Sony Producing New PS3 Hardware, Slim Appears Likely

The Opposable Thumbs blog reports on a confluence of rumors and information leaks that suggest Sony will be unveiling a PS3 Slim sooner rather than later. Despite waning console sales, orders for PS3-related hardware have risen sharply. There's evidence to suggest that Sony is phasing out its 80GB model, which would help clear the way for a hardware revision. Some expect the official announcement to come as early as August 18th, during the gamescom expo in Germany.

Comments

Do not want!!

[Macthorpe]

Unless the price comes down to 360 levels. It's not like the PS3 has an exclusive I particularly want anyway.

Re:Do not want!!

[krou]

The summary doesn't mention it, but there are signs that they may announce a price drop for the PS3 at GamesCom as well. For example, they've doubled PS3 production since the cost of making the PS3 has dropped some 70% since launch, while Amazon reduced the cost of one of the 160GB bundles by around US$50. Probably won't be anywhere near Xbox360 levels though.

Re:Do not want!!

[FishWithAHammer]

I don't own a PS3, but there are a few exclusives I've enjoyed when hanging out at a friend's and a few upcoming ones that are making me tempted (although I'll probably get a 360 because I'm involved in game dev and my company wants to try to branch to consoles with our 3D engine):

Metal Gear Solid 4 (it's coming out on the 360, but I strongly doubt it'll look anywhere near as nice)
Wipeout HD
Uncharted and Uncharted 2 (I thought they were lame when they were first released, but they grow on you fast)
Gran Turismo 5 (not out yet, but a definite exclusive)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Fat Princess (don't knock it till you've played it, this shit is hilarious)

Re:Do not want!!

[ravenshrike]

Actually, there's a few models as cheap as the PS3. However, all the models comparable in performance are indeed much more expensive.

Re:Do not want!!

[jandrese]

Apparently Sony has been starving the supply chain for the PS3 for a month or so now in an effort to work through the old systems before announcing the new one. I'd also expect stores to offer deals on old fat PS3s "while supplies last" to get them out of the door.

Re:Do not want!!

[JoeMerchant]

I'd like a deluxe edition PS3 too - one with 2GB of RAM, and maybe a little clock-speed boost in the cell management unit (that Linux runs on...)

Re:Do not want!!

[indiechild]

After I bought a PS3 I did quite a bit of reading and the unanimous conclusion was that the XBox360 had superior hardware capabilities, and was also easier to develop for than the PS3.

Pound for pound, the XBox 360 would be the console to get if you wanted to concentrate on gaming. The PS3 has the Blu-ray capability going for it, among other things.

Re:Do not want!!

[Guspaz]

It all depends on what you want. The basic 360 has half a gig of Flash, like the Wii. That may not be ideal if you want to download XBLA games or demos, but is probably sufficient for saves, patches, and a bit of DLC.

The 360 doesn't have wireless, which can be a major problem if your console isn't near a network jack. But you may not need it if it's close enough to a router (my TV is next to my computer, so wireless would be overkill to get network connectivity 3 feet).

The 360 doesn't have an HD-capable optical drive, leaving it unable to play BluRay discs. But that may not be important if you already have one, or have a computer with one, or don't want one. Or if you already have a PS3 ;)

It all comes down to different requirements. Not everybody needs the missing things. Many people do need them. If you do need them and want to save money, I'd point out that buying a wireless router that supports something like dd-wrt micro and using it as a wireless bridge is usually a far cheaper solution than buying Microsoft's overpriced wireless receiver. And BluRay capabilities are probably better served by buying a BluRay burner for your PC anyhow; they cost less than $130 USD, and can be used to burn BluRay discs; if you already have an HTPC, or can run an HDMI cable from your PC, you're golden. Of course, that really brings up the cost, but it's a lot more flexible.

There isn't any doubt that Sony needs to bring the price down on the PS3. But then again, so does Nintendo, and even Microsoft to an extent. The cost of PCs that can match the performance of the consoles is rapidly approaching the cost of the consoles. I doubt they'll ever completely get there, but when your choice would be between a $400 console or a $500 PC that can match the performance, the PC will do a heck of a lot more!

