Europe, UK PS3 prices higher than Japan, U.S.
The price isn’t new news, but a few UK gamers did air out their frustration for not only having painstakingly waited to get their hands on a PS3, but also for having to pay more than U.S. and Japan customers had to pay. Even the console’s accessories are slated to be slightly steeper in price in Europe and the UK.
So why have one of their best markets wait four months longer and then have them pay more? It all lies in the exchange rates and VAT. Ireland can avail of the PS3 at a hefty £ 415 (€ 629/US$ 819), while the UK and the rest of continental Europe can get them at £ 395 (€ 599/US$ 780). The U.S. has already availed of the PS3 at a low £ 352 (US$ 692) – that’s a £ 73 difference.
Ray Maguire, SCE’s UK managing director and the same guy who put the price tag (and delivered UK retail news), says that merely comparing VAT and exchange rate equivalents directly is too simplistic approach. A two-pence difference in the sterling exchange rate could raise or lower the PS3’s price by £ 12 (US$ 23)!
With 60 GB version demand and higher cost of living in the UK, the price is definitely not going to be cheap. But Maguire said, “I would dearly love to have the Playstation under £ 400, and at such time we could afford to do so, we will.”
There are already 220,000 units now made available for the UK, from the one million units made slated for the Europe PS3 launch.
The price isn’t new news, but a few UK gamers did air out their frustration for not only having painstakingly waited to get their hands on a PS3, but also for having to pay more than U.S. and Japan customers had to pay. Even the console’s accessories are slated to be slightly steeper in price in Europe and the UK.
So why have one of their best markets wait four months longer and then have them pay more? It all lies in the exchange rates and VAT. Ireland can avail of the PS3 at a hefty £ 415 (€ 629/US$ 819), while the UK and the rest of continental Europe can get them at £ 395 (€ 599/US$ 780). The U.S. has already availed of the PS3 at a low £ 352 (US$ 692) – that’s a £ 73 difference.
Ray Maguire, SCE’s UK managing director and the same guy who put the price tag (and delivered UK retail news), says that merely comparing VAT and exchange rate equivalents directly is too simplistic approach. A two-pence difference in the sterling exchange rate could raise or lower the PS3’s price by £ 12 (US$ 23)!
With 60 GB version demand and higher cost of living in the UK, the price is definitely not going to be cheap. But Maguire said, “I would dearly love to have the Playstation under £ 400, and at such time we could afford to do so, we will.”
There are already 220,000 units now made available for the UK, from the one million units made slated for the Europe PS3 launch.
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