Why PlayStation 4 Costs $650 In India And Why Indian Gamers May Still Have Some Hope

A few years after a UK-based manufacturer developed a $40 tablet specifically for Indian college students (a tablet that has recently reached the U.S. and could one day sell for as low as $20), Sony's PlayStation will price at nearly 40,000 Rupees, or nearly $650, when it is released in India on Jan. 6, the Times of India reported. In comparison, the console costs $399 in the United States.

The fee may price out a fair amount of Indian gamers (who are typically younger than American gamers), and foster resentment in those who do make the purchase. Still, Sony has defended its price. The Japanese company doesn't have the same advantage as the Datawind Aakash Tablet, which was created in partnership with the Indian government and likely avoided the steep import and custom fees for which the PS4 is subject. India also has a "multi-layered distribution system," according to the Times of India, meaning the console exchanges more hands before reaching consumers than it does in the United States.

Those looking to order the unit online or through a connection in the United States probably won't fare much better and will be subject to the same high import rates, according to the Times of India's interview with PlayStation India head Atindriya Bose.

The cheapest route may simply be patience, if that is possible for a console as anticipated as the PS4 (over two million sold in the United States). Given Xbox One's India release is still about a year away (late 2014), the $650 price tag will likely be modified to perhaps steal attention from One's release. According to Tech 2, Sony might also use that period to offer finance and buy back options. Atindriya offered a third reason for hope when she mentioned the PS3, which actually costs less in India ($275) than the United States ($299), the Times of India reported. Perhaps that will one day be the case for "4."

Yet, it's also important to keep in mind that One is projected to cost even more than the PS4. If sales are solid, Sony may feel less motivated to work with buyers staving instant gratification.