Pachter: $399 PS3 by next April, Xbox 360 rebounding in Aug. NPD

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 7th 2007 at 4:15PM }

Following the Mirror's failure last month to accurately project the NPD numbers, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has given it another chance. With the NPD numbers for August expected next Thursday, Pachter went into his secret room and asked once again, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall. In August, who's the console winner of them all -- and skip ahead, don't waste my time by saying Wii and DS!"

"Listen Pach, can I call you Pach?" The Mirror tried to joke, knowing it had wronged Pachter, "Anyway, sorry about last month. As for August, I see around 240,000 units of the Xbox 360 sold -- up from their 170K last month. I also see the PS3 dipping below 150,000 units, but not back to the tragic pre-June levels."

"Thanks Mirror!" Pachter started walking off, satisfied that it was something he could go with. But then ...

"Oh, one more thing," blurted out the Mirror, "Sony will cut the price of the PS3 to $399 by next April."

"You should have quit while you were ahead, but I'll go with it," said Pachter as he went upstairs to write his own report. Pachter's report says that he still believes the 80GB will get cut to $499 before Thanksgiving (minus Motorstorm) and that another $100 will be cut in early 2008. He uses the recent Sony IPO move to back up his claim. A $399 PS3 would be very sweet, especially if the games start flowing properly by next year.

Tags: npd, pachter, ps3, xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 4:20PM

If Sony drops the PS3 to $400, maybe Nintendo wil drop the H Bomb and drop the price of the Wii to $150.

MariosInferno @ Sep 7th 2007 4:24PM

And Nintendo would still turn a profit.

milestailsprowe @ Sep 7th 2007 4:46PM

it would be over or sony if they did that

Mr. P @ Sep 7th 2007 5:36PM

Who cares? Any self-respecting HDTV owner already knows which console he's buying.

mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 5:41PM

"Any self-respecting HDTV owner already knows which console he's buying."

I'm guessing the majority of HDTV owners have no self-respect.

That's why they teh hardcore machines.

waves @ Sep 7th 2007 6:23PM

Erm, I'm an HD owner, and I bought the Wii first. Granted I bought the other 2 systems shortly after, but that's besides the point.

As for self respect. Well. Only on weekdays.

Castle @ Sep 7th 2007 6:29PM

Seems Nintendo is doing fine at its current price point, really an entirely different audience.

Rubang B @ Sep 7th 2007 11:01PM

Actually I'm a Wii-DS-PC man right now, and I'm looking into an HDTV. I don't give a shit about HD itself, but I want a big flatscreen to save space in my tiny ass room. If I can find a huge panel LCD that is somehow only SD and saves me a couple bucks, I'd buy that instead. But I don't even know if those exist. So I might end up with an HDTV and a Wii and no "NEXT-GEN DVD" player. Fuck HD, seriously.

ssuk @ Sep 8th 2007 8:37AM

"Who cares? Any self-respecting HDTV owner already knows which console he's buying."

The Atari Spectrum!

mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 4:21PM

Aw man, I wanted to be surprised...

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 4:24PM

Nice writing. Plus for you Alexander.

Crono @ Sep 7th 2007 4:24PM

The securities sell of actually does lend credence to another price drop.

Or its an indicator of how bad Sony is actually doing financially. Either way, they wanted/needed more money, and then they got it.

Crono @ Sep 7th 2007 4:25PM

That's sell "off"

mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 4:29PM

You mean they didn't want to sell their actually?

LaughingTarget @ Sep 7th 2007 4:31PM

They ARE selling an IPO in a SPE (as noted in the previous thread, ironic given that is what they call their Cell processors) just to feed the main beast. That points out the main corporation's difficulty in generating new funds, so they have to utilize subsidiary companies to do it for them. The downside is it leaves the investors in those subsidiaries out in the cold.

