Sony is officially pulling further supplies of the PlayStation 3s 20Gb unit from US retail. The company will leave current stock on shelves.
When we spoke to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) in London this morning, the spokesman was unable to comment on what this would mean for Europe, where we are yet to see the 20Gb unit.
In a prepared statement, Sony in the USA said:
Expanding on the statement, SCEA spokesman Dave Karraker said that the 60Gb configuration of the PS3 outsold the lower-spec model 10 to 1. The fact that there were far more 60Gb versions available than 20Gbs will, of course, have something to do with this.
The minority of American PS3 owners who already have the 20Gb model need not worry, as Karraker confirmed that they will be "100 per cent supported with software and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture."
Unable to help himself, he took a quick stab at Microsoft, adding "If [they] were to stop selling their Core system, [it] would allow publishers to actually use their hard drive for gaming purposes, leaving the Core user out in the cold."
There are still a limited number of 20Gb PS3s on retailers' shelves in the US, and these will continue to be sold until stock runs out - or is returned to Sony.
The news comes as no surprise, with the 20Gb PS3 already having been pulled from the SonyStyle website.
The removal of the 20Gb PS3 leaves Sony with one next-gen SKU on the market while Microsoft (thanks to the upcoming Elite) will soon have three.
Nintendo, with its singular Wii, is able to concentrate on one platform, one manufacturing model and one message.
So, is it now time for the 80Gb PS3, or even a 120Gb.
When we spoke to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) in London this morning, the spokesman was unable to comment on what this would mean for Europe, where we are yet to see the 20Gb unit.
In a prepared statement, Sony in the USA said:
At launch, we offered two separate models of PLAYSTATION 3 to meet the diverse needs and interests of our PlayStation fan base. Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of ninety percent in favor of the 60GB sku, so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly. Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America. In addition to the larger internal hard drive, the 60GB PlayStation 3 features added storage media slots and built-in Wi-Fi not found in the 20GB system. Based on retailer and consumer feedback, we have decided to focus our current efforts on the more popular 60GB model.
Expanding on the statement, SCEA spokesman Dave Karraker said that the 60Gb configuration of the PS3 outsold the lower-spec model 10 to 1. The fact that there were far more 60Gb versions available than 20Gbs will, of course, have something to do with this.
The minority of American PS3 owners who already have the 20Gb model need not worry, as Karraker confirmed that they will be "100 per cent supported with software and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture."
Unable to help himself, he took a quick stab at Microsoft, adding "If [they] were to stop selling their Core system, [it] would allow publishers to actually use their hard drive for gaming purposes, leaving the Core user out in the cold."
There are still a limited number of 20Gb PS3s on retailers' shelves in the US, and these will continue to be sold until stock runs out - or is returned to Sony.
The news comes as no surprise, with the 20Gb PS3 already having been pulled from the SonyStyle website.
The removal of the 20Gb PS3 leaves Sony with one next-gen SKU on the market while Microsoft (thanks to the upcoming Elite) will soon have three.
Nintendo, with its singular Wii, is able to concentrate on one platform, one manufacturing model and one message.
So, is it now time for the 80Gb PS3, or even a 120Gb.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Mark 12 Apr 2007 09:38
1/12
I'm pretty sure the 360 uses the hard drive if available for loading and streaming. The HDD version of oblivion runs smoother than the un equipped core version.
I dont see this as a big deal to be honest but there is a chance some people will be put off from purchasing the larger HDD version PS3 because of cost.
Only time will tell. I dont think Microsoft made a large mistake by not including a HDD in all the versions. It makes programming games more complicated because they have to bare two different systems (soon to be 3) in mind.
I dont see this as a big deal to be honest but there is a chance some people will be put off from purchasing the larger HDD version PS3 because of cost.
Only time will tell. I dont think Microsoft made a large mistake by not including a HDD in all the versions. It makes programming games more complicated because they have to bare two different systems (soon to be 3) in mind.
Mark 12 Apr 2007 09:39
2/12
That shoudl have been I DO! think M$ made a mistake with the core.
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Joji 12 Apr 2007 12:30
3/12
I think the Core pack was good as an entry level choice, keeping it close to a Wii price. However I think MS now see that perhaps they don't need to worry so much about Nintendo doing well with Wii, since PS3 is a greater threat to them.
