Sony NGP Will Be 'Affordable,' Come in Wi-Fi-Only Version
One thing that's clear when looking at the Sony NGP's impressive spec sheet is that this kind of hardware won't come cheap. Sony has stepped forward to assure consumers that the NGP will be "affordable" and come in a cheaper Wi-Fi-only version.
When it launches late this year, the Sony NGP will likely be the most powerful hand-held gaming console in the world. Several experts have estimated that Sony will have to charge nearly $1,000 to account for hardware costs.
Some have also conjectured that the Sony NGP will cost $599, the same as the infamous price of the PlayStation 3 at launch. This was spurred by Sony's claims that the NGP is nearly as powerful as the PS3.
Sony's Shuhei Yoshida went on record saying, "It's not going to be $599." Yoshida's scorn at the idea of the Sony NGP being as expensive as a PS3 seems to indicate it will be considerably below $599. However, he and other Sony executives have been coy about indicating a specific price. Sony's main competition will be the Nintendo 3DS , which will sell for $250.
Even better news for gamers on a budget, Andrew House, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, indicated there will be multiple versions of the NGP, including a Wi-Fi-only version that would be cheaper than the 3G version shown at the press event.
It's also possible that Sony's announcement showed the high-end version and the company would make other versions for cost-conscious customers. For instance, the rear touchpad or the OLED display may be extra features for the expensive model.
