Sony refutes 40GB PS3 failure reports

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Nov 9, 2007 4:51 am AEST

Source: Dutch enthusiast site Gamed. What we heard: In July, Microsoft admitted that the Xbox 360 was experiencing unacceptably high failure rates, with some retailers reporting that number to be in excess of 30 percent. Attempting to make amends for its faulty hardware, Microsoft extended Xbox...

Source: Dutch enthusiast site Gamed.

What we heard: In July, Microsoft admitted that the Xbox 360 was experiencing unacceptably high failure rates, with some retailers reporting that number to be in excess of 30 percent. Attempting to make amends for its faulty hardware, Microsoft extended Xbox 360 warranties for three years from when the system launched. Still, hardware failure has remained a touchy subject for console makers, and is often used as fuel feeding the ever-raging fanboy wars.

Yesterday, Dutch gaming site Gamed looked to take the wind out of the sails of some of Sony's most vitriolic fan base. The site claimed that Belgian retailer Game Mania had said that the recently released 40GB PlayStation 3 is experiencing a 40 percent return rate due to faulty hardware. The report claimed the problem produced a disc-read error for Blu-ray and other media formats similar to the disc-read errors that plagued the PlayStation 2.

The official story: Far from the canned "Sony does not comment on rumors or speculation" response typically given for reports of this kind, Sony Europe has issued a formal statement refuting claims that the 40GB PS3 is experiencing higher-than-normal hardware malfunctions--and attacking the Gamed report.

"We are very proud of the quality and reliability of PlayStation 3 and are disappointed that such extremely sloppy journalism has resulted in this totally inaccurate story," said SCEE president David Reeves in a statement. "Since launching the 40GB PS3, we have experienced a fantastic jump in sales and the failure rates have remained at the very low level that we not only strive for, but have been achieving since the launch of PS3."

Then, this morning, Gamed itself issued a full retraction. "Yesterday we published a report that the Belgian chain Game Mania had recovered a large number of faulty PS3 40GB it had sold to customers," read the article. "Today we got the report that this information is not correct. According to Sony and Game Mania the report was based on an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances and was totally not representative [of PS3 sales]. Thusly, both parties asked us to retract this report."

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus.

230 Comments

  • Vamp112

    Posted May 30, 2009 4:39 am PT

    Thats funny my Ps3 failed.

  • sampateman

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 9:45 am PT

    Who cares? PS3 still sucks.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 7:35 pm PT

    Well the defect rate for this generation of consoles IS rather high.

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    Yeah, ... but ... err.. how'd i know some cash didn't exchange hands behind closed doors. It's possible anyway. let's put it another way. They [sony] say 120 million PS2s sold, they fail to mention that only around 50-80 million of those are actually in perfect working order - the rest are being used as door stops and even rotting in some recycle bins somewhere or otherwise being sold on eBay so you can't always believe everything they say.

  • ENDOT12123

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 10:54 am PT

    man all these modern consoles break down, tho i aint had no trouble with my gamecube lol, my 360 had red ring of death only 1 time tho fingers crossed never happens again, yh and my 1st xbox i dropped down the stairs and i cried cuz it was the crystal 1 and i never worked again, i wunder y, but n e ways yh i still have a sega mega drive and it works like the 1st day i bought it, i no it has less components 2 go rong but jus sayin i got a 15 yr old console that never gone rong and all these new consoles go rong every day.

  • Seraphim_24

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 11:04 pm PT

    Just bring back backward compatability and we'll be happy.

  • boobush

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 6:50 am PT

    It's shame that some time ago gam systems wouldn't fail, or at least to a very small group of people.

  • KBABZ

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 6:23 pm PT

    delcidanddarth said: Why do ppl have to knock the 40gig ps3? So what if it's not backwards compatible? The PS2 is still selling strong, and I bet that Sony figured out that customers weren't that worried about playing their old games.

    Exactly my argument. The reason why they took out the PS2 B/C is because the PS2 is extremely cheap right now.

  • EnigmaticBeauty

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    It's too soon to tell what problems the PS3 will have. The PS2's disk read error always happened a month or two after its warranty expired.

  • Threesixtyci

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 11:36 am PT

    heh... I bet they were basing the report on returned merchandise. All the returns of discovering that the 40gig lacks B/C, after buying it.

  • delcidanddarth

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 11:30 am PT

    Why do ppl have to knock the 40gig ps3? So what if it's not backwards compatible? The PS2 is still selling strong, and I bet that Sony figured out that customers weren't that worried about playing their old games. Sure, the smarter customer would trade in their old one, but guess what? Ppl love to collect things. Like books for college. Sure, we could return them and get some money, but most just keep them forever.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 11:05 am PT

    PS3 is the worst console you could have to fail on you.

