40Gb PS3 rumours growing arms and legs!

[davygee]

Link to Games Radar

Could this actually happen?

I think it would certainly be a very smart move from Sony.  Although I reckon they really shouldn't remove any functionality from the PS3 to create the cheaper 40Gb $399 model.  And could it be redesigned and be smaller which in turn would make it more attractive to the Eastern market as well.

Releasing this model around the start of November as well would be a smart move, to get the sales over the Holiday season.  Obviously to have the lower price tag of $399, the new model will only come with one sixaxis.  Whereas at the same time, the 80Gb $599 model that currently comes with Motorstorm gets reduced to $499 to replace the soon to be extinct 60Gb models on the market.

So could we see in time for Xmas:

40Gb PS3 with one sixaxis - $399

80Gb PS3 with one sixaxis, Motorstorm and HDMI cable - $499

It would also mean, that this new 40Gb model would have to replace the 20Gb model in Japan, obviously, now you would be getting a fully working PS3 with Wifi and cardslots etc, and they could probably reduce the price which is currently comparable to $400 to maybe around $350.

This would also need to happen in the UK and Europe as well.  The current £425 60Gb, 2 games and 2 sixaxis' deal would have to come down considerably.  A £299 entry unit would do much better.