Sony killing 80GB PS3, introducing 120GB or 160GB model with Dual Shock 3

[e²Studios]

According to Ars Technica, Sony has some big plans for a PlayStation 3 refresh, starting with a phase-out of the 80GB model. According to an "inside source" -- which Ars claims has been consistently right on video game-related predictions -- the console-maker's new plot is starting to take shape, holding fast to a two-SKU approach on packages, upping the hard drive capacity on systems, and including the Dual Shock 3 controller. The new bundles will take the high / low road, with the source stating that the 40GB model will remain on shelves, while the 80GB, Spider-Man 3-inclusive system will disappear, only to be replaced with a 120GB or 160GB configuration. Of course, right now these are just words on a screen, though in light of Best Buy's recent stock changes, there certainly is an air of movement over at Sony.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/sony-killing-80gb-ps3-introducing-120gb-or-160gb-model-with-dua/
http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/01/27/mole-80gb-ps3-dead-120-160gb-with-dual-shock-3-incoming

This makes more sense than just killing off the 80GB machine and having no comparable SKU to replace it with. The 80GB SKU sold very well, and at a lower price point or even the same price point I am sure these will too.

This may however lengthen that Monday (today) rumor of the price drop as the DS3 had a US shore date of "Spring 08". Who knows though considering how secretive Sony is with price drops and SKU/Bundle changes. We won't be able to say anything 100% until Sony decides its time to let the cat out of the bag officially.


Ed

[2nyRiggz]

I was just reading this....damn you are quick on the button. They should of introduced the 120/160 along time ago and leave that 80gig in the ideas department...good to know they are including the DS3 into the program....guess I'll wait until this come into reality.

BC won't be in these SKU either so lets not get into that...

Bless

[gkarris]

What's with all the refreshing?

The Wii has been out for over a year and hasn't been refreshed. How long was it until the XB360 was refreshed?

After this PS3 fiasco, I'm going to wait a long time (like at least 2 years) after the PS4 launch to get one.

Who trusts Sony after this?

The same is going on for Blu-ray - they are on what spec?

[e²Studios]

I was just reading this....damn you are quick on the button. They should of introduced the 120/160 along time ago and leave that 80gig in the ideas department...good to know they are including the DS3 into the program....guess I'll wait until this come into reality.

BC won't be in these SKU either so lets not get into that...

Bless

PS3 manufacturing costs have come down substantially, while I agree with your statement I think this machine would have been too expensive to release any sooner than right now.

DS3 is awesome, I'll be buying another once it hits US shores. Till then I'll stick to my DS3 from Japan :p

But you know MS is going to have to play "me too" and introduce the super duper halo elite master chief SKU Xbox 360 in order to say "hey we can do that too, we excell in copying other companies".

[Mike Teezie]

PS3 manufacturing costs have come down substantially, while I agree with your statement I think this machine would have been too expensive to release any sooner than right now.

DS3 is awesome, I'll be buying another once it hits US shores. Till then I'll stick to my DS3 from Japan :p

But you know MS is going to have to play "me too" and introduce the super duper halo elite master chief SKU Xbox 360 in order to say "hey we can do that too, we excell in copying other companies".

I don't see how on one hand you can defend Sony having umpteen SKUs, then blast Microsoft in the next sentence. The argument could be made that Microsoft released a hdmi/120gig 360 when manufacturing costs permitted it.

That said, I'll get the 40 Gig PS3 post hate if it's $299.

[e²Studios]

I don't see how on one hand you can defend Sony having umpteen SKUs, then blast Microsoft in the next sentence. The argument could be made that Microsoft released a hdmi/120gig 360 when manufacturing costs permitted it.

That said, I'll get the 40 Gig PS3 post hate if it's $299.

Because MS did that as a "me too" to the PS3 having HDMI and a larger HD. The elite wasn't about prices coming down, nor was adding HDMI to the premium it was about following and trying to one up Sony (key word there is trying). HDMI was something that MS said wasn't needed in a gaming console, had they not made that statement then I wouldn't blast them as much.

Ed

[UltraNEO*]

Hell... They should go the whole hog and whack in the 250GB!!
or the latest 320GB!! I know we'll eventually chew it all up anyway!! :D

[2nyRiggz]

^Its not the HDD this time but the DS3 bundled with the console at the same price as the 80gig...thats the good thing.

If sony include this at the same price as the 80gig then this is great news...the user can always swap out the HDD to whatever size he/she wants thats the good thing about the PS3.

As long as that price point stays the same people will eat this up...its a good deal.



