As we posted earlier, Sony told us it was planning an announcement for Tuesday. Today is Tuesday, and Sony has made its announcement. (Hint, this Target ad already announced it.)
And as we also told you earlier, we didn't think this announcement was a PS3 price cut. From our original post: "We're leaning towards a price cut, but we've got a sneaking suspicion that it's the PlayStation 2 dropping to $99, and not a cut for the PlayStation 3."
The console will now be priced at US$99.99 starting the first of April. The console's previous price tag was $129.99.
"PlayStation 2 set the industry standard for worldwide mass market adoption and is a clear embodiment of Sony's commitment to platforms that deliver 10-year product lifecycles. It's a tribute to outstanding technology, great consumer value and unprecedented development support that we've now been able to do twice what no one else has ever accomplished," said Sony exec Jack Tretton. "Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world, and the new $99 price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs.
With nearly 1,900 PS2 titles and now this under-a-hundred-bucks price point, this is as good a time as any to pick up a PS2. Sony stated that it plans continued support of the highly successful platform, which is serving as a model for its new home console, the PLAYSTATION 3.
According to Tretton, "Just as PlayStation 2 is delivering on a 10-year lifecycle and helped expand and solidify the DVD format for home entertainment along the way, we believe PLAYSTATION 3 offers the same promise by helping secure the Blu-ray format and delivering unprecedented value as the total home entertainment solution for the next decade."
Last year, the PlayStation 2 became the first game system to reach 50 million units sold in North America.