The advantages of 360 Premium and soon Elite are clear enough. Many gamers via word of mouth are letting others know its better to have a hard drive than none at all. This is why the Core isn't selling.
Its those lovely care free demos, trailers and such. I'll be glad to get a new 120gb hard drive but I hope they keep the 20gb model available (perhaps with a price cut and cross over cable). Then MS can shift that Core stock before they phase it out.
The advantages of 360 Premium and soon Elite are clear enough. Many gamers via word of mouth are letting others know its better to have a hard drive than none at all. This is why the Core isn't selling.
Its those lovely care free demos, trailers and such. I'll be glad to get a new 120gb hard drive but I hope they keep the 20gb model available (perhaps with a price cut and cross over cable). Then MS can shift that Core stock before they phase it out.
Bob 12 Apr 2007 13:08
4/12
What is a sku and why do I care how many sony has?
RFJason 12 Apr 2007 13:57
5/12
Sony is gay.
tyrion 12 Apr 2007 14:44
6/12
Bob wrote:
What is a sku and why do I care how many sony has?
A SKU is a Stock Keeping Unit. Basically it's one line on a warehouse stock report.
In the games industry it usually refers to a specific version of a software title, so the British version of God of War on PS2 for example is a separate SKU from the French version.
In the context of hardware, SKU refers to the different configurations of hardware, so the 20GB and 60GB PS3s are different SKUs, as are the Core, Premium and Elite 360s.
SKUs almost always have a different barcode, so if you can imagine why the barcode would change, you are probably looking at a different SKU.
DoctorDee 12 Apr 2007 15:56
7/12
RFJason wrote:
Sony is gay.
SPOnG (and many other publications) has an editorial policy that states companies are singular. So despite the terse and peurile nature of your comment, it is nice to see you observing our editorial style.
TimSpong 12 Apr 2007 17:29
8/12
RFJason wrote:
Sony is gay.
Microsoft is cheerful.
Nintendo is pleasantly up-beat.
Nokia may be a little ruffled right now - but it's not really seen the new N*Gage put to the test yet, has it?
Joji 12 Apr 2007 17:43
9/12
Gay is the wrong word to use and bad english too. If you mean homosexual, that's impossible because Sony is a company, a name and brand and as such has no gender and isn't even human. Please select another word.
If you mean gay as in happy (what the word actually means), I also somehow doubt they are happy. PS3 is late and struggling already, PSP was late and is still struggling to this very day to sell against DS. On a better not Little Big Adventure and God of War 2 look superb. Maybe they can smile a little after all.
If you mean gay as in happy (what the word actually means), I also somehow doubt they are happy. PS3 is late and struggling already, PSP was late and is still struggling to this very day to sell against DS. On a better not Little Big Adventure and God of War 2 look superb. Maybe they can smile a little after all.
tyrion 12 Apr 2007 18:02
10/12
Joji wrote:
PSP was late and is still struggling to this very day to sell against DS.
If owning 1/3 of the worldwide next-gen hand-held market is struggling, I hate to think how you would consider the XBox did last gen with it's mighty 14% of the market.
SPInGSPOnG 12 Apr 2007 22:38
11/12
Joji wrote:
Gay is the wrong word to use and bad english too.
I don't believe it is.
According to my homosexual friends (yes, I have them, no I don't sleep with them) gay has three meanings:
1) Joyously happy.
2) Lame.
3) Homosexual.
And they should know.
LEX 13 Apr 2007 11:36
12/12
i work for best buy in north america and the first is that costumers want the 20G but there nothing on stock because sony since lunch stop sendig the 20G so is not because the SKU say its just that there is no more option. second we sell more 360 and wii that ps3 for example : we sell all the wiis in 2 houres ,3 xbox 360 a week,and 1 ps3 evrey two weeks and the costumers who is buying the ps3 its not for play, it is for watch blue ray in his/her new home theater center and for last ths SKU(Stock Keeping Unit)its a specific upc for store to track the product all store have the same UPC or bar code but the SKU its unic in the store, with that number we now how many we have on stock and if that product was a real product for our store,when a costumer return the product.