Slim-ed down PS3?

[Anonymous Coward]

Are the cost reductions statements about the current PS3 or the new slim? If it's the slim then no they aren't making money, they are just getting rid of inventory. Furthermore, they will probably make some money, but much of that will be offset by the reduction in price we can expect (I think $300 MSRP is probably a fine expectation).

I currently have a PS3 with BC and might consider trading up for one of these. I would like the smaller size and reduction in electricity usage and noise that should accompany it (smaller die, etc).

Overall I would expect this to help Sony's sales a bit. Even just the fact that it will look cooler and compact should help (Remember the new plastic coke bottle from years back?). The reduction is price will help more of course.

I've been very surprised the Xbox hasn't changed their systems design, seems like it could benefit from a redesign as well. Any rumors on that?

Re:They had PS2 compatibility

[Lilith's Heart-shape]

The current status is that Sony can't believe anybody actually fell for that bullshit.

$100 off

[Enderandrew]

You can get $100 off a PS3 by applying for the Playstation credit card. When I did it, they gave me $150 off the 80 GB model, but apparently that deal has since expired.

http://www.sonyrewards.com/en/gateway/?offerlink=srnowps3

Meh. Still no price cut, still no BC

[Millennium]

Even if the Slim materializes, I strongly believe that it will retail for the same price as the current PS3 (which may get a fire-sale price just to get rid of the things). Sony can't afford any other move with all the red ink they're bleeding; they need to start making money now, and a Slim can only provide them a profit if the cost savings from making it are not passed on to consumers.

I also doubt there will be any BC. While it would provide the PS3 with a source of good games -its own predecessors- Sony's own arrogance will block the move. They've spent too much time arguing that people don't want to play older games anymore.

Re:Needs Backwards Compatibility.

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Being on my 5th 360 and still on my launch PS3 means that your situation might be considered anomalous,

The YLOD is an unfortunately common problem on the 60GB models apparently. Other models are more reliable. Unfortunately, the 60GB model was one of the last which supported backwards compatibility for PS2 titles. Yoy.

I don't know how the PS1 smoothing is on the newer models, though.

No PS3 has ever supported texture smoothing for PS1 titles. It has supported HD upscaling, but that's hardly the same thing. The single best way to play PS1 games remains PS2 emulation with texture smoothing. Later PS1 games like Vagrant Story or Final Fantasy IX gain a whole new lease of life. I would liken it to the effects of the Super2xsai engine for 16 bit titles.

I truthfully don't know why I still support MS after 4 dead Elites

The biggest problem with dead consoles in the current generation is not the repair/replacement process. It's the loss of data. The current generation has moved to hard disc as the primary, and indeed sole method of saving game data of all forms. Unfortunately, they have also moved to full disc encryption as well.

When a PS3 or 360 goes belly up, sending it back for repair means losing your save date entirely. For someone who spends upwards of 200 hours on games they love to play, I can say this is a devastating blow. Losing those saves is like losing old notebooks. Something inside you dies.

The PS3 provides a backup utility, which must be run periodically to be of any use. But who wants to administer their games console like a web server? The current regime of keeping users saves under encryption keys, all while shipping units that go belly up with some frequency is a status quo that needs to change. Save cartridges may have been a pain in the ass, but at least they offer some degree of protection against total data loss.

Re:Needs Backwards Compatibility.

[bmatt17]

What a load of misinformation. "When a PS3 or 360 goes belly up, sending it back for repair means losing your save date entirely." This is 100% false for 360 as you keep your harddrive, once the new console arrives, you stick your harddrive back on and that's it. I've sent mine back 4 times and have not once lost my save data. DRM on live purchases is another story, but they have since fixed that. PS3 I lost my save data the 1 time it broke. Although I think the harddrive got hosed when it died as I couldn't get the PS3 to even recognize or format the drive when I got my PS3 back. ( I sent it in with a new harddrive so I could keep my save files). So I'm not sure if it's possible to keep your data if the PS3 dies.