Bless

[greatdevourer]

Because MS did that as a "me too" to the PS3 having HDMI and a larger HD. The elite wasn't about prices coming down, nor was adding HDMI to the premium it was about following and trying to one up Sony (key word there is trying). HDMI was something that MS said wasn't needed in a gaming console, had they not made that statement then I wouldn't blast them as much.

Ed Just like how dual-shock is last gen :rolleyes:

[e²Studios]

Just like how dual-shock is last gen :rolleyes:

That was a legal fiasco, they really couldn't make much of a comment due to laws about speaking of a case when its currently open. That wasn't Sony trying to follow and one-up a competitor as MS does, and usually in a child like tantrum fashion.

Next poor comparison please? :rolleyes: :p

Ed

[twoodcc]

well, 120/160 sounds good. hopefully the price will go down a little as well

[Jovian9]

^Its not the HDD this time but the DS3 bundled with the console at the same price as the 80gig...thats the good thing.

If sony include this at the same price as the 80gig then this is great news...the user can always swap out the HDD to whatever size he/she wants thats the good thing about the PS3.

As long as that price point stays the same people will eat this up...its a good deal.



Bless

It's always good to see consoles get better and cheaper :)

However; since when is adding a dual-shock controller a bonus to a "next-gen" system? Regardless of the legal-issues Sony has had with this the Wii and 360 have had proper controllers since release and the PS3 has not. This is not a bonus.....it is a necessity for this console. They need to add this to all "however-many" sku's they have now. They all should have the DS3's in them immediately :cool:

[MacRumorUser]

Because MS did that as a "me too" to the PS3 having HDMI and a larger HD. The elite wasn't about prices coming down, nor was adding HDMI to the premium it was about following and trying to one up Sony (key word there is trying). HDMI was something that MS said wasn't needed in a gaming console, had they not made that statement then I wouldn't blast them as much.

Ed

What so upping the 80 to 160 isn't sony doing the same thing ?

Ed... your argument is a little all over the place there.

That was a legal fiasco, they really couldn't make much of a comment due to laws about speaking of a case when its currently open. That wasn't Sony trying to follow and one-up a competitor as MS does, and usually in a child like tantrum fashion.

Next poor comparison please? :rolleyes: :p

Ed


Err even worse Ed. The six axis could in one light seemingly be seen as Sony copying the motion axis movement of the wii, simply because they were too tight to settle the lawsuit and implement Dual Shock from the outset.


I don't think in any shade of light Sony are any better than Microsoft and to start saying they are whilst clearly ignoring the similarities is defiantly the pot calling the kettle black.



The reality is they all introduce models and SKU's because they believe they will sell, and seemingly they are right. We might moan, but people are buying them so who can blame either Sony or Microsoft?

[e²Studios]

What so upping the 80 to 160 isn't sony doing the same thing ?

Ed... your argument is a little all over the place there.

If they did this right after the Elite was introduced I would agree with you, however the Elite has been around for a while now. Sony is doing this now based on the fact that component prices are low enough to offer it to consumers at a reasonable price.

My points are right on, not sure if you like it or not ;)

Ed

[MacRumorUser]

My points are right on, not sure if you like it or not ;)


Tbh I don't really care :p :D

At least we can upgrade our PS3's HDD ourselves, but I still have so much room left on my 60GB HDD (USA) and 40GB HDD (Euro) that I doubt I will need a bigger HD in either for a long long time.

But do agree with you about the dual shock.. it is a lot better than the normal six axis pad.

[2nyRiggz]

They all should have the DS3's in them immediately :cool:

Oh I agree completely but as of now we don't have them so for the people getting these rumored bunddle are getting a better deal than the early buyers that didn't...well except for the people wanting BC that is:D



Bless

[spyker3292]

I just got an 80 and I like it. I figured when the DS3s are announced they would introduce new SKUs with the DS3s in the package. I'll buy 2 DS3s when they come out so I'll have 2 w/ rumble and 2 w/out.

[GFLPraxis]

What's with all the refreshing?

The Wii has been out for over a year and hasn't been refreshed. How long was it until the XB360 was refreshed?

After this PS3 fiasco, I'm going to wait a long time (like at least 2 years) after the PS4 launch to get one.


What's wrong with it? They're adding more at the same price, or lowering the price. It's ridiculous to complain about price drops IMHO. It's not like they're changing inherent functionality- they're increasing storage space.

