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No more 20GB and 60GB PS3s for Japan.

Gothic Girl | January 10, 2008 | News | Playstation 3 
In a double-blow for Sony fans, Japan is now catching up with the rest of the world and having both the 20GB and 60GB versions of the PS3 discontinued.

Once the models are discontinued, Japan will have only the 40GB version left.
If you're Japanese/living in Japan and have long fancied Sony's 20 & 60GB PS3 models, time to get your skates on. Sony have just announced that they're discontinuing shipments of both models, in order to "improve software development environment and the availability of a more extensive line-up of software titles for PS3". Remember, Japan, just like Europe, this leaves you with the 40GB model, and means no more backwards-compatibility. According to Sony, the last shipments of both models will arrive in stores later in the month; once they're all gone, they're all gone for good. Official press release is after the jump.

quote
Tokyo, January 10, 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would discontinue shipment of both 20GB HDD and 60GB HDD configurations of PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) originally launched on November 11th 2006, in the Japanese market after the completion of the final shipment scheduled in January 2008. Upon termination of the shipment, the sales of both models will be limited to stock in the market.
9 comments | go to source (www.kotaku.com.au) | Add to favorites! favourite this article | send to friend
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  • 0 thumbs!
    StarJet | January 10, 2008
    What? 40GB PS3 doesn't have backwards compatibility? *bleep*ing damn!
  • 3 thumbs!
    slumpy monkey | January 10, 2008
    Wtf is up with sony. You hear people praticly dying for 60gigs and theres just shitting on them WTF MAN??
  • 0 thumbs!
    kik36 | January 10, 2008
    That's a shame. Backwards compatibility is a HUGE seller for me.....and PS4 better deliver!!!
  • 1 thumbs!
    Storm | January 10, 2008
    Fear not, there's always eBay.

    Why do I get the feeling that this is just a scheme to get more sales? Surely the Japanese would like to have the 60 GB with more features.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Capn Droid | January 10, 2008
    Jeesh. Sony's actually predicting sales this year? With all the grand schemes they're pulling off, I think not.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Gothic Girl | January 11, 2008
    I agree with slumpy monkey ... The 60GB version seems to be the most popular/most wanted PS3 model, and Backwards Compatibility also seems to be a big seller for many people. So why try to force the 40GB model down people's throats? Surely Sony realizes that their current strategy isn't working to their (or the fan's) best interests?
  • 0 thumbs!
    Silver Mirror | January 11, 2008
    People demand a cheaper console, Sony release the 40GB, suddenly people don't care about the price anymore, they must have backwards compatibility. Ironic isn't it?

    Trust me this is just a scheme to make people miss backwards compatibility. Then the 80GB comes out and Sony make millions
    • 4 thumbs!
      VeGiTAX2 | January 11, 2008
      Actually people wanted a cheaper console at the time when they realized the 20GB wasn't actually shipping post launch supply in 2006. All of a sudden they have the choice of the 60GB $599 model the 60GB $599 model or... the 60GB $599 model. For those that were happy to rate down, it was overly apparent in the supply stream that the 20GB was canned and the $599 60GB model was the primary. For those late to the game the 60GB was $599 magically enough.

      So the 40 didn't solve the problem of filling the void that the 20GB model left for consumers in North America, people still wanted to play their old titles, they wanted to be able to see FMV on newly purchased PS2 titles, they didn't want glitchy partial support through software though or none at all as featured in the 80GB model (the 40 has 0 bc support) so the 80 was never a solution, it was a way to cut costs at the corporate level because they didn't want to continue the 20GB and 60GB lines.

      The 80GB is already out here, people didn't rush for it though, they went for the 60 because it was the one with full features, just like when the 40 hit it was a success but it would be interesting to see how many of those owners knew about the lack of support to their existing library. It's odd that you act like because a new console came out that all prior titles are null and void, hardly the case, unless you're saying those who just barely bought a PS2 and God of War 1 & 2 should suck it up because no one really misses that feature especially after the company had pushed how the PS3 wouldn't chop out the BC functionality.

      The whole statement is flawed, people didn't demand a cheaper console, they just wanted their options that were taken away back. 20GB =/= 40GB no matter how you try to gloss it up, the 40 is a failed attempt to feed the value market in terms of features.
  • -1 thumbs!
    ZhaoYun88 | January 11, 2008
    Who's bothered, i have my 60GB, am from England, not Japan, in a way am glad, as we always get the crap first, and usually no where else, amybe Australia actually, but yeah have that...like there bothered

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