When Sony announced you’d get a free download code for Gran Turismo PSP when you purchased the PSPgo, they forgot one tiny detail: the price of the handheld itself. Seems my speculation earlier today was bang on the money.
Sony has confirmed the PSPgo will launch in Australia on October 1 and retail for $449.95. That’s in line with the European price points, but considerably more expensive than the US.
It’s also—remarkably—just $50 shy of the price of the new PS3 Slim. Quite how the vastly different technology in the two boxes adds up to such similar figures is surely baffling to all those outside the Sony bean counters.
Who’s getting a PSPgo?
Korwin
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:06 PMIs the screen in the unit OLED? That might explain the price point.
Sam Lawrence
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:39 PMSame screen as the 3000 just a bit smaller.
Sam Lawrence
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:06 PMCan anyone say not worth it?
Andrew Cathie
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:13 PMI WAS going to buy one to replace my PSP-100.
Now that the price has been revealed?
I’m gonna be buying a PSP-3000.
Adison Clarke
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:19 PMI’m a fanboy of all consoles so i considered buying one of these when it came out but…. $450.. hell no. $300 i probs would but $450 seems like a rip off for a re-skinned console thats approaching its 5th year in this country…
Alex
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:28 PMThank you! I thought I was the only one that noticed. Hmm US$299 for another ps3 or US$250 for another psp? I think I’ve made my point.
Zhabroah
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:28 PM$449.95?! If I were drinking coffee at the time of reading this it would now be all over my computer monitor.
Daniel
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:33 PMYeah I’ll be upgrading my 1000 to a 3000 one day, just not any time soon as long as my 1000 works.
The GO can go just jump in the lake.
davidavid
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:33 PMEveryone in every PAL territory shake their heads at SONY’S pricing policy.
Why everything SONY/PS3/PSP…etc has to be so blatantly overpriced when compared to the same product in the USA is a cause of great consternation.
If prices were just slightly higher than exchage rates would suggest then people might excuse SONY.
The sad reality is that evry PS3, PSP etc sold in a PAL territory is subsidising every SONY product sold in the USA. I know it, you know it, SONY know it… and I’m sick of it!
SONY can shove the PSP up their collective asses. I won’t be buying one at that ridiculous price, and why is the PS3 still $499 when it’s selling for $299 in America? I’m no mathamatician but I can do some simple math and see there is no correlation AT ALL with ANY exchange rate.
SONY wonder where the love (and profits) went? I think we can tell them.
“This is Living”? Hmmmm?
plmko
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:58 PMHey Einstein, ever heard of import tax, GST, Australian price ratios (inflation, high wages etc), shipping charges and of course the relatively low Aussie demand?
After all in Australia the Minimum wage is around $15 where as in America its $5.70USD. Wheres the exchange rate in that?
Perhaps you could buy a ticket to the USA and then buy one for that low price?
Blobbeh
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:46 PMMinimum wage here in Aus is just under $8 last I heard.
chuloopa
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:52 PMoh snap. lol
couldn’t have said it better myself
lol
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:01 PMYou’re joking right? So the Australian government is forcing Sony to add ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS to the price?
What exactly are you smoking?
darksonic
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:13 PMor you could import, 249 usd to aud is $299. slap on $50 for shipping at most. $350 there’s a saving right there. i suspect playasia will be getting very busy soon. lolz
nod
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:18 PMwow, strawman and incoherence.
Our duties and taxes aren’t going to make up for the MASSIVE discrepencies between US and AU pricing. US sales taxes are marginally lower than our GST (around 8% vs 10%), I’d hazard a guess the import duties would be very similar too – you know, seeing as you don’t want to discourage trade.
Demand means nothing, seeing as your talking about a global product – you ship as much as you need to where you need it.
Any brand name manufactured equipment seems to carry a “brand tax” here in Australia, think about it. You can build a PC for about the same as you can in the US, but you can’t buy a computer from HP, Apple, Lenovo, etc, for the same price as the US. Similar (if not identical) equipment, same import duties.
GaaaaaH
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:35 PMWouldn’t low demand be fixed by lower pricing?