It's important to note that if you had bought a 60 GB PS3 on launch day you could easily upgrade the drive to 120 GB and it would be just as good as one of these new ones (if not better due to the hardware compatibility with PS2 games).

You're not getting ANYTHING out of a brand new 80 or 120 GB PS3 that you couldn't get out of a launch 60 GB PS3 with an upgraded drive bought off of Newegg.

Meanwhile, Microsoft went and added HDMI to the XBox 360 Premium; you have to buy a whole new system for a port.


Who trusts Sony after this?

Man, you were one of the guys who complained when the iPhone dropped in price, weren't you...

It's not like they added any features that you couldn't get out of an existing PS3 with a drive upgrade.

I don't see how on one hand you can defend Sony having umpteen SKUs, then blast Microsoft in the next sentence. The argument could be made that Microsoft released a hdmi/120gig 360 when manufacturing costs permitted it.

That said, I'll get the 40 Gig PS3 post hate if it's $299.

There's a quite simple difference, actually.

Sony's only ever had two SKU's at any one time.

First it was 20/60. Then it was 40/80. Now it'll be 40/120. Additionally, every revision lowered the price.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's revisions have continually upped the price. First Core/Premium, then Arcade/Premium (Arcade costing more than Core did), then Arcade/Premium/Halo Edition/Elite.

They keep adding pricier and pricier models. Plus the early models lacked HDMI; you had to buy a whole new system to get it! Even someone who bought the cheapest launch PS3 (20 GB) could have upgraded it to match a modern high-end one. And on top of that, Sony's systems have been very reliable, no red rings.




I still don't get why everyone bashes Sony for introducing lower-priced, higher-spec models, and no one gets on Microsoft about the ever-increasing price of the 360 and horrible failure rate.

[asxtb]

This is not a bonus.....it is a necessity for this console.
It's a necessity? My PS3 works the exact same with a normal Sixaxis conroller as it does with a DS3.

[MacRumorUser]

I still don't get why everyone bashes Sony for introducing lower-priced, higher-spec models, and no one gets on Microsoft about the ever-increasing price of the 360 and horrible failure rate.

What ? :confused: But were always bashing the 360 on this forum section because of those very things... do I need to dig a list of threads :confused:


At least in Europe there has always only ever been 1 PS3 SKU as they phased out the 60GB (when they are gone, they are gone) when they introduced the 40GB.

[sikkinixx]

^^^
Same reason MS doesn't get annilihated for their WiFi adapter being $100, or ~30% failure rate, or charging $50/year for Live...


but anyway, this news could be a double-edged sword for Sony. To some it looks bad because it's starting to appear more like a computer, more and more options (because let's face it... there are still 60gb units around... so many stores still have 3 SKU's maybe soon to be 4) and the lowering price pisses off some users who just shelled out the bucks a little bit ago (never mind those of us who paid $659.99!!!)

But it's good because it maintains their superior specs to the 360 and bigger numbers look better to stupid...er...ignorant people who don't know that a bigger hard drive is cheap and takes about 15 minutes to install...

[GFLPraxis]

What ? :confused: But were always bashing the 360 on this forum section because of those very things... do I need to dig a list of threads :confused:


At least in Europe there has always only ever been 1 PS3 SKU as they phased out the 60GB (when they are gone, they are gone) when they introduced the 40GB.

I'd better clarify before someone shouts "The 360's not getting more expensive!" :)

The ever increasing price of XBox 360 SKUs. They keep adding higher more expensive models instead of bettering or dropping the price on the standard.

Oh, to the guy who's saying "Well the Wii's only ever had one SKU"; that'd be great if they'd bring the price down. Nintendo's making so much profit off the Wii it's not even funny.

[ReanimationLP]

I'd better clarify before someone shouts "The 360's not getting more expensive!" :)

The ever increasing price of XBox 360 SKUs. They keep adding higher more expensive models instead of bettering or dropping the price on the standard.

Oh, to the guy who's saying "Well the Wii's only ever had one SKU"; that'd be great if they'd bring the price down. Nintendo's making so much profit off the Wii it's not even funny.

Yeah, the profit margins are quite huge because of the technology it uses.

The Broadway CPU is an offshoot of the PowerPC 750CL, aka G3.

Then again, why bother, since its selling like hotcakes anyhoo at the current price.

It'd be neat of Sony though if they made a model that you can fit more RAM into, for those who want to use it for Linux, and for the universities building clusters out of them.

