journalists with an official press release this coming Saturday. Now, for the record, we contacted three GameStops in our area and none of them had heard anything about this; most just said to wait until E3 and maybe we'll get an announcement then. Therefore, we get the feeling that this employee may be spewing forth a load of nonsense...EB/GameStop workers have been known to do that, in our experience. It just seems far too early for a price drop, and when we compare it to everything Sony has said in the past few months, it just seems like a very remote possibility. But you never know. Maybe the recession has really forced Sony's hand, and instead of waiting it out with the current price point, they're going to move.

We still call foul on this one, though. Something just doesn't fit. Sony was only recently able to drop the manufacturing costs down to about $445/machine, which means they're only losing about $45 on each unit sold. They'll continue to drop those costs, but would they really want to start losing $145 in a bad economy...?

3/17/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (62 posts)

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rell
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:00:52 AM
Reply

Yeah that would be awesome, but I got to hear it from the horses head.

0 up, 0 down

Riku994
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:02:06 AM
Reply

This is crap. The guy deinitely has no idea what hes talking about.

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Cpt_Geez
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:26:34 AM

Yeah this that guy from EB Games is an idiot.

1 up, 0 down

Jordahn
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:03:56 AM
Reply

I'm all for a pricedrop.

0 up, 0 down

shindelion
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:11:11 AM
Reply

If this is true, the PS3 will sell fast like a Tonnie Tuesday whore on boxing day.

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slugga_status
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:11:38 AM
Reply

I highly doubt a price drop any time soon. Sounds like this employee better get his info straight. I could've swore Sony just shot down a price cut rumor last week or something like that

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Troy Powers
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:14:45 AM
Reply

This rumor is true. The price is dropping to $299. It will also come with a 160 GB hard drive and a pill that will make your penis grow 3 inches overnight. You heard it here first!

4 up, 1 down

VinTheDean
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:26:42 AM

Love it.

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Reynono
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:36:47 AM

I heard the same from the EBGames in the Land of Wizards And Trolls!!!

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rell
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:09:22 PM

@Troy Powers u are hilarious.

0 up, 1 down

SarahPalinMILF
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 2:19:19 PM

...i think i might just buy 2 more ps3's...lol

1 up, 0 down

Orvisman
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 7:19:13 PM

Damn! Now everyone knows why I have two PS3s.

Thanks Troy!

LOL

2 up, 1 down

Sir Shak
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:21:09 AM
Reply

Bogus.....

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Gone
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:25:42 AM
Reply

Sony is going to discontinue the 80 GIG and make the 160 GIG the core system. I have noticed a lot of stores offering deals on the 80 GIG to push it out the door. If Sony drops it to $299, that is Sony's way of giving the 80 GIG the last push out the door for good. Just look at how they handled the 40 GIG to 80 GIG transition. History repeats itself. I bet the 160 GIG will be $399. This might happen maybe next year, but I doubt it will happen this soon. All good deals, but still waiting on the 45nm RSX and Cell in July.

Last edited by Gone on 3/17/2009 11:29:45 AM

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shindelion
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:27:57 AM

Interesting point of view, but by doing so will just anger consumer when and if the 80g are finished.

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Jordahn
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:31:05 AM

@ shindelion

Someone always is going to be offended when a pricedrop occurs. Nothing news, it's a part of life.

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Nynja
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:37:33 AM

That is the most likely scenario. Only having 1 machine to purchase in the long run would likely reduce manufacturing costs. Then allowing them to bring the 160GB down to a more respectable $399 price point.

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Troy Powers
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:51:11 AM

I think that would be kind of stupid. If you can sell and 80 GB model for $299 or a 160 GB model for $399, why would you go with the $399 model when people are still whining and gnashing teeth over the price? Would make more sense to keep 80 GB model, and pass the savings on hardware on to the consumer. Even if it's only 20 bucks.

What is the price difference between an 80 and 160 GB drive anyway?

1 up, 1 down

Gone
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:15:04 PM

It is a $10 difference if you go with Newegg pricing. 80 GIG - $49, 160 GIG - $59

Maybe Sony might introduce a 500 GIG PS3 to replace the 160 GIG, who knows.

Last edited by Gone on 3/17/2009 12:18:23 PM

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Warukyure [Power User]
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:32:57 AM
Reply

I too seriously doubt that the PS3 will drop that much. If it does drop, it would most likely drop by $50 to $349. That would be more reasonable.

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rossinator_99
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:40:57 AM
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when and if a price drop happens (hopefull this year), i'm going to have to pick up a 2nd for my bedroom. that way i can just roll over, grab the controller, and start up a game on saturday morning without even getting out of bed!

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isaya85
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:44:55 AM
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Well I guess this would be a good time to do it GDC is right around the corner and summer time is on its way with some big releases like INFAMOUS, but I'm taking this info with a grain of salt cuz I thought EB Games was taken over by GameStop???

PSN ID Biggest_GMoney

1 up, 0 down

Orvisman
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:53:01 AM
Reply

Here's how the conversation went:

Customer: Can I have a PS3?

GameStop Employee: Wait until next week, Sony is dropping the price by $100.

