I could see them going down to a single sku with the ability to buy new HDD's for expansion etc, but completely dropping BC I don't see. If the 80g is phased out, then the 40g will receive a firmware update with software only BC.

Has anyone stopped to think that maybe they aren't dropping anything? Maybe they are just making way for a new sku with the exact same price and PS3 but with the new controllers and perhaps a different pack in game?

Best Buy has removed the 80 GB sku from their online store already...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....s&nrp=15&iht=n

@ FishyJoe...I agree. I think they are most likely going to release another sku with Dual Shock 3 & a different game.

Or hopefully with a larger hard drive and a few other upgrades...especially with the talk of turning it into a tivo type media center....80 GB isn't worthwhile---you need at least 200 GB.

If they add BC to the 40gig. It will remove a lot (not all) of confusion around the sku's. So it really comes down to... how big is the hard drive.

I think Sony will come up with a new bundle. The 40G PS3 bundled with a PS2. The ultimate in BC.

 OH COME ON!

Pick a ****ing console and stick with it already!

I agree.  There was only one Xbox, one Gamecube, and one PS2.  Why have MS and Sony gone so SKU-happy?  I don't like the idea of segmenting your userbase like that.

I'm curious to see if backwards compatibility will be included when they replace this SKU (if this is true).