PlayStation 3 to get 200 new titles in 2008

E3: Sony says goal is to increase console's install base

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 7/11/2007

JULY 11 | CULVER CITY, Calif.—To try to catch up to next-generation leaders Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 will boast 200 new titles in 2008 worldwide.

During Sony’s E3 presentation here on Wednesday, executives showed clips of more than 50 of these upcoming titles, including PS3-exclusive sequels to popular franchises Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Metal Gear Solid 4.

This onslaught of software will build further momentum for PS3, already invigorated by the $100 price drop on the 60GB model to $499, said Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO.

“We have two goals in North America this year for the PS3. One is to broaden our install base, … and since Monday’s [effective price cut], sales have doubled at our Top 5 retailers,” said Tretton. “And the second is to deliver a very wide selection of game services to consumers that offers something to everyone. These are big steps towards the two goals.”

In another show of support for the console, Tretton confirmed that Sony is set to launch a larger-capacity 80GB PS3 for $599 in August.

By year’s end, Sony will ship 11 million PS3 units worldwide, he said, reiterating previously set corporate goals.

Other PS3 exclusive games heading to retail in 2008 are Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin’s Creed, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and NBA ’08.

Also, Tretton said he was upbeat about PS3’s future because of the growth of the Blu-ray Disc format.

“There was speculation about us including Blu-ray in the PS3, but we’ve never wavered on the belief that was the way to go,” he said. “There is a two-to-one sales margin between Blu-ray [titles] and HD DVDs. The recent announcement from Blockbuster dropping HD DVD format in favor of Blu-ray in the great majority of stores reaffirmed what we already knew—Blu-ray is the gaming storage vehicle of the future.”

Additionally, Sony hyped its PlayStation Network, with which PS3 users can download high-definition games onto their consoles. Since PlayStation Network launched in November, more than 2 million users have registered worldwide, 950,000 of which reside in North America. There have been 20 million global game downloads to date.

One key Network title launching this fall is PlayStation Home, Sony’s spin on the increasingly hot PC-based virtual community Second Life. PS3 users will be able to create an idealized world for themselves, including hanging out at luxurious mountain lodges or beachside resorts.

Certain community features of PlayStation Home can be accessed through users’ cell phones, including the ability to shoot pictures and slot them remotely into their PS3 virtual Home. Also, Home users can call up any of their PS3 titles for gameplay within the virtual world environment.

“We want to continue to earn consumers’ business,” said Tretton. “And we are dedicated to bringing them the best entertainment possible.”