Hi everyone, the last time you heard from me, I talked about the huge milestone that PlayStation 2 achieved – reaching 50 million units sold in North America. Today I’m excited to talk about another milestone in PlayStation 2’s lifespan. For the first time ever, PlayStation 2 will be offered at a price point under $100 (that’s $99.99 MSRP, to be exact), starting April 1!
Why is this so significant? Well most importantly, this new price means that more people than ever will be able to join in on the fun that so many of you PlayStation 2 owners have been enjoying for years, which means new families will become part of the platform’s record-breaking install base. With this new price, we intend to introduce a new generation of consumers – some of whom weren’t even alive when the system was first introduced in 2000 – to the immense entertainment value offered by PlayStation 2.
In the gaming industry, the typical lifecycle for a console is around five years, but because we build each of our platforms for a large and diverse consumer base, we design our platforms differently. With the original PlayStation and now PlayStation 2, we’ve proven that consumers can rely on our platforms for their gaming and entertainment needs for at least a decade. This speaks to the technology and features that were packed into PlayStation 2 from the beginning, as well as to the ongoing support the platform enjoys from the publishing and retail communities and, well, all of you fans.
PlayStation 2’s unmatched gaming library will grow to nearly 1,900 titles from both our first-party studios and publishing partners this year, with a particular focus on the social and sports genres that are so popular with the emerging family demographic. This will include games such as MLB ’09, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Guitar Hero Metallica and MotorStorm: Arctic Edge…not to mention the 250 titles that have achieved “Greatest Hits” status. With all of that content, PlayStation 2 is a great option for families looking for ways to share their entertainment experiences together; they can rock out to Rock Band, test their trivia knowledge with Buzz!, or simply use the PlayStation 2 as their DVD or CD player.
So to everyone who’s enjoyed PlayStation 2 over the years, thanks for your continued support. And to those who will now be joining the PlayStation family, welcome!
You should all know better by now, in regards to getting hyped for Sony announcements.
In the words of the mighty Dubya- “Fool me once, shame on… shame on you. Fool me… you can’t get fooled again.”
@300 davi- already did, see my response at 298. I think the best we can do is agree to leave it at that instead of turning this into a flame fest.
@302 Agreed.
THIS was Sonys BIG announcement for today?
LMAO!!! What a joke.
PS2 still has the best gaming lineup so new owners are in for a treat.
How would a PS3 price drop benefit any of you guys on the blog? We all already own a PS3! LOL.
Settle down people!
seriously sony, do you have any idea what you are doing anymore?
@davivman & House
AGREED!
great now make it cost $10 and shove it back inside the ps3
Come on Sony, give us something worth while. Your ps3 games rarely work properly out of the box without a patch. Your playstation network is highly flawed and rarely works consistantly. Home is STILL in it’s ‘Beta’ stage and shows no hope of getting out. Sony’s ‘BIG’ announcement is ps2 for $99???
How about an update on a new firmware?
How about fixing the constant disconnect problems with the playstation network? How about announcing anything that would make us want to support your failing PS3?
Lame Sony, People are tired of the PS2. Help out your Ps3 why don’t you.
There was so much speculation going on by weeks end last week and oddly enough Sony didn’t do anything to start the hype machine. It’s like people were so antsy that they just started making up news you know?
Sony once again disappoints. For some reason, they decide to drop the price of the wrong console.
I might get flamed for this and so be it. This is not good news there should have been at least a 50 dollar price cut for the 80 and 160 gig.Even as stated above a firmware update for voice chat while in game with someone not playing and music play while online gaming.I know its free sony but for crying out loud. This is why so many people buy the 360.I had one yes and they arent as reliable no where near.Sony listen to your customers!get it together or some of us may go back to microsoft.
Please, oh please, I hope this isn’t the “big announcement.” You’ve got to be kidding me if this is what all the hype was for. Sony, if you really want to make a difference, LOWER THE PRICE FOR THE PS3, not the PS2! The PS3 NEEDS a lower price if you want more people to purchase your product.
This is why Sony should not speak of any upcoming announcements until they are actually announced, period.
Once the word spreads of a pending announcement, we all know that people start taking guesses at what it will be and getting hyped, and when it turns out to be something like this, people get upset.
I am not saying that the ps2 price drop is a bad thing, but most people were blowing it out of proportion and thinking that it could be a firmware update or ps3 price cut. It is better to expect the worst and hope for the best in cases like this.
This is the big news?? PFFFT What a joke!!! Who really cares about the PS2. If the 30 bucks didnt matter to you as a company that much you should have taken it off of the PS3!! WOW a PS2 price drop yipee!!!!
Might i ad one more thing come out with a better controller for shooters guys! Cut us a break sony we spend a load of money on your stuff.I was a big spender on the ps2.
Everyone seems disappointed/upset…if the ps3 isnt up to bar with your needs/standards, then why are you bothering? You all feed into this hype about a FW update that sony/playstation never mentioned themselves.
PS2 is of the Playstation family…its news for consumers for people looking for a system but arent looking for anything high end…
PS3 has many fruits to bear, have patience, I’ve had my system for over a year now, and honestly, it has evolved greatly and with no doubt it will continue to evolve and grow hopefully to last as long as the ps2 has if not longer…
So to the whinny kids leave it alone…
ok i this is good for the ps2 even if it already has over 150000000 units
i would like to see the ps3 drop to 299
so more ppl can buy it
if not now then at e3 or the ps3 will die and i dont want to see my favorite console die ever
Please tell us there is more to announce today….
