You may argue if Sony could not have found a better time to announce its PS3 refresh (E3, anyone?) and if you are interested in game consoles then this refresh is hardly a surprise to you. It is a necessary response to Microsoft’s upgraded Xbox 360, but there is no price cut – a price cut the PS3 so desperately needs.
Sony’s new PS3s are limited to Japan for now, even if we know that the consoles will make it across the Pacific Ocean at some point. The company announced (translated version here) three new models, the CECH-2500A, which has a 160 GB hard drive and comes in charcoal black; the CECH-2500A LW, which has a 160 GB hard drive and a classic white finish as well as the CECH-2500B, which has a 320 GB hard drive and is painted in charcoal black. Both PS3s integrate WiFi 802.11 b/g as well as Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. The 160 GB model takes the place and price ($340) of the previous 120 GB model. The 320 GB model replaces the 250 GB version with a price of about $400.
Just before the opening of E3 in June, FCC filings revealed three new Sony models that had different model numbers. Like the PS3 announced today by Sony in Japan, the CECH-2501A und CECH-2501B had 802.11 b/g WiFi as well as Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and carry different hard drives. The FCC However, there are also two debugging units, the models DECH-2500A und DECH-S2500A. Such models are usually used to test software such as games or firmware updates. Debugging updates may hint to hardware updates, which could, according to rumors, include an updated, less power hungry, Nvidia RSX graphics chip.
The new PS3s are necessary update for the PS3 that allows Sony to remain in the spotlight next to the recently updated Xbox 360, which got WiFi connectivity and a standard 250 GB hard drive. The update may seem too subtle and some may miss a price cut the PS3 would need so desperately to get a shot at surpassing the Xbox 360, but if we believe the current Amazon best seller list, the PS3 is actually selling very well these days.
Amazon currently lists the PS3 120 GB as the most popular game console at rank #13 in its video games category, followed by the black Wii at #15, the new 250 GB Xbox 360 at #18 as well as the Little Big Planet PS3 250 GB bundle at #50. On that note, Kinect seems to be still doing much better in preorders (#47) than Sony’s Move (#175). At Toys’R’Us, the 120 GB PS3 ranks 43rd, while the 250 GB Xbox is listed at #30 and the 120 GB Elite Xbox 360 at 5th.
Conceivably, we should see the new PS3s in the U.S. surface with the introduction of the Move controller on September 19. But to compete with Microsoft’s Kinect, which is already demonstrated in Microsoft stores and is making PR waves, for example as demo platform for Chevy’s Volt vehicle, Sony may need a bit more than just a bigger hard drive and a new color. If you are planning on buying a PS3 this holiday season, be prepared to add another $400 to your budget to bring home Sony’s Move controller system for 4 players as well.
I know for sure that i'm getting one of these in white, they seem BADASS .
40gb more for $50.....not worth it. They did this to compete with the new 360? The 360 sounds like a better deal. Bigger hard drive and wireless N. Doesn't sound like a good move on Sony's part to me.