Sony preps refreshed PS3 and talks down PS4

The PlayStation is slimming down again, after Sony made further tweaks to the console's innards, while insisting a PS3 successor is still a long way off.

According to a report on Andriasang, the updated PS3 gobbles 30W less power at 200W, and weighs 400g less at 2.6kg. There have also been changes to the power and eject buttons, as well as the removal of some LED illumination.

Does my Rom look big in this?

These new 320GB models – the CECH-3000 – will cost the same as the present set and will roll out as soon as retailers' current stock runs dry.

Microsoft recently gave its Xbox 360s some organ doctoring too, also making them less weighty and power hungry.

Meanwhile, SCEA CEO Jack Tretton has refuted claims that the Nintendo Wii U will prompt Sony to launch a PS4 sooner than expected. In an interview with Forbes, Tretton said:

"PlayStation 3 is really just hitting its stride... technologically, I don’t think it’s possible to provide any advancement beyond what we have.

"What we’ve seen from the competition is trying to add features that already exist in PlayStation 3. We invested heavily in that, we rolled a very heavy rock up a steep hill, through the launch period. But now I think that all pays off, and we’ve got a long run way behind it.

"So, I wouldn’t look for any discussion of a next generation PlayStation for quite some time."

Reports suggest the company is already working on a PlayStation 3 successor, although next-gen R&D will always be going on, so unless we officially hear otherwise, we'll assume Tretton is bang on the money. Either way, it certainly appears the PS4 will launch after Microsoft's Xbox 720, rumoured to be revealed at next year's E3.

Crysis developer Crytek - reportedly creating games for Microsoft's next-gen console already - has come forth today insisting it doesn't have access to future Xbox hardware as yet. ®