  • razu_gamer

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 6:03 am PT

    360 is pathetic in hardware wise. PS3 and Wii totally own for reliability.

  • Devvy01

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 6:01 am PT

    why can't they iron the bugs out instead of nearly half of the consoles failing.. that nuts

  • goliath98

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 5:24 am PT

    Ps3's reliability is too high for this to be true.

  • thekey

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 4:02 am PT

    I'm telling you all right now. That weather or not this is false, PS3's do fail. I'm on my second one. I don't know if I beleive that it's as high as 40% but I'm talking about the 60GB PS3's. I work part time a retail store and every 2 weekes someone turns in a PS3 "as defective" I telling you all there's some truth to this article. Weather you all out there think I'm trolling or not I don't care.

  • KBABZ

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 3:43 am PT

    Good to see how quickly Sony jumped onto this, but I jumped myself when they used the word 'totally!'... and then the feedback did the same!

    I knew it was completely bogus. Even though I've had my PS3 for about 3 months now I've been having great fun on it, and while not on games as much as others would like, as I realise it's an ENTERTAINMENT console, which means it isn't limited to just gaming. Anyways, the idea of a 40% failure rate for PS3s is preposterous to me. It may not have the largest gaming collection in the world, but the chrome's been waxed and the bolts are tight.

    And for those saying PS3s get RRODs, they obviously haven't even looked at a PS3; it doesn't have a power ring, rather just a green light under the power 'button', with a blue one next to it for the eject button. It only goes red when you put it in Stand By to turn it off.

  • njjennjim

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 1:40 am PT

    Sounds like someone was contacted by Sony's lawyers!

  • Azhar85

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 12:07 am PT

    yeah...that right....now you got it sony fan boys.....

  • LiliShake

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 9:52 pm PT

    @majin_vegeta300

    Probably to keep it from stoking the fanboy fires.

  • thrashunreal

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    Consider this one of the few things you'll hear me say about Sony, but at the very least, Sony's QC is VERY good. I mean, think about it, the 40GB shouldn't have any problems. We've been waiting for it long enough.

    Well, YOU'VE been waiting for it long enough.

  • DatGMan

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 9:00 pm PT

    Jeez, I would hardly buy this story even if it wasn't retracted, due to the fact that no one would ever release a console that would be poorly enough made to warrant a 40% return rate.

  • b1gdman

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 8:52 pm PT

    I beat the f*** out of my ps2 and it never failed me...then I traded it in for an X Box and it broke pretty quick. I am not proud of my past but I trust Sony to build better quality consoles then Microsoft...even if they f*** up almost twice as often as M$. Don't hate seriously, I think that everyone here can say that both companies really have to clean up their acts a bit more. I don't own a Wii but I think that if any brand cares about their customers it is Nintendo and I respect that. Idk just my thoughts...

  • faceman420

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 8:28 pm PT

    hardware is what sony does best

  • Skiggy80

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 8:25 pm PT

    I own the ps3, 360 and wii. I had to replace my 360 once and my wii twice. The ps3 is still standing strong. However all of my systems would if i didnt play them. My ps3 is a blu ray player and that about it. I cant even think of a game I want for it. Maybe God of War 3. MGS4 doesnt appeal to me and if it ever comes out, I'm willing to bet it comes out multiplatform. I pretty much get all multiplatform games for my 360 so i can get the achievements and xbox live. I heard sony is supposed to do something like that in "home" but I was hoping they came up with somthing on their own that made themselves different from live. They basically are copying almost everything on xbox live and are going to boast that its free. But given the sales of the ps3, I am willing to bet that a version of "Home" will cost something. Otherwise sony is paying network admins and programmers boku bucks and not getting any money in return, especially in hardware sales. All honesty it would be wise for sony to charge a small fee and dont be surprised if they do.

  • Thigeic

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 7:37 pm PT

    bruno_ps2 , not sure if you noticed, but an european site really pissed on sony on this one. And for MS looking good, and Sony looking bad, thats becouse thats how it is. The one with the games is the natural good one. The one without... aint so much. So in a year we wount noticed much diffrence becouse the ps3 will have good games aswell, and not only a few. Even if the 360 will have ALOT more games by then, people will not care, since both have enough

  • chupamelpo

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 7:22 pm PT

    dumbes article ever!!!!!! But it's funny the Fanboys-Wars

  • Wellscha

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 6:29 pm PT

    Hmmmmmmmmm.............interesting.

