Unnamed retail source claims Slimline PS2 prices to be slashed

August 1, 2005

If
anonymous tips from retail sources to SPOnG prove to be accurate, shoppers
are in for a dramatic series of price reductions for PlayStation 2 and even
Nintendo's GameCube by this Christmas. The catalyst for the pricing changes is
reportedly the upcoming release of the Xbox 360. The exclusive, "well-placed"
retail source told SPOnG that it was stated during a
briefing, that Sony is likely planning on a global price cut in the
neighborhood of $100 US for the PS2. The strategy is to grab such a large
share of market as to create a "spoiler" in time for Microsoft's
launch of their next generation console.

It was also claimed that Nintendo will make a similar move with
its GameCube console, backed and buoyed by the release of the new Zelda
game Twilight Princess, slated for launch in late summer. Official double
bundle packs featuring Resident Evil 4 and Mario Kart are also
expected.

'You can expect significant reductions in
the price of everything this Christmas, but most noticeable will be the
PlayStation 2," our well-placed source told SPOnG. 'We've been briefed to
expect a price as low as Â£60 beginning at the start of December. Sony's
probably looking at a global price cut '“ around $100 in the States and a
serious Platinum range announcement too

The report goes on to say that an official announcement will be made
"sometime in November".

Source: SPOnG