Remember, this is kinda what Enron was doing when they got in trouble. The only difference is Sony isn't trying to hide it (thus making it legal). Still, Enron did it because it couldn't generate the cash internally and needed to cannibalize other business units to do so. Could be what Sony is going through to get that PS3 price down to where people will actually buy it in decent volumes.

colin @ Sep 7th 2007 4:27PM

who is this pachter guy and why are his unreliable predictions so important? maybe if we look at the inverse. ps3 will be $798 by next february, and the xbox 360 will slam dunk this christmas

mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 4:31PM

What will happen if we look at the inverse?

colin @ Sep 7th 2007 4:40PM

everything will be inverted

Mr Khan @ Sep 7th 2007 4:31PM

Ok, i'm starting to get irritated by this guy.

One would have to be dumb as hell to not know the 360 rebound (hooray for BioShock), and the PS3 thing is just pure speculation (although likely)

HineyWipe @ Sep 7th 2007 4:34PM

$299 and $399 are the "gadget" sweet spots.

Will Sony give me $100 back (like Apple)???

StrangeBum @ Sep 7th 2007 5:38PM

Will Sony give you money back?

haha..that's like asking out Scarlett Johanson. Or like asking if MGS4 will stay PS3 exclusive. Or like asking if the 360 hasn't had any problems.

In case you don't get it....the answer is 'No'..well maybe about MGS4, I'm just a 'no' hopeful on that one.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 5:47PM

Well, its more possible that Scarlett dates a videogame geek than the PS3 succes this gen.

HineyWipe @ Sep 7th 2007 4:35PM

$299 and $399 are the "gadget" sweet spots.

Will Sony give me $100 back (like Apple)???

Bobby @ Sep 7th 2007 4:38PM

So all of you little shits complain about the SDF, the pathetic Sony fanboys but yet the NDF and MDF seem to be out much more in swing and much more assholic wouldn't ya say?

Whats there to gain by hating the PS3? Have less competition? Have all of the current PS3 exclusives go over to the 360 for all of you to enjoy? Damn, is this the most hated console of all time?

Fuck, I hate this generation period, worst console generation ever. 360 with poor ass built quality, full of redneck white trash, cockbots on Live.

PS3 with no games, giant enemy crabs and a rebranded Gamecube with waggle controls.

Mr Slavio @ Sep 7th 2007 5:07PM

Sony needs to learn a lesson this time around. That's why so many people take joy in their misery. They need to learn $600 is a bs price point for a game console and that they shouldn't "trojan horse" their new media format.

If that's all they take away from this gen, then I'm happy.

Of course for $400 and LBP I might be down come April. We'll see.

Snukadaman @ Sep 7th 2007 5:33PM

problem is there are no websites for either a microsoft defence force or nintendo...sony fanboys can vigorously defend all they want but it all comes down too games and price and 399 is the sweet spot but i seriously dont think sony will stoop that low even in april...

GWolf @ Sep 8th 2007 12:35AM

Perhaps it's time to give up gameing if your so negative about it.

Truepatriot @ Sep 7th 2007 4:42PM

for once i hope this guy gets one right.i need a ps3 but not 500-600 need one @_@

ThornedVenom @ Sep 7th 2007 4:49PM

I'd highly doubt it with the current logic. At the moment, they believe that it's more profitable to increment value on fixed prices.

um..wow @ Sep 7th 2007 4:55PM

$399 ps3 this soon would make me upset at myself for buying one earlier this year. (especially since I play my 360 far more)

the_game_master @ Sep 7th 2007 4:56PM

If Sony made a core PS3 (i.e. without BluRay, HDD & Wifi) they could have sold the system for $299.
Microsoft was was wise on keeping the $299 tradition, and it's paid of greatly they still dominate the US market.
Nintendo, well all I got to say about them they ought to be glad that old time arch rival Sega is long gone, a wise marketing strategy to counter Wii momentum would be to repackage the Dreamcast system with the Sega Activator as its controller for battle of motion controls.

glitched @ Sep 7th 2007 5:13PM

just, no, no, and NO.

