Sony considers producing PS3 with larger hard drive

A Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson has confirmed that the company is "considering" producing a new version of PlayStation 3 with a larger hard drive. The comments come just weeks after Sony filed an FCC application which referred to an 80GB PS3. Currently 20GB and 60GB models are available in Japan, with SCEA recently announcing that the 20GB version is to be discontinued in North America.
According to Bloomberg, spokesperson Satoshi Fukuoka said the decision is "in line with our strategy as we had planned to choose models based on consumer needs". Bloomberg also reports that Sony is "considering introducing the model with a bigger hard disk", as stated by Fukuoka. He did not provide any further details.

I think Sony should focus on selling just one PS3 for now...it'd be easier marketing, and an even higher priced PS3 might put off consumers.

BenKenobi88 said: I think Sony should focus on selling just one PS3 for now...it'd be easier marketing, and an even higher priced PS3 might put off consumers.

 Probably when the costs go down, that they can drop the price of the 60GB.

Isn't it easy to replace the HD with an off the shelf one anyway?  This seems like it would only appeal to casual gamers who are afraid of opening their PS3, but I don't think that market would care about the extra space.

BenKenobi88 said: I think Sony should focus on selling just one PS3 for now...it'd be easier marketing, and an even higher priced PS3 might put off consumers.

Exactly how I feel....try getting the price of the 60gb model down first and foremost before bringing out a more costly model.  Anyway, whats the point of the extra 20gb...I would have thought it would be more sensible to bring out a 120gb model like the 360 Elite?

Shouldn't this have been thought of BEFORE they launched the system?

More and more I have to ask myself "does this company know what they're doing anymore?"

If I didn't know any better I'd think Sony's intentionally trying to kill the Playstation. I hope they're not trying to follow in the footsteps of Microsoft ill-conceived XBox 360 Elite.

John Lucas

The only way this makes sense is if they have a deal in which you can get a PS3 hard drive for less than what you can get a 2.5 drive on new egg or any other competative price.

The HDD on the PS3 can be swapped out with the greates of ease with pretty much any notebook drive. So other than offering a deal this really doesn't make much sense. 

20gb isn't jack shit, there has to be more to this upgrade than that

sieanr said: 20gb isn't jack shit, there has to be more to this upgrade than that

 Maybe a system design overhaul, that doesn't cost as much, at least in terms of manufacturing, and would therefore drop in price faster.

im thining that they plan on slightly dropping the price of the 60gb model to 550 in the US and the 80gb model will be about 600bux. I think the 80gb model wont have the ps2 hardware in it and have emulted back compatibility. by the time it comes out 90% of emulated games should work fine.

this is wishfull thinking but the 80gb model could have DVD scaling and prolly comes with an hdmi cable or component cable.