When the 80GB Playstation 3 came out, rumors started spreading that the 60GB system would be phased out. Not much time later, the 60GB system was phased out. Now, Steve Foster, Sales and Marketing Manager of Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe is saying that the 80GB system will soon be phased out, citing that it is too expensive to have many variants of a system in production. This would leave only the $399 system.
"The model of choice, going forward, is going to be the 40GB," said Foster. "So when you say the 60GB is going to be phased out, that is absolutely correct. And our manufacturing plant has already stopped production of 60GB..." He goes on to confirm this is a "worldwide" decision.
Obviously, this means many of the features we originally saw in the 60GB model aren't going to be around, which may puzzle some consumers. iAfrica asked Foster about those missing features, and as it turns out, he's not all that concerned and doesn't really consider them to be crucial.
"When you say "features" the key elements that are missing is going to be an element of hard drive, but that has come about because of the research that we've done as to what is the required amount that is used at this stage; the type of user that is using a PS3. And then yes, the ports have been taken out so there are only two USB ports, and then of course the memory stick ports have been taken out."
Foster confirms the reason for doing this is to cut production costs of the system: "making a PS3 in a 60GB or 80GB model is very expensive," he said. With the holidays here, Sony apparently realized they needed to cut the price, and thus, the 40GB model was born. Unfortunately for those of you with big PS2 libraries, this model in no way supports any PS2 titles, although it will support PS1 games. Foster said the only software updates that will happen in the 40GB model will be for PS1 games, and "PlayStation 2 will not be supported."
Okay, so bottom line- if you want either the 60GB model (there are a few still around) or the 80GB model, we strongly suggest you act now. Because it won't be long before there is only one option, and it's gonna be the one with the least amount of features. However, it will also be the most competitively priced one, and to Sony and most consumers, that's what really matters in the long run.
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Don't bring up the stupid "it can't play all PS2 games" because I didn't buy a PS3 to play PS2 games. Besides, the 80gb can anyway.
This article is a rumor anyway there is no way they are phasing out the 80Gb model. People still want backwards capability. I see this as a rumor and nothing more.
Now, considering that Sony wants $1000 for a PS3 that has games that cost more than the average 360 game usually from what I've seen, can't get a bigger hard drive without burning $200 for what you suggested, a 200GB hard drive, and having to put it in manually unless another $20-100 is thrown down the drain depending on who your buying from, with all that in mind, wouldn't you expect Sony to be less of an ass and give a bigger hard drive for the amount of cash they want? I don't think it's much to ask for, seriously. But this is just my opinion, you don't have to agree with it, but it's just what I think.
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I understand what you mean though, in other area's that the PS3 is expensive more than the U.S.
I was in a rush to get the 60GB system but I don't want one, I don't need flash card slots and I have a PS2 AND PSone if I wanna play other games.
Sony just get stupider!
Anyways...this is extremely dumb on sony's part.
Sony, this is by far the most idiotic move you've made since you released your PS3. The PS3 is great, but Sony, you're jumping into a grave here.
There's no harm in having a 40GB and an 80GB. None at all.
I haven't got a PS3 yet because I was waiting for the games I am interested in to be released first. But now I'm regretting not getting the 60bg version when I had the chance. If the 40gb version ends up being the only version left, then I'm sure there will be alot of people (including myself) questioning whether or not it's worth it. There are too many features that the 40gb version doesn't have, that I (and many other gamers) want.
I don' think it isn't all that bad. Especially since Killzone II, Haze, MGS, Tekken 6 are all coming out soon. People will be playing those games, rather than PS2 games.
I see tons of 80GBs all around. I went to the mall, and there's a 4 or 5 foot wall of 80gbs stacked up.
I'd rather not have to keep both consoles. It's more convenient just having one.
Just because new PS3 games are being released, doesn't mean people don't still want to play their older PS1 and PS2 games.