Lower cost = more sold
Aaron Clement
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 9:36 PM@Darksonic:
“or you could import, 249 usd to aud is $299. slap on $50 for shipping at most. $350 there’s a saving right there. i suspect playasia will be getting very busy soon. lolz”
Remember Lik-Sang?
Deadlydorito
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:30 PMSony is probably angry about the joseph fritzl fiasco
chuloopa
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:54 PMlols – someone needs to tell sony april fools was MONTHS ago – c’mon guys not funny…
Honestly who the hell is going to buy this thing? This is going to be a MAJOR flop…
Pull your heads out sony…
brad
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:58 PMi am a HUGE sony fan. but, there is no way in hell anyone can justify that price. for me, even AU$300 would have been too much.
maybe this is to benefit the retailers who will be selling it? they wont be seeing any game sales for it. i suppose they need some sort of incentive to stock it dont they? but even then, whats the profit margin on this gonna be like? 80%? LOL
Irzottpz
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:00 PMI’ll probably buy one. Just after I buy another ps3.
mambodog
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:03 PMdear sony,
NO ONE WANTS YOUR OVERPRICED BS
please come back when you get a clue
chuloopa
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:15 PMgame is selling the ps3 slim for $479 (online onlie) which actually makes it only $29 more expensive than the PSP go – LMAO
http://www.ecogamer.com/content/109-console-bundles/1995-ps3-slim-price-roundup
Pete
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:16 PMPfft why not just wait for the psp 2??
screw that, import all the way
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:19 PMFuck that price! i’m serious!!!
PSP have little hardware problem, so I’m gonna import pspgo, considerin how much they jacked up the price compared to US/JAP.
And not to mention how PSP like PS3 are region free, I don’t see why I shouldn’t import!
Blah2
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:42 PMHerd something about the PSPgo not being region free DLC wise.
Matfei
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:19 PMI don’t see why you shouldn’t just get PSP-3000.
Bigger screen, runs UMD’s, plays digitally distributed games.
PSPgo is redundant unless it makes your coffee or something else I’m unaware of.
Cal Smith
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:38 PMPS3 and PSPGo are region free?!?!??!?!?! OMGGGG!!
‘Cept since it’s all online – wouldn’t it be setup for the US online store and so AU credit cards would be locked out……?
doopits
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 8:10 PMI imported my psp – we were 90c to the dollar at the time, and I’ve had no problems (PSP2000) Saved a buttload of money
Simon
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:44 PMI’ll be buying it, but remember, the iPod Touch 16GB is just $20 lower in price. Both have the same amount of memory and pretty much are similar. But if I can get a PS3 for practically the same amount, thats stupid.
backslashio
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:49 PMWhy buy locally when you can import the USA version for AU$310 incl p&h from CDUniverse.com?
Much more realistic price
Steve
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM$50 shy of the PS3 is one thing, but more expensive than a 360 or a Wii? What is it about this handheld that makes it worth more than a home console?
This is laughable. Literally, I think I might laugh at anyone I see with a PSP Go.
loool
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 4:58 PMr they serious, who in their right mind would pay that much for it?!
insane price really
Jordan
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:06 PMWow I was thinking about upgrading but not anymore, my 1000 is hell beat up so I guess I’ll look at a new 3000
Dutch
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:06 PMThe price was published in article on the Playstation AU site yesterday. Prediction?
Marcus
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:18 PMI’d consider buying it if we were allowed to trade in our older PSP models for a PSPgo at a lower price. And I mean MUCH lower.
Ben
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 5:22 PMI’m quite sure Sony is relying on retailers to discount on day 1 as well. Places like Big W and JB will probbaly sell at $399 to get market share. But even $399 is still an unrealistic price.
annonie
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 6:46 PMWHAT THE F***!!!!!!! $50 LESS THAN A PS3!!!!!!!
Looks like SONY hasnt learnt from SEGA’s mistake!
JadedGamer
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:00 PMAustralians get the short end of the stick when it comes to gaming. I moved here from Canada and brought my North American 360, Wii, and PSP with me. First time I went into a game store, I was in shock at how much new games cost. And yet you pay it.
And the funny thing is this PSP go does nothing that I can’t already do with my PSP slim. Nothing.
For a PSP 2000 owner, what incentive is there for me to buy one of these. How many games could I download for that much? How many PSP mini games could I get. What a joke.