[Ubuntu]

Because MS did that as a "me too" to the PS3 having HDMI and a larger HD. The elite wasn't about prices coming down, nor was adding HDMI to the premium it was about following and trying to one up Sony (key word there is trying). HDMI was something that MS said wasn't needed in a gaming console, had they not made that statement then I wouldn't blast them as much.

Ed

But you could argue that Sony copied Microsoft with the hardware options, as well as the hard drive.

[Jovian9]

It's a necessity? My PS3 works the exact same with a normal Sixaxis conroller as it does with a DS3.

My NES works without rumble too but we're not talking about 8-bit here. What year is this? ;)

[spyker3292]

I'd better clarify before someone shouts "The 360's not getting more expensive!" :)

The ever increasing price of XBox 360 SKUs. They keep adding higher more expensive models instead of bettering or dropping the price on the standard.


Yup, just like that new rumored Xbox that was like a DVR! :D

My NES works without rumble too but we're not talking about 8-bit here. What year is this? ;)

:D nice. I don't mind not having rumble, half the time I don't really notice it. It will be nice to have rumble later on but I really don't need it or care at all.

[GFLPraxis]

Yeah, the profit margins are quite huge because of the technology it uses.

The Broadway CPU is an offshoot of the PowerPC 750CL, aka G3.

Then again, why bother, since its selling like hotcakes anyhoo at the current price.

It'd be neat of Sony though if they made a model that you can fit more RAM into, for those who want to use it for Linux, and for the universities building clusters out of them.

Well, there's something to be said for miniaturization costing more as well, it's just a huge ripoff.

The thing is that Nintendo was selling the system for a small profit at launch.

1 year down the road, they're probably making a huge profit. But it makes absolutely no financial sense to a corporation to drop the price when every single one that hits shelves sells.

The moment Wii's stop selling out at every store, Nintendo'll drop the price to $200, I'm sure. They could probably do that and still be making a small profit, I'd estimate, though I don't have access to any data to know for sure.

[GFLPraxis]

But you could argue that Sony copied Microsoft with the hardware options, as well as the hard drive.

If you want to argue technicalities, an external drive was available for the PS2 before the XBox launched. Microsoft was just the first to internalize it. And Sony was the first to make it user-replaceable with a non-proprietary interface (SATA). :)


And if you'll recall, the PS2 was available in Fat, Slim, and "Ultimate" editions (the "Ultimate" being the PSX that was only released in Japan, that had a big hard drive, DVR functionality, and a DVD burner).

But wait! The Nintendo 64 DD (also released in Japan only) had a hard drive before the PS2.

Darn Nintendo and their time machine, always copying Microsoft.

I love technicalities.

[MacRumorUser]

^ Dont forget the Panasoniq Q version of the cube ... Still have mine :)

[tjcampbell]

IF this is true I'll buy one when Metal Gear arrives.

[takao]

i'm i the only one loosing track with all the different models with the ps3 and 360 ? ... why can't they stick to one configuration from the beginning ... exchanging a bundled game .. ok that's fine but all this jumping... different controllers.. different ports... different sized hard disks... some wireless some not.. some card reader...some bundled with component cables..others only with composite.. some with head set

i really hope they learn their lesson for the next time ...

[Zwhaler]

Damn Sony I just bought your 40gig, now I'm hearing I can get a 120 or 160gig? If it is going to be for the same 399$ price tag, im going to be kind of pissed.

[2nyRiggz]

^Why dude....you can always swap out the drive for a bigger one it doesn't really matter... I really hope this is the last change in SKUs for the 360 and PS3....its going get get real confusing if they continue.

I want that DS3 though.


Bless

[ReanimationLP]

If you want to argue technicalities, an external drive was available for the PS2 before the XBox launched. Microsoft was just the first to internalize it. And Sony was the first to make it user-replaceable with a non-proprietary interface (SATA). :)

And if you'll recall, the PS2 was available in Fat, Slim, and "Ultimate" editions (the "Ultimate" being the PSX that was only released in Japan, that had a big hard drive, DVR functionality, and a DVD burner).

But wait! The Nintendo 64 DD (also released in Japan only) had a hard drive before the PS2.

Darn Nintendo and their time machine, always copying Microsoft.

I love technicalities.

The DD didnt have a hard drive.

It was a disk drive. :3 The drive works similarly to a Zip drive, and has an enhanced audio library for the games to use. Though the carts were shaped like the Syquest carts. Maybe it was based off of Syquest. Dunno.

Sony was the first company to announce a hard disk option for their console, back in late 1999/early 2000 when the PlayStation 2 was coming out.

