Post
It launched at $599 and got roasted, but by the end of the generation, it had some of the greatest games ever made.
The PS3 (2006) had one of the roughest console launches in history. The $599 price tag (driven by the expensive Cell processor and Blu-ray drive) was mocked relentlessly. 'Five hundred and ninety-nine US dollars' became a meme. The Cell processor was powerful but notoriously difficult to develop for, leading to inferior multiplatform ports for years. But Sony played the long game. Free online play via PSN undercut Xbox Live, and a slow but steady stream of incredible exclusives (Uncharted 2, The Last of Us, Demon's Souls) turned the PS3's reputation around completely. It ultimately sold around 87 million units, nearly matching the 360.
Example
Demon's Souls (2009) was initially considered a niche curiosity that Sony almost didn't publish in the West. It became a cult hit that spawned the entire Soulslike genre, arguably the most influential game design movement of the 2010s.
Why it matters
The PS3 demonstrated that a troubled launch can be overcome with patience and investment in exclusive software. Its Blu-ray bet paid off as the format won the HD disc war, and its late-generation exclusives set Sony up for PS4 dominance.
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