80GB PS3 on sale from August 28

PS3 News | Double storage capacity, rumble-enabled controller, same price.

Following on from an announcement at last month's E3 2008 press conference, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia have confirmed the launch of a new 80GB PlayStation 3 model for PAL territories, on sale next week from August 28th.

iTWire reports that beginning next Thursday, retailers will be stocking the new PS3 SKU, which is identical in features to the existing 40GB model it will be replacing, except for the following differences:

Double the hard drive capacity, now increased to 80 Gigabytes.
It will come bundled with a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller instead of the original SIXAXIS controller. This rumble-enabled controller is currently available separately at an RRP of $99.95 and marks the return of vibration in addition to the existing motion-sensing functionality.

Managing Director of SCE Australia and New Zealand, Michael Ephraim, promoted the benefits of the increased capacity, stating "With more compelling content being made available to PS3 owners every week through the PLAYSTATION®Network, the extra storage offered in this new model will prove invaluable.”

Pricing for the new model will be the same as the current 40GB model, at an RRP of $699.

Those wishing to purchase a PS3 imminently may want to hold off a little while longer for a better deal.

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14 Comments

Tom101007

3 years ago

Hmm, i cant decide between 360 and PS3 anymore, Both of them with price drops and upgrades, this wasnt an issue before ff13 went multiplatform, now i have to choose one, perhaps ill wait for the 360 dash update before i decide...

Macka

3 years ago

Damn it, I wish they had brought back backwards compatability! This is definitely good though, but how much will 40GB PS3's go for now? If you can get an 80GB for $700, then the 40GB model will have to be going for at least $500.

Duckula

3 years ago

Macka wrote

Aren't they discontinuing them?

john_solids

3 years ago

they already stopped making them but yeh surely to clear the 40's from stores you will probably see stores drop a bit of the price off, maybe $50-$100 though cant see $200 being cut

Mr Waffle

3 years ago

I paid AUS$378 for my new 40gb PS3 in Japan less than a month ago, Sony isn't trying too hard here...

sEiFeR

3 years ago

Maybe I'll hold off buying one in Canada since the new 80GB model will be out here.

john_solids

3 years ago

Mr Waffle wrote

I paid AUS$378 for my new 40gb PS3 in Japan less than a month ago, Sony isn't trying too hard here...

its not just sony, microsofts elite is $649 and correct me if im wrong the ps3 is selling at a loss.

Dropbear

3 years ago

john_solids wrote

Mr Waffle wrote

I paid AUS$378 for my new 40gb PS3 in Japan less than a month ago, Sony isn't trying too hard here...

its not just sony, microsofts elite is $649 and correct me if im wrong the ps3 is selling at a loss.

Originally that was true (PS3 was selling at a loss at release), but now due to cheaper diodes for bluray, better made SKU's, it's now at a profit, I believe.

Wikipedia wrote

Sales and production costs

The PlayStation 3's initial production cost is estimated to have been US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model.[66] However, they were priced at US$499 and US$599 respectively,[67] meaning that every unit was sold at an estimated loss of $250,[66] contributing to Sony's games division posting an operating loss of ¥232.3 billion (US$1.97 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS3

twistedangelwings

3 years ago

Hmmm... I'm almost tempted now. Was initially considering importing a 50gb Japan one or something similar... hmmm...

franky573

3 years ago

For people who have a 40gb model, would there be a way of upgrading the hard drive?
And I mean an easy and sony endorsed method. haha.

I ask because, now there is a bigger model on the market, it could be seen by developers as an invitation to create large files now. That would disadvantage consumers with a smaller HDD.

Appel

3 years ago

Yeah, it even comes with instructions on how to do so. You just open a hatch, yank it out and put a new one in. Even Sony endorse it!

Buttmouth

3 years ago

^^ That and they kinda started out with "the bigger model".

I'll shed manly tears if I hear that people start getting PS3's for $500.

But then I'll be happy for you.

...

maybe...

Zhou

3 years ago

i wouldnt

Appel

3 years ago

Why not? There is nothing wrong with doing it. It doesn't void your warranty, and what's the worst thing that could happen? If you back up your data before you start, there is nothing to lose.

Hell, Sony wouldn't let you do it if it voided your warranty.

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