Analyst predicts PS3 price cut

A video games analyst has predicted that Sony will cut the price of its PS3 console by $100 (£68.50) in North America during April.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes that the price of an 80GB PS3 will fall from $399 to $299.

He explained that "once the PS3 is at a more affordable price point, we think that sales of that device will once again begin to grow".

Pachter said that he also expects an imminent cut in price for the Xbox 360, with the "feature-laden Pro model likely to come down in price to $249 at or before this year's E3 show in June".

However, he predicted that Nintendo will "maintain Wii pricing at $249 until the company sees signs that demand is slowing, which means a price cut may not happen until late in the year, if at all".

Ahead of the release of NPD US sales figures for December, Pachter also said that Nintendo will dominate again by shifting 3.25 million Wii consoles and 2.6 million DS units.