Customer: Cool, thanks!

GameStop Employee: However, you'd be better off buying the Xbox 360 now because it has way more and better games than the PS3. The PS3 has no games.

4 up, 0 down

Troy Powers
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:02:30 PM

LOL

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LegendaryWolfeh
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:28:11 PM

tis what i was thinking

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:50:04 PM

Classic.

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ps92117
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 5:31:14 PM

Don't forget "uncharted is also for 360".

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thepill
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 6:00:03 AM

YOU MUST HAVE READ MY FORUM POST. lol

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inkme101
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:51:43 PM
Reply

exactly. gamestop bastards.

1 up, 0 down

PANICinc
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:52:29 PM
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As a GameStop Employee, I can tell you now that there has been no such announcement! Unless it was made this morning. 80g is $399 and 160g is $499. Haven't worked yet today, but I will check on this and get back to you guys!

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PANICinc
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 12:58:20 PM
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BTW: Not all GameStop employees are FanBoys!

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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:14:18 PM

Good to know.

The Gamestops near me aren't as bad as some of the stories I've heard from you guys. I guess I'm lucky.

Most of the employees will talk about any system the customer brings up in an intelligent manner.

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karneli lll
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 3:19:22 PM

No one said all,but very many are.I've been to 7 gamestops and the story's the same,but that was then,i havent gone since so i dont know the state now

Last edited by karneli lll on 3/17/2009 3:19:56 PM

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ps92117
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 5:33:42 PM

The guy who works at my game stop is in his late 30s, so he is not that bad, but the one before him, thats a different story.

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Orvisman
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 9:42:40 AM

There are a few Sony guys in my four (yes four within 15 minutes of my house) local GameStops and one, lets call him Bob, who prefers his 360 (for his friends list) but also likes the PS3 and doesn't bash it.

His manager, however, was literally dancing on the counter last July, full of glee, at how S-E screwed Sony by bringing FFXIII to the 360.

Ironically, Bob just told me his manager says he'll probably pick up FFXIII for the PS3 because it will come packaged in a pizza-size box for the 360. Not to mention you'll probably need to change the DVD-9 every hour.

1 up, 0 down

inkme101
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:04:45 PM
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just all but you apparently. in my experience. but thats just my experience.

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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:16:31 PM
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Instead of a price drop....How about different colors?

Does it really cost that much more to put in different color plastic pellets in those injection molding machines?

C'mon!

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ThePS3Guy
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:19:25 PM
Reply

I've had 2 Gamestop managers and 2 employees telling me this was going to happen in March since the Killzone 2 midnight launch.

I guess it's true! I guess that's what happens when you report something and you're a BLOGSPOT page..no one believes you, lol.

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inkme101
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:21:08 PM
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id like an all chrome or maybe all stainless steel. now those would be bad azz

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Jordahn
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 1:35:48 PM
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Hold the presses...

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/target-receives-new-ps3-sku-to-release-after-gdc/#comments

Is this link implying that there will NOT be a $299? Think about it...

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Gone
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 2:15:09 PM
Reply

I just read that Target is coming out with a new SKU bundle. It is a 80 GIG with Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm. Guess I was wrong about Sony discontinuing the 80 GiG. Check it out on PSU's website. They say it's coming out on March 29.

Last edited by Gone on 3/17/2009 2:18:23 PM

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Jordahn
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 2:20:54 PM

Hey, I just posted a link to that but so far...

"Comment pending moderator approval"

:)

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Gone
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 2:26:31 PM

Sorry about that, leave off listing other sites helps.

Last edited by Gone on 3/17/2009 2:27:08 PM

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JPBooch
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 2:37:05 PM
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They've bean eating the cost since day 1 since games is what you make the profit on. That's been their business model. Of course, it does sound fishy since more than one source has said they won't do it. Perhaps the pressure is getting to them? I've seen a couple of critics comment on the cost of it.

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NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 3:18:09 PM
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The price is the only thing stopping the ps3 from taking over the world and stealing our women, so if sony can manage to knock $100 off the tag they will be unstoppable. It would be nice if the price cut were the same day as a game launch. Anyone know what big game is out next?

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CH1N00K
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 3:32:14 PM
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I don't really believe it, but they could be doing a timed price drop to get rid of old consoles. Maybe 100 dollars off, for 2 weeks or something. Just to boost sales and get some games off the shelves. When I bought my PS3, it was bundled with a game, and you got 5 free blu-rays with the purchase of it...is dropping a 100 bucks off for a little while to boost sales that far fetched?

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Robochic
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 3:35:17 PM
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If this was true then why would ebgames know first, i use to work there and half of the stuff we knew was way after the public knew so we didn't leak anything to customers. until sony releases the info themselves i won't believe it.

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Reccaman18
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 3:51:54 PM
Reply

Go here: www.cherows.com
PS3s starting at $199 for a 40 gig. No 160, but an 80 at $209 isn't bad.

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Geobaldi
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 5:14:11 PM

It should also be pointed out that this web site has been created a few times already and has been scamming people out of their money.

What do they always say? "If it sounds to good to be true..."