For instance, it has been confirmed by Kmart or Target (can’t remember which) that you are shipping new PS3 bundles with Resistance 1 and MotorStorm included as freebies.
Nobody cares about the PS2, cut the PS3 price by $100 and bring back software emulation backwards compatibility to ALL PS3s. This is the least Sony could do.
I Am disappointed :( , oh wellz
The announcement is a bit on the ‘Meh’ side.
It seems a bit stange to wake up the internet over this.
I’m not saying Sony should drop the price of the PS3, but really, how many more units will this sell?
I guess only time will tell.
It’s just a shame Sonys currency calulators only work in one direction.
Thankfully my launch PS2 (and PS1) both still work perfectly, so I have no need to take advantage of a price drop, not that the UK got one anyway.
i know this is a great milestone for Sony, but honestly no news is big news unless it benefits the PS3 community. the Ps3 is gaining a lot of momentum and sony should not let that deter them from the goal of making the Ps3 as successful as the ps2. Sony has a long,long, long, long way to go (as Syuri would say in memoirs)
PS2 is done, Sony u need to start concentrating on PS3 and PSP or youll loose this generation.
Drop the PS3 price NOW!!!!!
While I do think that this price drop is good, I was expecting something like reintroducing BC into the PS3 or something. In a way, it’s helpful considering my bulky PS2 finally gave up the ghost earlier this year, but it’s still rather disappointing. And so far, Sony seems like they’re trying to disappoint or something. Like how they said they took BC out of the PS3 cuz “no one was wanting it.” [DELETED]. It’s times like these that I’m glad I have an Xbox 360 also. I don’t care if I have to pay an annual payment to play online, as long as the system does what I want!
Now, I’ve been a Sony guy for the longest time, but this is getting ridiculous.
Sony, why can’t you get your act together?
You build up hype, only to disappoint.
@310 agreed
Ummm ok. I hope thi isn’t your ‘Big’ news.
Man, this is BBUULLSSHHIITT
Why does anyone oppose a ps3 price drop. The very few of you that claim that the ps3 doesn’t need a price drop are being selfish at the very least. Are they pround that they can pay for an overpriced toy and the average family can’t? That makes you a better person? Wouldn’t it benifit you as well? You must be very ignorant to believe that just because you have payed full price for your first PS3 then others don’t deserve to join the PS “network” at a lesser price. Are you so shallow that you don’t realize its not about you? Its about bringing more people to the party. Sony doesn’t care that you already own a ps3 they want everyone on the planet to own one. Your selfishness actually hurts the very console your defending, or are you so ignorant you can’t see that? The mass market seems to tell the story or can’t you read? Consumers are a lot wiser when it comes to gaming consoles. History has shown that consoles come and go and just as fast. Game consoles and price drops are always closely related, and a smart consumer knows that.
This is a joke! The UK is part of the EU & yet it’s the only country NOT to get a price cut! The PS3 is the console that needs a price cut seen as the 360 is only £30 more than the PS2! Come on Sony, you can do better than this!
please tell me this isnt your big news sony.. please..
I’m a sony supporter all the way, but I was expected the infamous ps3 price cut everyone was waiting for. they need to focus more on the ps3 then the ps2. well that’s my opinion.
Q.uic C.ash
– Your #1 Asian Guy! Steve Sap!
@325 dropping the ps2 down to $99 is not a milestone at all
if they want the psp or ps3 to do better they have to drop the price of the psp to $150 or the ps3 to $300-$400(400 for the 160gb)
Coolness. Now all 200 people in the world that STILL don’t own a PS2 can get one now.
@335 EvoA- That actually made me lol.
No matter what i love you sony :)
still i was hoping for a new FW lol
Anyone else find it odd that the comments for this post haven’t received any formal (red) replies?
Not Sony’s fault. They didn’t overhype this, everyone else did. This is indeed “big” news as it is a critical milestone for the PS2, but it is simply not the news most of us hoped to hear.
@338 ramage- The official Sony posts rarely get any official responses inline, especially when they are as red hot as this one.
I have a feeling they posted this, then ran as fast as they could away from the computer… The question is, did they run away scared, or giggling manaically?
If this is the big announcement, then go kill yourself… This is CRAZY!
I seriously hope this is not the big ‘global announcement’ that was in the news.
Great that the price is 99, but the console is 9 years old.
Live in the now!
Are you SERIOUS Sony? THIS IS YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT? WTFF??? Who give an F about a NINE YEAR OLD CONSOLE DROPPING $30 IN PRICE???
Where is the PS3 2.70 FIRMWARE???!??
Where is the PS3 price drop ?!?!???
Had there have been no hype about this big annoucement, I think more peopel would be glad to hear this. people were expecting a PS3 price drop or firmware 2.70 annoucement.
Congrats SCE! The PS2 is going to sell very well I bet.
But is there any news on the PlayStation 3?
Jeez people are pissed off. I’m sorta disappointing, though I hope there is ‘other news’ later today to effect the PS3. The PS2 should have been 99.99 last year.
Sony, come on, cut the ps3’s price, there are so many people who are waiting for a price drop. I read forums all day, people want killzone, they want god of war, they want uncharted, but they are all waiting on the price drop…. COME ON!
Oh no’s, arnt we trying to get people to buy PS3 instead? You guys are doing a wonderfull job of teasing us. Keep up the good work…*FacePalm
I Actually Thought That Sony Was Going To Announce Something About
FW 2.7 Then Again I Also Saw This Coming Its Good That PS2 Is Under 100 Dollars But Not Really A Suprise For Me Since I Have A PS3 Sony Should Have Lower The PS3 The Announcment Was Nothing Important