Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that starting from Fall ‘08 it would offer PlayStation 3 model with 80GB hard drive for the price of $399. Unfortunately for PlayStation fans, the new model may not be backwards compatible with games released for previous-generation platforms.
Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PlayStation 3 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company’s hardware line-up. The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content. Unfortunately, this also means that the 80GB model will not be compatible with games for Sony PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles.
It is unclear whether Sony plans to offer backwards compatible PlayStation 3 model going forward in the USA at $499 price-point. In fact, there is no backwards compatible PlayStation 3 models in Japan already.
Sony Computer Entertainment claims that cutting-down backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 is not something completely negative, as growing library of games developed for the advanced new-generation game system should substitute the lack of previous titles. Moreover, not a lot of gamers would like to play older titles developed for standard-definition TVs on brand-new high-definition televisions. But while these points may be correct for so-called hardcore gamers, which play a great variety of games, casual customers who currently own a PlayStation 2 have no reason to transit to the new-gen console due to the lack of casual games for PS3. As a result, they may migrate to Nintendo Wii, which features unique motion sensitive controller as well as a relatively rich library of simplistic games.
Sony PlayStation 3 console is based on the Cell processor developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba, the RSX graphics chip by Nvidia Corp., wireless network and Bluetooth connectivity and is equipped with Blu-ray optical disk drive. There are several versions of the consoles available around the world with 60GB or 80GB hard disk drives and variable compatibility with PlayStation 1/2 games as well as 40GB version that cannot play old games at all. The official prices of Sony PlayStation 3 40GB and 80GB in the USA now are $399 and $499, respectively, European customers have to pay €399 ($630) and €499 ($787) for 40GB and 60GB models, respectively, whereas Japanese gamers can obtain PlayStation 3 40GB for ¥39 980 ($376 or €238).
Comments currently: 12
Discussion started: 07/17/08 10:43:28 AM
Latest comment: 07/22/08 09:22:20 AM
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1.
If anyone really cares about this BC loss, then honestly, tough $hit. There've been BC models out for the past 2 years, shoulda jumped on the wagon when you had the chance.
Morne
Launch 60g Owner and lovin BC!
[Posted by: Moirnelithe | Date: 07/17/08 10:43:28 AM]
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Lovely sentiment; how stupid of people who aren't psychic like you not to buy a brand new console. Strange; I wonder if some people actually didn't want to spend such a ridiculous amount of money on a new console. Well... that certainly was idiotic of them!
I picked up my 60GB after they'd been out of production for a while; I love it, but saying "tough $hit" to people who didn't want to spend more than the cost of a decent PC on a console is stupid.
Hopefully Sony puts back the BC at some point; it's a real shame not to take advantage of the excellent library of PS2 games that are already out there, and they definitely are going to miss out on sales (the article is pretty backwards with its ridiculous ideas about non-hardcore gamers running to the Wii... give me a break).
[Posted by: ET | Date: 07/17/08 06:50:45 PM]
2.
Just another method of liquidating all current inventory in the sales channel. Once that is done, sony can easily add ps2 functionality on the new 80gig 399 pack. Simple...
[Posted by: cpmethod2 | Date: 07/17/08 11:01:16 AM]
3.
Again Anton, its been mentioned in almost every single PS3 related thread, but you still don't seem to get it. The PS3 IS compatible with PS1 games provided they are from the same region as your PS3.
PS2 compatibility on the other hand was complete on the original 20GB and 60GB models in the US, compatible but partially software emulated on the Euro/PAL 60GB models, and now that model with the 80 GB hard drive is available in the US.
Now, in regards to the article, surely a better way of phrasing the title would have been 'PS3 40GB upgraded to 80GB with DS3 controller in Fall 08', as Sony hasn't said what will happen to the current 80GB model. All you know is that the 40GB is getting replaced with the same model with a 80GB harddrive instead and a DS3 controller instead of the sixaxis controller.
But hey, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.
[Posted by: genie | Date: 07/17/08 02:43:07 PM]
4.
Truely poor reporting on the title of the article. I believe Sony will offer BC sooner or later as an add-on for those who do not have it. Of course, it would only be the emulated version, but that does well enough for the majority of the games. I have the 80GB with the software emulation and since the 2.x firmware have been unable to find any games in my vast collection of PS2 games that do not play. I could see the PSN Store having a 19.95 download for BC. What a great sale that would make.
[Posted by: Farg | Date: 07/17/08 07:15:31 PM]
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Don't hold your breath.
[Posted by: EndPCNoise | Date: 07/18/08 10:30:06 AM]
5.
Actualy in Japan is even cheaper: 37500\
http://kakaku.com/shop/1598/PrdKey=20504010142/
[Posted by: Tavix | Date: 07/17/08 07:41:53 PM]
6.
Mis-informing article. Like Genie said, ALL PS3s can play PS1 games, but only some (the earlier versions) can play PS2 games. They should have someone who understands and plays games to actually write these articles.
Also, to Moirnelithe, this is not about bashing people for not getting a PS3 at launch. The point is, no one expects a system to COMPLETELY get rid of a great feature, especially one that the company bragged about for the longest, only to have it removed. If anything, you expect improvement on a system as it ages, not regression. It's not like Sony was saying "get one while you can, cuz after this you guys can kiss your PS2 games goodbye!" Plain and simple, Sony made a move that hurt future buyers of the PS3, by SKIPPING an entire generations' worth of playability on their system. So I don't see the need for you to pat Sony on the back for screwing potential PS3 buyers over. We wanted a great system like you, and it's not about being cheap, cuz I've been there for every system launch up until the PS3, and the only reason I didn't get it was because there is a high failure/ flaw rate with launch systems, as I've experienced in the past. And not everyone sees the need to jump on board right away. They didn't get rid of PS1 compatibility on the later PS2 models right? Everyone sees it as a backwards move on Sony's part, and I think even THEY know it. Right now, the PS3 is the ONLY next gen system to NOT support backwards compatibility. And they want to be number one? If you put your consumers first, the profits and the rewards will be reaped by both the business and its customers.
[Posted by: Aranha | Date: 07/18/08 08:23:27 AM]
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Well said.
I will add that Sony sacrificed $ millions in potential sales by skimping and removing the Emotion Engine chip saving $10-$15 per unit on build cost.
[Posted by: EndPCNoise | Date: 07/18/08 10:37:58 AM]
7.
The PS3 is not losing BC, nor is the 80g price being slashed.
The 40gb version is getting 40 more gigs thats all...
[Posted by: Major | Date: 07/18/08 04:55:07 PM]
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Exactly. This fact has been mmisrepresented in most of the the articles I've seen on this.
[Posted by: tbor | Date: 07/21/08 12:57:16 PM]
8.
Rumor has it that the new 80GB model will be the old 40GB configuation all around with an 80GB hard drive,which means the card slots and port quantity. Can anyone confirm?
[Posted by: bceuabrss | Date: 07/22/08 09:22:20 AM]
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