160GB Isn’t the Only PS3 Hardware News Incoming; 320GB, Price Drop too

08/16/2010 Written by Anthony SeverinocloseAuthor: Anthony Severino Name: Anthony Severino
Email: sev1512@playstationlifestyle.net
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You may have read elsewhere on the internet that GameStop.com has recently outed the existence of a 160GB PS3. However, according to a retail source, that isn’t the only new PS3 hardware news on the horizon.

In what could only be a planned announcement for tomorrow’s Sony gamescom press conference, new iterations of PS3 hardware are on the way. The 160GB version was seemingly outed by GameStop this evening, but according to our retail source, that’s not all.

Along with the 160GB PS3, a 320GB PS3 will be available as well, putting the PS3’s HDD capacity well over the premium Xbox 360 model’s 250GB.

But won’t that be confusing for consumers having a 120, 160, 250, and 320GB models available at retail? Nope. That’s because the 120GB and 250GB models are being phased out and are being replaced by their slightly larger HDD counterparts.

So what’s going to happen to the 120GB and 250GB PS3? Price drops… Or at least a temporary one. Our retail source also reports that listed right now in his store’s system, it has the 250GB PS3 for $299.99. That’s a $50 price drop for the 250GB model. Although our source didn’t report on if the 120GB model would also be seeing a price drop, it would make sense for Sony to do so, to clear out existing stock of the older slim models to make way for the new SKU.

This same situation happened back when the 80GB “fat” PS3 was announced at E3 2007, where the previous 60GB model had its price dropped by $100 to clear out existing stock.

Also it’s important to note that in Japan these models are already available, not just in black, but in white as well. Hopefully the additional options will make their way over to Europe and North America as well.

Sony’s gamescom press conference is tomorrow afternoon, so expect official word coming some time tomorrow during the conference. We’ll keep you updated as more news breaks.

Source playstationlifestyle.net

Nice news this should keep the upcoming weeks interesting.

Sales will explode if this happen.

All cross my fingers considering I have to replace my broken 80gig. If this is true I might have to break down and buy that anorexic model. Still I hate the slim so I might just buy another used 4 usb 80 gig.

a permanent price drop would be better

going to be a Interesting couple of weeks.

Competition does good to us all.

I'm sorry, but who in their right mind needs 320 gigs? 250 is ridiculous, and now it seems like we're just adding gigs for the hell of it.

I would have to agree with this.

There really has been too many SKUs this gen. You'd think it would be confusing to some people but apparently it's not since it's a marketing tactic that has been successful so far.

Still IMO it's being milked for all it's worth by all the major game system manufacturers and I can't help but wonder how much longer it will help boost sales.    

Anyone who uses the PS3 as a media center.

I had a 320GB drive in my original 60GB SKU and that was almost full by the time I replaced it with a 500GB drive.

Even with the 500GB drive, I am very selective about what video I store on the console as I could easily fill 500GB with video I have stored on other drives.