Steinberg: Sony underestimated 80GB PS3 demand

  • Posted April 3rd, 2008 at 07:22 EDT by Mike Harradence
  • 5,803 views
  • 22 Comments

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has said it intends to replenish its stock of the 80GB PlayStation at retail, admitting that it underestimated consumer demand for the high-end machine.

Speaking in an interview with GameDaily, SCEA Vice President of Product Marketing Scott Steinberg commented:

"Reality is the price wasn't that big of a deal and $499 sold a lot more than we thought, so the 80 GB got dry at retail not due to us artificially compressing it but the demand became greater than we thought."

Steinberg went on to imply company intends to maintain supply of the 80GB machine for the time being, adding:

“So you'll see us replenish these in the marketplace. We're still committed to our current strategy and there is much to do about nothing, I think is the way to think about it.”

Stay tuned.

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What are your thoughts?

  1. static-x | liljonatl (us) liljonatl2 (jpn)

    • 7:24am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    dude Mike there is going to be a 80gb mgs4 package we have known that for atleast 3 weeks. come on man

  2. Homostud86

    • 7:28am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    They need more 80gb out before gta comes out i think....

  3. djrussell | djrussell89

    • 7:34am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    To be honest - its not the size of the hard drive or how many USB ports it has... its got EVERYTHING to do with backward compatibility. Thats why the 80's selling more.. cause at the end of the day people ARE willing to pay the extra money to be able to keep playing their old PS2 games..

  4. Lotus

    • 7:35am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    if they still want to sell the 80 why not the 60, i had to settle for the 40 coz of all this cr@p. Sony, i like you guys but sometimes you just piss me off to no end.

  5. MrAce | mrace

    • 8:24am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Well here in the UK we are still waiting to see the 80gb versions or even the alleged 120gb. Since the phase put of the 60 all people have got left to buy is 40. Lucky I got my 60 when I did. Sony really need to stop f*king around and make a formal decision on this issue.

  6. J08hawks | J08hawks

    • 8:29am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    as long as they are selling

    psn id J08hawks

  7. jicaley | UKMF-Jay

    • 8:51am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    @ MrAce - I agree mate.

  8. richkaos | richkaos

    • 9:17am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    I think they should just bring out 2 models, the basic 40GB and an all singing all dancing 120GB, that way you please all parties, those that want everything (backwards compatibility) and those that just want to play PS3 games and watch Blu Ray films etc. But we do need another option here in the UK. I got mine on uk launch day and im glad i did as i really wanted all the toys......as a nice to have, cos to be honest i have only played the odd session on san andreas and more recently GT4, all my other PS2 games have not had a look in.

  9. Towelie

    • 9:54am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Give me something other than an 80Gig Metal Gear Bundle. Not really hip with the "metal" look. I'd like to see a piano black SOCOM bundled with a headset and a 45 nanometer processor.

  10. gingo | gingo

    • 11:56am BST - April 3rd, 2008

    psn id: gingo... well its sounding good that they underestimated the demand they can always make more, if it was an overestimation on sonys part that would be more worrying

  11. DaBears | DaBears

    • 12:07pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    @ djrussell - That is exactly why I thought that Sony removed it from the 40 in the first place.  It gives the two systems a significant difference instead of just the hard drive difference and usb ports.  From a business standpoint, seems like it was a great move. 

  12. AclayPS3

    • 1:07pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    I thought that the 80GB PS3's were going to be coming back in June and not anytime soon because of the new MGS4 bundle. The majority of people already know about the MGS4 bundle and they aren't going to buy the 80GB PS3 Motorstorm bundle unless they are really desperate for a 80GB PS3 so that they can play GTA4, or unless they just don't know about the new bundle coming in June.

     

    The 40GB PS3's are usually the one that sell like hotcakes because it's cheaper of course, but I've been seeing a lot of people on another website that I'm on showing a lot of demand for the 80GB PS3 because they want to get one and they wanted one ASAP.

  13. DarkJ3JB | DarkJ3JB

    • 1:40pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Honestly I'm not to excited they 40 and 80 still play PS3 games and Watch bluray.   What more do I need.  I didn't buy my ps3 to play my ps2 games thats why I have my ps2.   So all I need now is to turn my 40 gb.  to a 500 gb.  with an extra $130.  wait or I could have bought an 80 not..... ha ha.... I'd rather have 500gb.  thank you Sony!  for another amazing system your on a roll.  PS1 AMAZIN! PS2 NEVER BETTER!  PS3! OWNING THE WORLD!

     

    PSN: DarkJ3JB

  14. nevertell | nevertell

    • 1:45pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Well I'm glad that they are bringing it back.  I have an 80g myself.  When I heard that they were pulling them from shelves,  I was a little concerned.  What if I had to replace mine?  I would have to downgrade to a 40g since they are the only ones left?  That would not be right.

  15. HazdoTT | Tazmyster

    • 2:54pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    @DarkJ3JB is sooooooooooo true lol

  16. zombieking36

    • 2:57pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    What I love about Sony, they are willing to admit their mistakes!

  17. D3seeker

    • 3:49pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Interesanté, mmmm. I feel that Sony needs to make a decision smart and fast. Anyone satisfied with a 40gig is either a total newby or wannabe crossover X-drone. What about this "secret wepon" Sony has which will make all the PS2 owners want a PS3 "soon!" What's Goin' On!?

  18. psn_frov | frov

    • 3:59pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Backwards capability, that's all I got to say

  19. fkPS3

    • 4:13pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Good news, but I haven't seen information about recent sales on here which I'm guessing means that the PS3 isn't actually doing to well against the competition :o(

  20. CB4 | tatti

    • 4:44pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    PSN ID: tatti

     

    NOw the dumb*ss figures out.

  21. killzone-stealth | killzone-stealth

    • 6:43pm BST - April 3rd, 2008

    Does any1 knows what the 80gb ps3 have?I have a 60gb ps3 and it can play ps2 games and have wifi,4 usb ports,and memory card slot memory stick duo compact flash u get the idea,if u know the answer just post it next to my comment alright.

  22. jrlcgmx

    • 3:44am BST - April 4th, 2008

    The 40 GB really looks cheap =(

    I really have a good reason now that I bought the 60 and will never regret it.

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