iSuppli: 2008 Exclusives, Price Cut To Provide PS3 Turning Point

Research firm iSuppli believes that 2008 will be PlayStation 3's year, predicting that PS3 exclusives like LittleBigPlanet, Blu-ray's recent victory in the format wars, and a likely price reduction due to production improvements will drive increasing demand for the console. According to Reuters, iSuppli analyst Pamela Tufegdzic commented, "2008 will be a turning year for the PS3. Sony is offering a better forthcoming software pipeline with blockbuster titles like Gran Turismo 5, which will boost PS3 sales this year." Moreover, the firm anticipates another price cut for the console, given expectations that Sony's manufacturing costs will drop below PS3 selling prices in the second half of fiscal 09, thanks to more efficient production and falling component costs. "Come Christmas, consumers who originally bought the Wii will likely purchase the PS3," predicts Tufegdzic. iSuppli also recently released a report that showed PS3 ultimately having the largest worldwide install base in 2011, exceeding that of the other two next-gen consoles. According to the firm, the PS3 will see 38.4 million users in 2011, growing significantly from a total of 10.3 million in 2007.