    My PS2 was one of thos plagued by "Disc Read Error"
    it died six months after i bought it. Repaired it and it died a year later. Repaired it again and it died 6 months ago.
    oh well, guess its about time to by a new PS2

  • quanloco

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    Well they hid it on the ps2 having disk read errors for 3 yrs and when your system does'nt sell and there are no games people dont play therefore the system won't break.

  • Gam3smar7

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:39 pm PT

    perhaps the Dutch reporter was paid by MS to create fake story ?

  • jrett

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:33 pm PT

    I think posting this was good. Sony needs to stay on top of bad pr, especially if it is not true, and publisizing the fact that these bozo's published a false story can only help.

  • clawboy

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:04 pm PT

    This is nothing more that 360 fanboys who have nothing better to do since their consoles are defects.

  • glhx1rush

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:00 pm PT

    "unfortunate coincidence of circumstances and was totally not representative [of PS3 sales]....hahahahahah, Yep, sounds like the Bull Crap machine is in full damage control mode now.....tisk tisk $ony........

  • PS360owner

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    Why is Gamespot always disrespecting Sony? When will people realize that PS3 owners are Sony fans forever. We are loyal and will support Sony no matter what. The Japanese just make superior products. Live with it.

  • sja28

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 4:16 pm PT

    and if is true sony will never accep it so poor people that haves a defective sostem mine is perfect but i have the 60gb wich is great

  • futurehobo300

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    why do people try to make the ps3 look as bad as the 360 and fail miserably. Ive had my ps3 since launch and i have had no hardware or software problems with it. My friends who are extremely loyal to microsoft have each gone through at least 1 messed up 360. My school tech support guy has even gone through 4, thats right 4 360's, he was glad that he decided to switch to the ps3. hell i have even gone to a gamestop and the 360 for display had a red ring of death.

  • linkin_guy109

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 4:05 pm PT

    i dont buy this, if you get me solid proof that this is the truth il believe it, till then go away im not interestied

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    lol gamespot must have no news to talk about.

  • Pudgieluv

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:45 pm PT

    For THE LOVE OF GOD! are they ever gonna stop looking for somthing wrong with the ps3 and just give it props already... its not a 360.

  • vrizzle

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:30 pm PT

    i bought my ps3 in January and i havent had any problems with it whatsoever, i havent had any problems with my nintendo wii, but my 360 has given me the most problems(disk read errors"both kinds", disk tray jamming, and the infamous red rings) i sent mine in 2 weeks ago and im still waiting so that i can play GHIII. yeah but sony makes good products

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:17 pm PT

    Really a useless article :S

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:14 pm PT

    I have some Sony products that have been working since day one, and others that died out of the gate. I do not automatically think "reliable" when I see the Sony brand name.

  • lostn

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:11 pm PT

    Because Rumor Control is about 'controlling' rumors. That means confirming true stories as well as debunking false ones. Rumors by nature are not always going to be true. So, a feature like Rumor Control, you would expect it to have some stories bogus, some stories not bogus?

  • ScottEFresh

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    LOL @ threefixme FANBOYS trying to make up rumours...just like girls do in high school!

  • roelrdzjr

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    SONY FANBOY ARMY UNITE!!!!!!!!!

  • wizardps2

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    Nice sony get the bad Guys! now EA and Msft. PS3 RUles

  • darkride66

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    GIF said "ANYTHING that SCEE will always be a sham since they were caught EDITING Halo 3."
    Dude, that was one sentance, from one Sony employee in liverpool, and that was 6 months ago. MS used to edit Wikipedia all the time until they were caught. A quick google search will show you that. Take a deep breath and relax....
    Also, we have a 3 year warranty as of only a July and it was damage control. They still haven't mailed me back the cash they owe me from my second last console return and I've been without my 360 for 5 months in total since launch. If that's ok by you then I have some swampland that might interest you.

  • Nnoga

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 2:31 pm PT

    I think their is a valid and important reasons for this article.

    A) Valid. this is not regular news post. This a Rumor Control news post. The reason these things exist is to inform members and officially debunk and dispel false claims.

    B) Important. Because, now you have been informed and can help put it to rest when brought up in the real world by people who love to believe everything they here. We members should not be so quick to judge Gamespot of malpractice. They are only trying to keep us abreast of all the Bullcrap that gets thrown around.

  • felshs

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 2:28 pm PT

    lolz....i almost not buy one, so its still on my Xmas list after all

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