Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/18/sony_ps3_changes/
Sony has cut the price of the US 80GB PlayStation 3 to $499 (£245/€352), a prelude to the launch next month of the 40GB version, already announced in Europe and Japan.
Sony launched the 80GB PS3 in the US (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/09/ps3_80gb_hdd/) in July, a month before it went on sale for $599.
The 40GB model will cost $399 (£196/€281) and will go on sale Stateside on 2 November. The console comes to the UK tomorrow, 19 October, but won't arrive in Japan until 11 November.
US gamers, like buyers in all the other two territories, will not be able to play PS2 games on the 40GB PS3, Sony confirmed, a move it said "reflected the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles" and stressed that the 80GB PS3's ability to play PS2 titles was, in any case, "limited".
The 40GB model does contain a Blu-ray Disc drive and will come bundled with a copy of Spider-man 3 on BD. Like the 80GB model, the 40GB PS3 has a built-in HDMI port but only two, rather than four, USB ports. There's no memory card reader, either.
Today, Sony also said it was selling the plant that makes Cell and RSX chips (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/18/tosh_sony_cell_jv/) for the PS3 to Toshiba.
Sony posts PS3 firmware 2.0 (8 November 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/11/08/ps3_firmware_update/
Sony unveils third-gen 'portable' PS2 (6 November 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/11/06/sony_ps2_redesign/
Sony said to have sub-$100 PS2 in the pipeline (2 November 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/11/02/sony_preps_new_ps2/
Sony paints PS2 white... for a while (30 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/30/sony_ps2_ceramic_white/
Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices in Japan (22 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/22/microsoft_xbox_japan_price_cut/
PS3 Eye digicam to arrive next week (19 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/19/eye_playstation_eye_of_judgement/
Xbox 360 wrests US sales lead from Wii (19 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/19/xbox_outsells_wii_in_us/
Sony reaffirms IBM as 45nm Cell partner (19 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/19/sony_ibm_45nm/
Oz censor bans Soldier Of Fortune: Payback (18 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/18/oflc_bans_solider_of_fortune_game/
Sony, Toshiba to form JV to fab PS3 chips (18 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/18/tosh_sony_cell_jv/
Sony talks up PS3 update (15 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/15/sony_ps3_bluray_firmware_interactive/
Sony to cut Japanese PS3 prices (9 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/09/sony_ps3_japan/
Sony's 40GB PS3 for Europe confirmed (6 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/06/europe_40gb_ps3_confirmed/