It originally was going to have an internal IDE controller, one spot for a 3.5" hard disk, and one PCI slot. Then it got changed to one PCMCIA card slot for the first Japanese models (SCPH-10001 series).

Then they reworked the design between the Japanese launch and the US/Europe launches, ending up with SCPH-30001 (God knows where SCPH-20001 is), which changed the PCMCIA slot into a Dev9 slot, and an empty bay for a 3.5" hard disk drive.

The hard disk connected to the network adapter, then to the Dev9 adapter. Sony didnt actually ship the hard disk in the US until 2004, with Final Fantasy XI, or you could get it in 2002 with the Linux kit, but that one you couldnt use for PS2, just for Linux.

The hard disk was shipping in Japan since May of 2001, alongside the network adapter. 6 months before XBox was shipping. In Japan, a ton of games used it as a cache drive, to speed loading times by installing frequently used data to the drive. Also helped to cut down on the laser usage.

The hard drive was killed because of the whole HD Loader software, then it wasnt also selling well. Its a nifty option, if you have a old style fat PS2, and a Network Adapter, I recommend browsing your game stores for one. Its great, as you can copy all your saves off your memory card and onto your PS2. You can hold on the HD over 5,000 memory cards worth of data.

[asxtb]

My NES works without rumble too but we're not talking about 8-bit here. What year is this? ;)
True, but it's not a necessity like you said. ;)
None of my games have rumble support and one demo I tried (Sega Rally Revo) was rumble non-stop. Actually made me not want to play it. (It has since been deleted.)

[MacRumorUser]

^ That's because it was pretty much just tacked onto Sega Rally Revo. Hopefully 'new' games will feature proper support for DS rumble.

[asxtb]

^ That's because it was pretty much just tacked onto Sega Rally Revo. Hopefully 'new' games will feature proper support for DS rumble.
That could explain it. Because the rumble was too much. :(

[MacRumorUser]

That could explain it. Because the rumble was too much. :(

I know what you mean. It just feels like its on full blast all the time with no discernible difference between one thing or another.

It may be a problem with a lot of older games where patches are released, but until they emerge we won't know. :o

[gkarris]

Damn Sony I just bought your 40gig, now I'm hearing I can get a 120 or 160gig? If it is going to be for the same 399$ price tag, im going to be kind of pissed.

I'm hearing the 40 Gig will be $399 still, the 160 Gig will replace the 80 Gig, but with only the 40 Gig features (no B/C, no card slots, 2 USB ports) and include a DS3 controller and game for $499.

[Zwhaler]

^Why dude....you can always swap out the drive for a bigger one it doesn't really matter... I really hope this is the last change in SKUs for the 360 and PS3....its going get get real confusing if they continue.

I want that DS3 though.


Bless

Ehh, I guess thats true, but now Im gonna have to go and buy new rumble controllers lol

[pcypert]

Just proves to me that people are suckers that jump right in at the beginning. Everything gets better and cheaper if you can just hold out a bit. Not like the games from previous gen starting sucking all of a sudden. :) This is the first generation I've joined in within a year of launch and I slightly regret it.

Games are more, peripherals are more, etc. You wait, you get all the good library, half the cost or less, etc. I remember getting my Dreamcast and 15 games for like 60 bucks. Same for an old 64 about three years out from release. By the time I pick up a PS3 or reacquire a 360 they'll be cheap, have all the best controllers, games, etc. Will happily keep playing my Wii and Dreamcast till it's time ;)

Paul

[gkarris]

This may be old news to some...

But the 80 Gig PS3 bundled with MGS and a Dualshock 3 will be out in June.

A more awesome deal if you take advantage of Sony Credit Card's $100 rebate! (I got my PS3 40 Gig this way for $299).

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665371946

[wwooden]

This may be old news to some...

But the 80 Gig PS3 bundled with MGS and a Dualshock 3 will be out in June.

A more awesome deal if you take advantage of Sony Credit Card's $100 rebate! (I got my PS3 40 Gig this way for $299).

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665371946

When you sign up for the Sony Credit Card, does the $100 come immediately off the PS3 price? I don't want to have to buy the PS3 at $400 then have a $100 gift card to Sony that I won't use.

[gkarris]

When you sign up for the Sony Credit Card, does the $100 come immediately off the PS3 price? I don't want to have to buy the PS3 at $400 then have a $100 gift card to Sony that I won't use.

When I got my statement, it showed the SonyStyle purchase, then it showed the $100 credit for that purchase.

It was supposed to take up to 3 statements, but it seems they put it on the same one. :D