PlayStation 3 sales more than double in UK

By: Musa Afridi

  |   October 2nd, 2012   |  

Uncategorized

The release of the new Super Slim PlayStation 3 has seen a 138% increase in the console’s sales in the previous week. One can expect that to increase when the 12GB model is released later on.

There was a lengthy period where the video game-sphere was dominated by rumours and reports all pointing towards an even slimmer, lighter, more energy efficient PlayStation 3 model being developed by Sony.

The rumours and reports become so frequent and so consistent that Sony found it difficult to maintain its ‘no comment’ policy and publically unveiled the consoles at the Tokyo Game Show last month.

Many expected the console to sport lower memory and cost less than it did, which was the only surprise. The model comes with a 500GB Hard Drive, more than any existing console and will set gamers back around RBP 200 depending on where they purchase if from.

However, Sony also confirmed that a second console, sporting much less memory would also be released in the coming weeks. In fact, the 12GB model has been dated for a release on the 12th of October and promises to be the cheapest PlayStation 3 to date; the price for which will be RBP 185.

The release of the 500GB Super Slim model saw sales figures of the PlayStation 3 more than double. The console saw a 138% increase in sales from the previous week out of which over a third of the units sold were the Super Slim models.

The new model does away with the disc tray and instead goes for more of an old school disc cover, which users slide to reveal the BluRay player and the slot for the disc. Many have complained that it feels plasticy and cheap, but its value for price means that many have overlooked that side of things.

Sony also teased a possible PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita bundle, with Fergal Gara, the president of PlayStation UK, teasing that it is not an idea they would say no to. However, he also conceded that he did not know if there was value for consumers in such as deal unless a few extras, such a PlayStation Plus subscription, were thrown in as well.

Whether or not that idea makes it to the market place remains to be seen, but one can get the feeling that the new PlayStation 3 models and their pricing are set to compete with the Nintendo Wii U, which is releasing this holiday season.

But what are your thoughts on the new Super Slim model; will you be picking one up or not even bothering and waiting for the Wii U? Tell us your console plans in the comments section below.