Share
Beyond an aesthetic tummy tuck, fresh brand logo, and a dull matt surface (that’s not nearly as attractive as the original gloss finish), at its core the new PlayStation 3 Slim offers little that consumers cannot gain from its existing big brother.
Slim set to make Sony\'s pockets fat? Image: Sony.
However, that being said, a sudden purchasing drop-off in the Japanese retail territory would suggest the Slim’s introduction could well see Sony’s powerhouse home console emerge as a major seller, according to figures offered up by GamesIndustry.
More pointedly, with the Slim stocking retail shelves this very week, Japanese market figures covering the last seven days indicate anticipation for the revitalised console is significant – not least because ailing weekly sales of the original PS3 plummeted yet further, moving from 2052 units to 1,040 units.
To put that poor return into a clearer perspective, Nintendo shifted a respective 67,185 units and 26,038 units of its DSi and Wii last week, while Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (which has never been popular in Japan) managed to sell 7,254 units after an Elite price cut, and even the stalwart PlayStation 2 still racked up some 3,179 sales.
The proof of the pudding will, of course, arrive with next week’s sales figures for the territory, and Sony is likely crossing its corporate fingers in the hope that recent weeks of poor PS3 performance are only indicative of gathering expectations ahead of surging Slim sales – and not something more ominous regarding the PlayStation 3’s brand momentum.
The Tech Herald: Sony says PS3 Slim won't turn a profit
The Tech Herald: PS3 Firmware v3.00 freezing gameplay?
Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group.
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter
Advertising
Comment on this Story