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

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.

Needs Backwards Compatibility.

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Unless it has PS2 game emulation, I have no reason whatsoever to upgrade to it from my 60GB model. A 60GB model which Yellow lighted and had to be repaired so I could save my saves. I'm still using the danm thing despite the imminent risk of another YLOD due solely to the fact that it plays PS2 games with upscaling. I don't want to go back to using a regular PS2 if I can help it. The difference is truly is like night and day.

If there's no PS2 backwards compatibility (and ffs PS1 game texture smoothing), I see no reason for prefering the model to the cheaper 80/160GBs.

He means the original 60GB one

[NotSoHeavyD3]

Which is the one I have as well. The first 2 PS3's, the 20GB and 60GB both played PS2 games and both had the complete hardware to do so. (Newer PS3 were missing one of the big chips but still could pull it off. Current systems don't have any of the old PS2 hardware which is why they arn't BC.) Anyway I hope they put BC back in. (Either that or I hope my PS3 doesn't break as much as my 360.)

What it would take

[snarfies]

1) Bring back HARDWARE emulation of the PS2. Not the software version (which isn't even offered anymore).

2) Drop the price.

That is all. Do that and I'll buy. Seriously.

Re:What it would take

[Enderandrew]

There have been reports that the software emulaation works better, so I'm not sure we need the hardware emulation.

A price drop is a must. However, what many people weren't aware of is that Sony was doing a deal if you applied for the Playstation credit card, you got $150 off a PS3. When I purchased my second PS3, I did it through that deal and paid $250 for a PS3, which is the same price as a Wii, for an 80 GB model. That was a pretty good deal.

Re:What it would take

[Enderandrew]

I checked, and Sony isn't doing the same deal anymore, but they are doing $100 off a PS3 right now.

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

Re:They had PS2 compatibility

[Lilith's Heart-shape]

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

Re:Do not want!!

[nutshell42]

I won't buy a 360 due to the way MS treats the PC. It's not so much that they no longer release anything for the PC (although it's funny that Sony seems to make more games for MS fucking Windows than MS), that's their right. It's the sheer hypocrisy. The way they tout their efforts to "enhance" PC gaming while even their head honchos admit that they want to kill it because they have more control over the 360 - not to mention that they get their cut of every game sold. (see here)

If you're a smug 360 owner and don't give a fsck about the PC then remember the fate of the original Xbox. Sony's keeping the PS2 around forever and they'll likely do the same with the PS3, you're still gonna get new games years after the PS4 launch. MS killed the Xbox immediatly after the 360 launch. Oh, they say it's gonna be different for the 360 because they don't have to pay intel and Nvidia etc etc, which brings us back to all the crap they spout about their support for PC games.