The price of games for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s upcoming PlayStation 3 console is getting a little clearer. Software for the soon-to-be-launched machine has begun appearing on online shopping sites like Amazon.com and Sony's SonyStyle and almost all the games carry a US$60 price tag.

That's more expensive than many games for the PlayStation 2, which typically carry a price tag of between $20 and $40, with the most popular titles costing $50.

The higher price is likely to come as little surprise to gamers. Many have been expecting to pay more for games for the new console. The PlayStation 3 is much more expensive than those that have gone before it. It will be launched first in Japan on Nov. 11 in two versions, the cheapest of which will cost 49,800 (US$425). Six years ago, when the PlayStation 2 went on sale, it cost 39,800.

Still, the prices could be good news for some. Gaming sites were abuzz with rumors from last weekend's Tokyo Game Show that PlayStation 3 software was going to cost around $100, although no such announcements were made at the show.