PS3, Xbox 360 price cuts internationally in February, says analyst

We normally wouldn’t put too much stock into analyst predictions, but when a console price drop is the topic of discussion, any sliver of hope is welcome.

Games industry analyst Michael Pachter has said on Gametrailers’Bonus Round that publishers have been putting pressure on Sony and Microsoft to effect price drops on the PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively, failing which they would pull support for the consoles going forward.

With the PS4 and Xbox One releasing in major markets last year, price drops for the now-previous-gen consoles are widely expected, but Pachter says that could now happen as early as February.

I think the publishers are going to threaten the manufacturers, and they’re going to say ‘cut the price of the PS3 and the Xbox 360, now’,” he said on the show (as transcribed by Dualshockers).

So my bet is [a] February price cut happening, because I actually think the publishers are going to threaten to not support PS3 and Xbox 360 this holiday if they don’t see a price cut quick.”

Pachter also said that dropping prices to $199 would entice the Wii installed base of over 100 million users to pick up either console.

Retailers and distributors in India are reporting a drop in console and game sales of late, with consumers waiting for price drops on older hardware before taking the plunge.

However, Sony India has ruled out a PS3 price drop in the near future. No, and I can be very categorical about that. We are not planning any price drops,” PlayStation India head Atindriya Bose told IVG in December.

That said, Sony India has always been dropping console prices when prices are lowered in Europe, and that should be the case if the PS3 gets a price drop internationally next month.

Hopes of an Xbox 360 price drop were alsodashe by Anshu Mor, India head for Xbox, in October. I don’t see any drop in price happening on the console side. A lot of it has to do with the way the Dollar is behaving these days. It’s putting a lot of pressure on the overall business, even in terms of just maintaining that price.”

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