As the global economy continues to remain weak, most markets are seeing sales at the lowest point in many years. Even the stalwart video game industry is seeing sales figures decline in the face of the economic recession.

Console sales are directly tied to software sales and many game publishers are putting pressure on Sony to drop the price of its PS3 console. The PS3 is by far the most expensive game console on the market that is currently dominated by the lower priced Nintendo Wii.

Sony maintains that no price cuts are coming on the console and some industry analysts say that Sony simply can’t cut the price of the PS3 considering that the console is still a money loser for the company. Rumors of price cuts on the PS3 continue to circulate as fast as Sony can deny price cuts are coming.

The latest rumor comes from IndustryGamers who cites industry sources that claim a price cut on the PS3 is coming in August to coincide with the launch of the latest Madden NFL game. If the rumors are to be believed this time, the price cut would be significant at $100.

The price cut is said to be coming mid-August shortly before the August 18 launch of Madden. Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia said, "The industry is alive and well. While software sales for the first half of 2009 are expected to be down mid-single-digits, we believe the second half, in contrast, will likely be up 10% to 15% driven by a robust lineup, easier comparisons and potential price cut(s)."

Sales of game hardware and software are predicted to have drop another 17% in May. If Sony cuts the price on its PS3, odds are Microsoft and Nintendo would cut prices on their consoles as well. Price cuts could be the catalyst that the gaming industry needs to pull out of its sales nosedive.