Sony has announced a European price cut for its Playstation 2 console which brings its price down to Euros 149(GBP 100 or USD 184). This brings the PS2 price in Europe down to the same level as that of Microsoft's XBox which had its price cut to the same level yesterday.
The Japanese electronics giant has also announced a deal which will see Evolution, creator of the multi-million selling World Rally Championship (WRC) series for PlayStation 2, develop games exclusively for SCEE and Sony platforms.
Both announcements come as preparation for Q4, 2004 which is expected to be an extremely busy period with competition between console manufacturers heating-up.
Sony has hinted that the price cut will work together with upcoming titles such as Gran Turismo 4, Getaway: Black Monday, Singstar Party, EyeToy Play 2 and Killzone, all to be published by SCEE, and titles such as Grand Theft Auto San Andreas from Rockstar Games, Burnout 3: Take Down published by Electronic Arts and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater from Konami. So we should expect a variety of bundling PS 2 options this holiday season. This might be Sony's reply to industry pressure for further price cuts, since bundling is often seen as an indirect (and temporary) price cut.
The evoluion announcement is also a strong hint that Sony expects the developer to be a strong contributor to its next generation of hardware including the PSP and PS 3.
Evolution also has a satellite studio, bigBig, who are currently working on an original title for PSP.
The exclusivity deal will see the Rally franchise continue alongside creation of new and original games titles.
Under the terms of the deal, Evolution will not only continue to work on WRC for the PlayStation 2, but will apply their knowledge and expertise to begin development on future Sony platforms.
WRC4 will launch in Europe at the end of October this year.
