New Model of PS3, Price Cut to $300 US

Posted on Wednesday 19th August 2009 at 00:54 by laszlow

Earlier today Kaz Hirai confirmed the upcoming release of the long-suspected new, slimmer model of the PlayStation 3 arriving soon in stores worldwide. The new model contains a 120GB hard drive, maintains all the features supported in the 80 and 160 GB versions, and is approximately 30% smaller and 35% lighter than the current models. The slender new version also has a new, modified PS3 logo etched on the side, and comes standard with the new PS3 firmware v3.0.

Sony also confirmed that the $299 price drop will apply to all PS3s, namely the 80 GB and 160 GB units still on the market. There are also rumors of a second slim PS3 with 200 or 250 GB of storage space, but these are only rumors at the moment.

The new Sony PlayStation 3 will be available worldwide during the first week of September, at $299 in the United States and 299 euros in most of Europe.

Sources (with pictures) courtesy of Kotaku:
Original announcement
Price points
Bonus information with pictures

Posted in: Gaming Industry News, News from Japan

Written by	laszlow
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Comments

seraphimdreamer777	Comment 1: 2009-08-19 01:07
	All I want to know is if it or any available model still plays PS2 games. I got my PS3 this year and was disappointed that it only plays PSX and PS3 despite the ability to create a PS2 memory card slot. I paid for the most expensive PS3 also so I'd say it should play all three so I'm kind of mad. So I just wonder if it or any other PS3 will play PS2 or if they quit making them like that all together.
laszlow	Comment 2: 2009-08-19 02:23
	Quote (seraphimdreamer777 @ 18th August 2009 20:07) All I want to know is if it or any available model still plays PS2 games. Check here: http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus Enter your model of PS3 and a PS1 or PS2 game, and it will show its compatibility status. The 160GB model has the same compatibility as the 80GB model.
Rangers51	Comment 3: 2009-08-19 12:08
	Don't worry, Lasz, I'll fix this thread so it shows up in the news system.
Neal	Comment 4: 2009-08-19 13:26
	This is pretty much cementing a PS3 purchase for me. I don't know yet if I'll go for slim or bulk, but it'll be whichever is backwards compatible.
Rangers51	Comment 5: 2009-08-19 13:57
	Quote (Neal @ 19th August 2009 09:26) This is pretty much cementing a PS3 purchase for me. I don't know yet if I'll go for slim or bulk, but it'll be whichever is backwards compatible. It certainly makes it tempting to me. However, I also realize that I'd pretty much only use it for Blu-Ray and maybe FF13 Versus, so I'm probably just better off getting a BR player for a lot less. If your power bills suck, though, I read that the Slim is a lot less power hungry than the original, Neal.
MetroidMorphBall	Comment 6: 2009-08-19 14:49
	Quote (Rangers51 @ 19th August 2009 05:57) Quote (Neal @ 19th August 2009 09:26) This is pretty much cementing a PS3 purchase for me. I don't know yet if I'll go for slim or bulk, but it'll be whichever is backwards compatible. It certainly makes it tempting to me. However, I also realize that I'd pretty much only use it for Blu-Ray and maybe FF13 Versus, so I'm probably just better off getting a BR player for a lot less. If your power bills suck, though, I read that the Slim is a lot less power hungry than the original, Neal. I thought you already had a 360, Josh? If so, there really is no point in getting the PS3 since they have most of the same games. The only benefit would be Blu-Ray, and there are cheaper players out there, though this price drop makes the PS3 a little more comparable to regular Blu-Ray players, plus the added benefit of gaming. As far as backwards compatibility goes, I've heard repeatedly that Sony is working on a downloadable patch that will make all PS3 systems backwards compatible with PS2 games. Last I heard in the rumor mill, this would be out around Xmas time, but as far as I know there's been no official word from Sony.
Rangers51	Comment 7: 2009-08-19 16:02
	Quote (MetroidMorphBall @ 19th August 2009 10:49) I thought you already had a 360, Josh? If so, there really is no point in getting the PS3 since they have most of the same games. The only benefit would be Blu-Ray, and there are cheaper players out there, though this price drop makes the PS3 a little more comparable to regular Blu-Ray players, plus the added benefit of gaming. Yep, that's exactly the point I was leaning towards.
MetroidMorphBall	Comment 8: 2009-08-20 02:22
	Quote (Rangers51 @ 19th August 2009 08:02) Yep, that's exactly the point I was leaning towards. Ah, cool. I want to emphasize that, for people who do not own a 360, I think the PS3 is a great option, and my own personal favorite of the next gen consoles. You get the more mature games plus a Blu-Ray option, and with the current price drop you get it for not much more than the cost of a plain old Blu-Ray player. However, if you're going to buy it for the Blu-Ray option, keep in mind that you're going to need a 1080p HDTV to really get the maximum visual potential out of it.
Death Penalty	Comment 9: 2009-08-21 00:28
	I was actually going to ask about the compatability. So will the new ones be fully backwards compatable? Mine is one of the older versions (though not the original), so it plays everything. I think this price drop is really essential if the PS3 is going to ever take off in sales. Now it's price is competitive, which helps even the playing feild. Especially seeing as its game library is no worse than the 360's... neither are particularly exciting to me yet.
Rangers51	Comment 10: 2009-08-21 01:14
	Quote (Death Penalty @ 20th August 2009 20:28) I was actually going to ask about the compatability. So will the new ones be fully backwards compatable? http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/ps3-sli...2-compatibilit/ Nope. No Linux (?) either.
Gigantuar	Comment 11: 2009-08-22 10:05
	Sounds good. I haven't got PS3 because of argh high price.
ElPanachino	Comment 12: 2009-08-23 02:25
	Maybe I'll make it my Christmas/Athiestchildrengetpresents day present.
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