Sony admits that it made a pricing mistake with the PS3, attributing it to overconfidence based on previous successes.
Sony has acknowledged that it faced challenges during the launch of the PS3, particularly with regard to its pricing and complex architecture. In a video interview with CNBC, outgoing PlayStation chief Jim Ryan, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst and former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden briefly addressed the issues that arose.
The PS3 Was Overpriced And Too Complex, Sony Admits
Ryan acknowledged that during the PlayStation 3 era, Sony became overconfident due to the success of the PlayStation 2, which led to some early challenges. He described the early days of the PS3 as "difficult" and admitted to stumbling at the start of the generation.
At the time of PS3's release, Hulst had only been a member of the PlayStation family for a year, running Guerrilla Games, the studio behind Killzone, which Sony acquired in 2005. He recognized the PS3 as a powerful but challenging platform for game development: "It was very, very powerful, but it was also very expensive". Even with a few price cuts, it was still more expensive than the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. Still, Hulst highlighted the significant effort Sony has put into working with big name franchises to bring games to the PS3.
Layden noted that Sony's missteps during the PS3 era ultimately led to the creation of remarkable first-party games that became defining titles for PlayStation. Recognizing its hardware and pricing mistakes, the company shifted its focus to software and ultimately found success there.