Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s biggest newspapers, has run an interesting story – translated
by The Verge -- indicating that the PlayStation 4 will cost around 40,000 Yen, or about $430/£270/€320.
Putting this into context: PS3 cost approximately 60,000 Yen (nearly $650) in Japan when it
launched in late 2006, and as we all know very well, it was released domestically with
an outrageous sticker price of $600 at that time.
So is this rumored price point good news?
Yes, if it’s true.
A 40,000 Yen price point in Japan indicates that PlayStation 4 may launch in the west
at around $400, or $200 less than PS3 cost in 2006.
However, this is all speculation; we hope to have plenty of hard facts following Sony’s
event in New York City on February 20, which IGN will attend.
The newspaper report also indicates that the PlayStation 4 will launch in Japan and the
US in 2013 and that the DualShock 4 – or whatever it will be called – is “roughly
the same shape” as the DualShock 3 currently used with the PlayStation 3.
No mention of Europe indicates that the console might not launch there until 2014.
We’ve reached out to Sony for official comment on Asahi Shimbun’s story, and will update
when we hear back.
Until then, stay tuned to IGN.