PS4 is the cheapest PlayStation home console (when adjusted for inflation)

When adjusted for inflation, PS4 is the cheapest PlayStation home console launch ever.

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Sony managed to undercut Microsoft when they announced PS4 will launch for $399, $100 less than Xbox One's $499 launch price. Not only is this significantly less than PS3's launch, when adjusted for inflation, it's the cheapest PlayStation home console launch ever.

According to a price analysis by Ars Technica, PlayStation 4 is cheaper than any previous home console from Sony, with PS2 being valued at $405 when adjusted for today's dollars. Microsoft's new console, on the other hand, is the most expensive Xbox ever--but not by much. Xbox 360 would cost $476 today, and that doesn't include a fancy next-gen Kinect camera, either.

Contributing Editor
From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 1, 2013 10:05 AM

    John Keefer posted a new article, PS4 is the cheapest PlayStation home console (when adjusted for inflation).

    When adjusted for inflation, PS4 is the cheapest PlayStation home console launch ever.

    • reply
      July 1, 2013 10:08 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 1, 2013 10:40 AM

      Price adjusted for inflation isn't the only factor. My yearly income hasn't increased enough over the past few years to keep up with the inflation. Even tho my hourly wage has increased slightly, I make less now than I did when I started my current job.

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      July 1, 2013 10:54 AM

      Except the income of lower and middle class people (i.e. the 99%) haven't been going up with inflation for years, so this is moot.

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      July 1, 2013 12:08 PM

      I hope cheap doesn't imply inferiority. As the saying goes you get what you pay for. Like to see the cost analysis of this system and quality of build compared to a 100dollar more better system of xbox one. What is the cost to make both systems and what do you get for performance with the quality of the hardware.

      For me its about the games, online platform and controller and Xbox One is the preferred system for my gaming consumption especially with my favorite game exclusive for Xbox One - TitanFall.

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        July 1, 2013 12:18 PM

        It's not really exclusive to the Xbox One. You can play Titanfall on the 360 and PC, as well.

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          July 1, 2013 4:41 PM

          It's his preferred controller. We all know mouse and keyboard is inferior for FPS games.

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        July 1, 2013 12:22 PM

        [deleted]

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        July 1, 2013 2:08 PM

        But... 360 was cheaper than PS3 at launch too. It held its own.

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      July 1, 2013 12:19 PM

      [deleted]

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        July 1, 2013 12:21 PM

        how do you know they don't have much money to lose?

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        July 1, 2013 12:21 PM

        ...We've been able to pre-order launch day $399 PS4 since E3.

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          July 1, 2013 12:21 PM

          I was going to post just this but he did qualify his post with "launch window." We're not in that window.

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          July 1, 2013 12:24 PM

          [deleted]

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            July 1, 2013 12:27 PM

            Why are you making the assumption that they are going to lose money at $399? Estimated BOM puts it well under $399.

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            July 1, 2013 12:34 PM

            The $399 launch day sku is OOS on amazon, however they do offer game bundle launch day editions.

            PS4 + Watch Dogs = $460
            PS4 + Battlefield 4 + 1yr PS+ = $499
            PS4 + Killzone + 1yr PS+ = $499

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            July 1, 2013 12:41 PM

            They're using the same idea they used when creating the Vita: set a price point, select hardware to come below that point, and make a profit.

            They're not pulling another PS3 era. They're very clear they're not making that mistake again.

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        July 1, 2013 4:04 PM

        [deleted]

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        July 1, 2013 4:40 PM

        Have you always been a fanboy or did I just miss the memo?

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      July 1, 2013 4:54 PM

      I was about to post that I read an article on Ars Technica about this same thing three days ago but then decided to click the link and saw that this is linked to said article.

      There's also this related article too:
      http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/06/report-sony-scrapped-pack-in-camera-plans-to-give-ps4-a-price-advantage/

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