Sony slashes US 80GB PS3 price by $100
Announces 40GB model too
Sony has cut the price of the US 80GB PlayStation 3 to $499 (£245/€352), a prelude to the launch next month of the 40GB version, already announced in Europe and Japan.
Sony launched the 80GB PS3 in the US in July, a month before it went on sale for $599.
The 40GB model will cost $399 (£196/€281) and will go on sale Stateside on 2 November. The console comes to the UK tomorrow, 19 October, but won't arrive in Japan until 11 November.
US gamers, like buyers in all the other two territories, will not be able to play PS2 games on the 40GB PS3, Sony confirmed, a move it said "reflected the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles" and stressed that the 80GB PS3's ability to play PS2 titles was, in any case, "limited".
The 40GB model does contain a Blu-ray Disc drive and will come bundled with a copy of Spider-man 3 on BD. Like the 80GB model, the 40GB PS3 has a built-in HDMI port but only two, rather than four, USB ports. There's no memory card reader, either.
Today, Sony also said it was selling the plant that makes Cell and RSX chips for the PS3 to Toshiba.
COMMENTS
dumb people
yeah if you guys were actually smart, you would have bought it when the 60 gig was out, like i did, and not have to worry about it. there is not one day where i felt that 600 dollars for the 60 gig, was not worth it, in the end, people will see the superior next-gen console (and for those that need help...your reading comments about it!) But if you are complaining about not having backwards compatibility, then go buy the 80 gig, damn cheap people. well, i would love to talk more, but i'm too busy playing my backwards compatible 60 gig ps3 peace out!
PS2 on PS3 in some cases necessary
Games like Sky Gunner and others that had performance issues (Sky Gunner you had to tell the game to reduce all graphical setting to crap for some stages) on a PS2 seem to get enough power out of the PS3 that you can play at full settings without such a slideshow effect. A new PS2 wont cut it for those situations (admittidly rare).
@Graham
Fair enough - I'm quite proud of my PS2, so I don't really care one way or another. I suppose also having the functionality on my PS3 is an added bonus, but I still prefer to play my PS2 games on my HD'd PS2 (that's Hard Drive.. not 720p/1080p) where the load speeds are fantastiche! And again, you CAN play Guitar Hero on the PS3.. (people just don't listen..tsk)
If you truly want a PS3 with backwards compatibility, then buy a 60Gb now before they run out of stock (will they though...? As in make anymore? doubt it.. but hey ho). At the current price of £350, i think it's a steal what with all the tech in that box. Can't see why some people are complaining about price - I paif full whack, and I'm certainly not complaining about losing out! had more than enough play out of it already, and on a per hour basis, i'm sure I've kicked the rate per hour to well below 50p/hr.
One happy PS3 owner.. and Xbox Elite owner.. and soon to be Wii owner (when LegoSW comes out[!!])
Yay for Paris!
@McDermott
Lessee which of those games are supported on the PS2 you apparently already have:
Guitar Hero - Yup!
GT4 - Yup!
and so on...
It's crazy. And you wouldn't have to pay a dime.
@ Alex and Joe
The reason backwards compatibility is so sam important is i dont want a bloody ps2 stashed under my tv along with a ps3, common sense really. Although at present there are no games i want, FFXIII is on my to buy list so hence i will get the machine but i'll be dammed as hell if i have to keep my old ps2 beside the tv also. Along with a sky box, Media pc and a 360 its already cramped enough as it is....
