The PSPgo hasn’t had the easiest of rides in its short lifespan. Released at a frankly staggering price the console has gone on to flop in pretty much every territory. It’s a shame really, as I think it’s a great little machine (I own one) and if it was launched at a sensible price it would have done well.
SCEJ has announced that as of tomorrow it will be cutting the price of the PSPgo to ¥16,800 ($200/£132). Nothing has been announced for the US or Europe, but we will keep you posted.
The start of a new campaign? Or the beginning of the end?
UPDATE: Reuters is reporting that SCEA has dropped the US price to $199.
project84music
Hmm, I’m still not sure I’d get one even if the price were to drop (and I am currently thinking about getting a PSP). There are two problems the PSPgo has in my opinion, and the unit price is just one of those. The other is the price of the content, with no competition, there is no incentive for the store to significantly reduce prices, and as a result, its always cheaper to by a UMD – at least that’s the way it seems to me.
Dan Lee
Totally agree, the latest example was Metal Gear Peace Walker which I could get for £19.99 on UMD or pay £31.99 on the PSN.
Dar-Kaus
I bought a PSPgo, at launch a year ago, yes I agree with you that the price is still way too high, and yes your also right about the price of the downloads, but all said an d done it’s a great little system and if your a PSN Plus user you can get some great Mini games for free. But on it’s first Birthday, Sony really do need to drop it’s prices on hardware & software ready for those Christmas stockings.
Watchful
Now we just need confirmation of the $50 drop in the states that was rumoured for last week. Then the inevitable wait for Europe to catch up.
warp10ck
Hmm I wonder if the psp is gonna be phased out completly soon for the rumored psp2.
One thing is certain Sony needs to do/announce something quick before the 3ds comes out.
cam the man
I think a lot of people are waiting for info on the PSP2. Me included.
deadwelsh
its a 10yr old product, albeit in a different case. i may be tempted by a sub £130 price, if there wasn’t a strong possibilty of the psp2 coming out soon.
Bodachi
PSP came out in 2000? I think not.
kivi95
it’s more like a 5yr old product
deadwelsh
its essentially a disabled ps2 in a handheld, although it wasn’t released until 2005. Even so it still seems like outdated technology and adding bluetooth wont make it a winner IMO.
Sony should cut there losses on this gen and push ahead witht he next level
John Malcolm
According to Wikipedia, “The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in the PAL region on September 1, 2005.”
icuyesido
Wooh, sold my Go just in time then =O
bunimomike
And that’s STILL too expensive. Wow!
Raider197
I bought a Go last year when it came out and while I really want to love it (it’s definitely the best version of the PSP so far) the way Sony just blatantly don’t care about putting PSP games on the Store is a killer, with Birth by Sleep being the latest example.
bajere
thats another reason i don’t own one… and when it does get to the store it will be more expensive than the UMD in shops.
Raider197
I honestly don’t mind it being more expensive, I just want to play it, but even that’s looking increasingly unlikely.
Radboud
Birth by Sleep was held back as a digital distribution by Square Enix though, not Sony.
I really would love the latest Kingdom Hearts on my Go, but alas, it can not be…
The PSP essentials are cheaper on the Store than on UMD (at least in the Netherlands), 9,99EUR digital versus 12,99EUR on UMD. Most of the rest of the games have a similar price though. Only a handful of games are cheaper as an UMD than the digital counterpart.
I really love my Go (listening to some music at work now with it :P) and really makes my PS+ worth the money ;)
John Malcolm
I can only concur with the other posters. The PSP is a great product – I have a 3000 – but the PSP Go was stupidly priced and as for the games in the PSN Store; well, words just fail me!
Nintendo have done a much better job with their various incarnations of the DS, which shows that good marketing and making the brand accessible (not stupid pricing both for games online) is a winner over cutting-edge technology – as the sales of the Wii showed compared to both the Xbox 360 and (unfortunately) my PS3. It’s only now – some years later – that the Wii is suffering due to lack of HD bits.
stueeeee
It’s far too late for the Go now for them to even think about making more appealing at a cheaper price. Any more price drops now will just confirm how little it’s been selling to date, and combined with the Store prices it’s a big flop. I’m still happy with my 2000. The PSP2 however, could be very successful if Sony play their cards right. They do have 5 years experience in the handheld market now…
John Malcolm
Sony are unlikely to sell their technology at a seriously cheaper price, it seems they’d rather watch it die. Sony have had some wonderful brands in the past – I’m thinking of the great CD replacement SACD which could have happily ruled the world – but now that’s only a niche product and we’re still stuck with 16-bit CDs and low-quality (especially when compared to SACD goodness) downloads. I’m a Sony fan, but at times the management can make some daft, or strange, or just plain incomprehensible decisions…
Philbz
Couldn’t agree more! The price of games on the store is the real problem for me, I think all PSP download games should be no more than £20 on the store. The PSP essentials is good but too little too late. What is it with games priced at £31?? NO WAY!
I have a Go and love it, it’s just a shame that Sony looked at it as more of an experiment.
Charmed_Fanatic
Begging of the end, if 10 free games cant tempt people, nothing can