EA exec crosses fingers for Sony's future

Having the most expensive console on the market by a distance during a global recession is unlikely to have featured in Sony's original PlayStation 3 masterplan. But that is where the company finds itself today, and declining hardware sales, contrasting with rivals' fortunes, have increased pressure on the Japanese firm.

But rumours of an imminent price cut are circling, which, if correct, would be music to the ears of retailers and publishing partners. Not least Electronic Arts, one of many firms to have invested heavily in the future success of the platform.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Redwood Shores general manager Glen Schofield revealed his fears over the positioning of the console in the market, agreeing that the pricepoint placed PS3 as a luxury item in difficult economic times.

"I'm really not sure what's going on with Sony," he said. "They've been such a great, great partner and PlayStation 2 being such a great machine that, God, I hope they get out of this and they figure it out and they're around for a long time."

He refused outright to call for a price cut, stating: "You know, I can't tell them what to do. I don't know their finances." But Schofield added that it was good for health of the whole industry to have three successful home consoles in the market. "I love having the three major machines like that."

Redwood Shores' most recently released Dead Space to critical acclaim. The next title from the studio will be Dante's Inferno.