Now, Sony Doesn’t Want You to Buy the PS5 Slim. Why Tech Companies Love the Decoy Effect
Photo by Reet Talreja on Unsplash
Sony has finally decided to do it. They've decided to make it smaller rather than keep producing the big, ugly lump that is the PS5. They are producing the PS5 Slim and it ships in November.
“That isn’t exciting news in a month when Mario Wonder releases. What is interesting is that Sony doesn’t want your money for the PS5 at all. This is another case of a company producing a product they don’t want you to purchase.
See if you agree with me by reading my article below.”
The Pricing Strategy
You might already know the PS5 from Uncharted and Madden. You don’t need to know about Katamari to understand the pricing strategy for the newly announced ‘slim’ PS5.
The news is that the new full-fat disk drive PS5 will cost $499.99. The digital-only disk-less version is $449.99 with the additional $79.99 disk drive expansion, making it $20 more expensive than the version with one built in already.
“If you’re getting a PS5 you’ll already know that games are cheaper on disk than as a digital version. Considerably cheaper, as Sony controls the digital storefront in a way they cannot dream of controlling physical stores. You should be getting the disk version so you can buy a cut-price version of Driveclub.
Beyond that Sony clearly would prefer you to just get the full-fat PS5. Sure you can get the aftermarket disk drive but you’ll be wasting money.”
Sony’s Strategy
“Sony wants to compete with Xbox’s cut price (and diskless) Series S machine. So, it needs a low entry point of $450 but, at the same time, is able to maintain a higher $500 price point for most of its sales.
I think we will also see limited availability for the diskless version, although if you want to buy that, Sony is still happy to take your $450 but they’d rather have $500 all things considered. That’s the decoy effect that is a psychological technique often used by Apple.”
Sony’s Disrespect
Don’t worry, Sony knows how to get your money with moves that encompass more than just asking for more money for lame remasters of yesteryear’s games.
“Sony took a leaf out of Apple’s book for pricing with the PS5.
If you want a stand for your new PS5 it will set you back $30.
No joke here. Sony knows how to make money”
Sony for software developers
Don’t think that Jim Ryan just disrespects his customers and his own software catalog. Sony is one of the tech companies laying off developers.
“One of the biggest and best studios in the industry is the Sony-owned Naughty Dog. It will come as no surprise that layoffs are going on at that elite studio.
Corporations love money. Naughty Dog has been using many versions of ‘crunch’ and ‘voluntary overtime’ for years to eke out the last cents of value from their overworked staff.
If Sony disrespects their customers with psychological tricks, is it any surprise they do the same with their staff? Software development is an industry where people come second. It is a real shame that video game production is the area that seems to bear the brunt of these horrid practices.
Tech companies use the decoy effect because they hate customers. Remember that.”
Conclusion
“Sony hates you.
Don’t worry. The Secret Developer still loves you. Although you have a typo in that code you’ve just pushed, and that piece of code is repeated.”