360 core is useless, and a ps3 core would be even more useless. Ps3 wouldnt be a ps3 withouth bluray. ITs not JUST a tacked on movie format. blu ray is the GAME format as well. thats like saying "they should have released an SNES without cartridge support"
the core 360 was not wise, it was retarded.

Zeus the God @ Sep 8th 2007 1:48AM

The core 360 was and is fairly successful- enough so for MS to keep it on the market, tard.

Steve @ Sep 7th 2007 5:00PM

I cant be the only person who hates this guy and his BS.

bounchfx @ Sep 7th 2007 5:05PM

I would purchase a ps3 if it were $399, conveniently, at or around that time the ps3 will actually get some sweet games (well.. hopefully). I feel bad for those who paid 600$ (or more) for that thing (and not even getting a handful of decent games before it dropped in price $100-$200. Ouch..)

Snukadaman @ Sep 7th 2007 5:34PM

Those are the people who defend their ps3's too the death...the blind loyalist who think lair is still a AAA game.

BPM @ Sep 7th 2007 5:06PM

Patcher should really return his Magic Mirror. I think it's defective.

Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 5:14PM

Maybe is defective cause is a Microsoft mirror.

awiifemale @ Sep 7th 2007 5:18PM

If it really drops to $399 in April, I'll get one. Same price I paid for my 360 so it seems fair (not interested in Blu Ray or other gadgetry, just games). I'd like to try the driving games with the motion controller. The Wii totally spoiled me for driving games and Forza 2 has mostly just sat in the case as Excite Truck is still more fun to drive. Guess I'm partial to "waggle".
Also, isn't MGS4 supposed to come out around that time? That would be sweet.

mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 5:18PM

Microsoft doesn't have mirrors. Microsoft doesn't have a reflection.

Paviel @ Sep 7th 2007 7:46PM

"Maybe is defective cause is a Microsoft mirror."

If that's a Microsoft mirror, I think they should go back to making windows...

eelb @ Sep 7th 2007 5:32PM

do people still take pachther seriously?

ChrisL @ Sep 7th 2007 5:42PM

$399 will still be to high for mainstream buyers, especially considering M$ and BigN would both be able to drop their prices come April. I can see the Wii going to $179 and the xbox hitting $300 for a unified model offering pretty much the equivalent of whatever the PS3 is composed of by that time.

Slaziman @ Sep 7th 2007 5:46PM

And in Europe the PS3 stays at 600 euros, but now as an "Expert Pack" with 4 (shitty) games and an extra controller.

,,l,, you Sony

duerra @ Sep 7th 2007 5:57PM

I don't plan on getting a PS3 because, over 10 years after the initial PS1 release, the controller design STILL SUCKS.

That, and I don't much care for the way Sony carries itself and treats its customers. And lies. All the time. Like the way they killed the Dreamcast by making outrageous claims about the PS2's supposedly vastly superior capabilities which ultimately proved to be total BS. And how they continue to do the same thing with the PS3. And the rootkit fiasco. And the exploding batteries. And countless statements of stupidity which chalk their customers up as a commodity. And the Blu-Ray DRM. And the fact that they're a major component of the MPAA and RIAA.

Fuck Sony. Fuck the PS3. I'm tired of dealing with Sony's bullshit.

awiifemale @ Sep 7th 2007 6:10PM

Duera I don't like the controller as well but since it's got some built-in "waggle" now I want to give it a try. By April Lair and Dirt should be cheap to buy and give a whirl with the semi-new controller. One reason I got the 360 (I passed on the original Xbox and ps2 and Cube) was that the controller felt really comfortable in my hands and reminded me of my old Dreamcast controller. (I think it was a Madcatz or something like that, I forget).
I'm sure Sony's not the only company that ever lied to consumers, they just really made it obvious, lol.