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Reccaman18
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 9:07:06 PM

Now you mention it, it does sound fishy that they would still have a 40 gig. Thanks for the heads up!

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sonic
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 4:27:33 PM
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This will be good, but Will not originals

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Geobaldi
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 5:35:01 PM
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And just as a side note, it seems that Nintendo is raising the price of the Wii in the United Kingdom. At least the price that retailers pay for the console. But of course you know that consumers will have to pay more to make up for it most likely. Think it only comes out to about $9-10 USD though so nothing major.

Last edited by Geobaldi on 3/17/2009 5:35:14 PM

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Sol
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 7:02:33 PM
Reply

In my situation the current price is still too high. Even though I still wouldn't be able to afford one, even the slightest amount of hope for a price drop is welcome... even if it's a lie (I would hope not though, cuz I really want to move into the next gen).

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YesterdysRising
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 9:28:30 PM
Reply

This just makes me smile to know that I paid $600 on launch day and have no regrets :)

Last edited by YesterdysRising on 3/17/2009 9:28:45 PM

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DIsmael85
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 10:35:50 PM
Reply

Ok guys, you all probably know by now that I am an employee at my local Gamestop. I must say all of you who are bad mouthing Gamestop over this are retarded. Secondly, I work as a manager and have not even heard this stupid rumor. So all of you STFU and calm the hell down. This is how crap starts about how bad Gamestop is and how bad the employees are. Some of the guys I work with dont even care about a single person who comes in the doors. Honestly, it's retail. Most of the guys you have saying crap about PS3 are most likely High Schoolers with a part-time job. Seriously folks, if you ever want to know what the hell is going down at gamestop feel free to just ask me. These news bits are so damned horrible it's not even funny. I respect this site and I respect the guys who created it, but this is seriously getting old. Here is my e-mail. (ishjr85@hotmail.com) You wanna know whats going down, send me an e-mail I will give you updates way before they go up in the damn store.

Last edited by DIsmael85 on 3/17/2009 10:37:47 PM

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:04:02 PM

I worked there at one point, too, but you have to understand something: people don't typically bad-mouth EB or GameStop "just because." They do it because of legitimate experiences they have had.

I've seen multiple complaints in my inbox and on this site of GameStop employees quite literally spreading lies. I actually had to call one store who had every last one of their employees specifically TELLING customers not to buy the PS3. I understand how you feel but you have to realize that there are quite a few unbelievably crappy GameStop staffs out there. I was part of a fantastic staff myself, but I knew even then it may not be the norm...

Complaints don't just pop up from nowhere. Some are ill-founded, certainly, but they can't ALL be.

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Geobaldi
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:14:17 PM

Agreed. I believe not all Gamestops are like this but there are some that are. I have two of them by me. The first is in a shopping center and though I've only been there a few times, I haven't run into any problems there so far concerning bad info or fanboyism coming from employees. The other store, on the other hand, is a different story. That one is located inside a mall and there is a lot of Xbox lovers working there. If you ask them for the newest games list or latest pre-orders, they will specifically tell you the Xbox stuff and leave off the other systems. Forcing you to ask about the others.

I'm sure there are a lot of Gamestops out there that are actually partisan towards all systems, but there are also a fair amount of ones that aren't.

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Sol
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 12:15:48 AM

The Gamestop near me is fine, my only problem is I traded some of my games in only to see them be sold for four times the price. And I know they were mine because they each had my initials in a specific place on each game. Other than that Gamestop to me is just a video game retailer, a business, and I still go there for games.

Last edited by Sol on 3/18/2009 12:17:01 AM

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PANICinc
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 10:45:04 PM
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Okay kids, I just got off work. (GameStop) Talked to my District Manager about this and there has been no communication with Sony regarding a price drop for the PS3. So, it's all still rumors and wishful thinking!

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DIsmael85
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 10:52:34 PM

Exactly what I was trying to tell them in the post above, haha, but it's up for mod approval. Oh Well, at least another Gamestop employee knows what Im talking about here. So sad, people jump on anything these days.

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kiwami_nemesis
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 11:44:00 PM
Reply

how come for the last 3 months there is an online retailer selling the 80gb ps3 for $319.99 with free shipping but local taxes need to be paid!?
of course this is using a Coupon but if they can afford to sell it at that price. why can't Sony lower the price of the ps3 for all retailers?

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DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 12:20:03 AM

That specific retailer online is cutting the cost themselves in hopes that they will sell a larger quantity. It's a deal only with that retailer, why would Sony themselves want to lose out on profit? Maybe people in the world need to take more economic classes and what not, I don't understand how business and stuff is something that people tend to not know about? It's been like this forever. Ever since the first fool decided to sell crap. People either save money, get a job, or just cram it, until Sony officially comes out with a Price Drop themselves. *sigh* I'm sorry to be all defensive about this topic, but it just seems like this kind of thing has been happening since this new console Gen. I sware I thought $599.99 was reasonable when I bought my PS3, and yet you still have people complaining when they are giving you more than I got for only $399.99. Do you see the price drop difference there? Is it like it didn't happen or something?

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