Will the new PS3 Slim put Sony back on top?

Mike Bantick
Thursday, 20 August 2009 07:04

Opinion and Analysis

Sony has dropped all pretence of backwards compatibility with this model; it has given the new case a more textured matt black, replacing the piano black dust attractant of the original.  We have settled on two USB’s, lower power consumption, still no HDMI cable in box and a blow to those that utilised the feature, the removal of an alternate OS installation, so no Yellow Dog or Ubuntu Linux for the Slim.

The PS3 Slim retains the ability to upgrade the hard drive, swap in any 2.5” SATA drive at the flip of a screwdriver which will please folks using the Sony flagship device as a media gate/player.

Obviously though, the biggest game-changer is price.  Here in Australia this is significant.  This market has endured the situation of having only one PS3 model to choose from (40GB, non-backwards compatible) at a price that made wallets moan (AU$699).

As such a 30 percent price cut is welcome, and has the Sony hardware now stacking up well against rival Microsoft and its Xbox 360, which, whilst more modular in design and backed by arguably a better library of software, cannot quite match Sony for those looking to use the device for other media.

Sony should take a slap for currently flogging the ‘fat’ PS3 in the Australian marketplace for AU$479 however.  This is an obvious attempt to shift the stock, but at only AU$20 cheaper than the incoming Slim and its 200 percent larger capacity HDD and lower power consumption and shelf space requirements.  

Whilst the AU$479 price tag is a significant drop, Australian consumers would be well advised to wait a week.

And I think they will, the PS3 Slim indeed puts Sony back in the game.  In particular it will be interesting to see how Microsoft responds to this return shot.  If Gamescom in Cologne is anything to go by, where they did little more than announce Fable III’s development, then the current response is somewhat nonchalant.

Of course the rumour is that Microsoft are not far from announcing their own platform revamp, and the Gamecom attitude may be linked to this.

Whatever the Microsoft planning is, expect a resurgence of PS3 sales with the Slim’s introduction, but don’t see it build enough to knock off Nintendo. 

The Wii will continue to dominate the foreseeable future, riding on a crest of Wii Sports Resort driven wave, supported by continued sales of Wii-Fit, and even Wii-Play and Mario Kart and then backed by the upcoming avalanche of Super Mario Bros titles.

Much of the resurgence will depend on software support as well; games such as Heavy Rain, God Of War III and Gran Turismo 5 will play a heavy part in the continued success of PlayStation.  Added features such as the announced optimised TV streaming, PSP integration and even new payment systems for online content are also welcome.

Sony has made a great decision here, it will be interesting to see how the market reacts, perhaps it is too late, and perhaps those Sony decision makers will be hailed as heroes for all the times they resisted price cutting the platform in the past.