CONFIRMED: New PlayStation 3 AND A Price Cut

Now this is something that is rather stupid:

'The new model is also no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation®2 titles...'

As we all know in Europe and well all areas now SONY removed the PS2 emotion chip in the PS3's and relied on software for backwards compatibilty so what doesnt make sense is how they can stop the BC updates being applied to the 40gb PS3's?

Now here is a major blunder on Sony's part...

40gb PS3 pack £299

60gb PS3 pack £349

So for another £50 you get BC, memory slots, 2 more usb ports and 20gb more hard drive space...

So thinking about it I think SONY deliberatly made the 40gb SKU just so they could enter the sub £300 price point Microsoft was always talking about.

Of course now a lot more people will probably purchase one but as much as the PS3 has a LOT of good hardware its lacking something that gamers in general may want and thats games and exclusives.

Next year may of course be a better year for SONY but I think many need to really look at what they are realling getting or purchasing.

Many will now argue the differences between getting a 360 Elite with a 120gb hard drive an the PS3 60gb being around £70 more and you get blu-ray player, wi-fi etc.

But if you haven't realised yet Microsoft isn't about who has the most under the hood its who has the best software with the best hardware to support each other.

Hopefully this post comes across more 'mature' than my other posts.

It does, and I think you have a point. Sony NEEDS a price cut, but to deliver it by delivering a feature cut is not the way to do it. And despite what Sony seems to think, I can't see that removing backwards compatibility when the software line-up is so weak is the right move.

I want a PS3... but there are no games yet that make me feel compelled to buy one... I don't love how it looks (I don't love how the 360 loves either) but right now, I can't stop playing Crackdown, so the PS3 can wait until they get the price right... and for me that is £299 with 80Gb and backward compatibility - or with a FAR better software selection, and a £40 unit price for software.

I think that most consumers wont notice the "bits missing" as it will play games and films.

These people who have been waiting will probably go for the 299 price point.

The software issue is one which Sony really need to sort out and fast, there is still very little on the PS3 that is exclusive and good.... exlusives are there but ther not worth shouting about.

As far as I remember, the original PS3 model had both the Emotion Engine CPU (EE) and the Graphics Synthesizer GPU (GS) chips from the PS2 in it. The EU version dropped the EE but kept the GS, so the software BC makes use of the GS. If the 40GB doesn't have the GS either (cost cutting) then the current software BC won't work.

It;s always possible that they could re-write the BC to provide a software interface that maps GS calls to the RSX, but that would be another matter entirely. For now, no GS means no PS2 BC.


It does, quite refreshing, please keep it up. You have some very good points here and putting them across in a mature way means people will debate with you rather than ask for an ignore button. :-)

I wonder if these new models can output games or movies in High Definition. I searched through the text thoroughly and couldn't find a single mention about it.

Although you kinda glorified Microsoft again towards the end (you don't always have to compare the two companies so aggressively you know), I liked your post, and I think you brought up something quite important.

What exactly are we getting for a mere £50 more? I can understand some features being cut if the entry-level console was much less expensive than it is being primed as, but for a £50 difference is there a point? The difference in price and specs aren't really as black and white as they are with the XBOX 360 Core and Premium for instance. You really may as well shell out the extra fifty.

I'll agree on the backwards compatibility as well - as the Emotion Engine is no longer part of the chipset of the PS3, what relative gain does Sony have to remove support for it in the entry level console? As it's all software-emulation related, it can't really cut any production costs to remove it can it, considering they've already invested in programming the emulation..?

I do think Sony are right to cut out most of the guff with memory card readers and an abundance of USB ports - a lot of the hardware features that Sony are thinking people will use in the future aren't really assured (the only memory card I can imagine using with a PS3 is a Stick Pro Duo for obvious reasons)... but cutting backwards compatibility is only adding to the problem of the lack of games.

I'd have been pleased to have seen the Dual Shock 3 somewhere in one of the packs too... oh well.

"But if you haven't realised yet Microsoft isn't about who has the most under the hood its who has the best software with the best hardware to support each other"
Clerly you are confusing microsoft with other company, microsoft has the best hardware and best software, lol, give me a break.
But you have a good point, if the 40gb come without the 2 free games the 60gb has, who want the 40 gb?

"As we all know in Europe and well all areas now SONY removed the PS2 emotion chip in the PS3's and relied on software for backwards compatibilty so what doesnt make sense is how they can stop the BC updates being applied to the 40gb PS3's?"


Oh come on, surely it's not that hard to figure it out? There is no reason... Erm.. apart from to make the 60gig version look like it has more features and give you a reason to buy that.

we are all gamers and true gamers (not fanboys) will want all three avalible home consoles, now though this makes a good entry for those not to keen to spend a lot of money that may be wasted in the short term ( maybe when the software arrives price wont be so much a problem) its a great way to do it, buy the cheaper unit its also the best way of entering the HD movies parade, good on sony as its much needed and thnk guys you can just sit there and slag them for reducing the number of components but Sony is losing money on these machines and it must be tough for them to get it don in price without the hardware cuts, but at the end of the day its the Best BD player on the market and its also a s**t hot games console `just add games`...

" "But if you haven't realised yet Microsoft isn't about who has the most under the hood its who has the best software with the best hardware to support each other"
Clerly you are confusing microsoft with other company, microsoft has the best hardware and best software, lol, give me a break. "

someone calling SS on saying microsoft ISNT the best. this is too weird.

also, i dont love the way xbox loves, either.

that made me laugh...

i cant beleive they are taking out BC. everything else is a good move, because people will buy it for the price, and think they are getting a good deal, and people who know more about the subject will just go, yeah its only £50 more, ill get that.

i guess. maybe not. who knows.

Smelly is right. This could well be a ploy, to atleast get hardcore gamers to buy the 60gb model, leaving the 40gb for the dunce like casuals, picking up sales either way. You never know people might see the price and bite, however if you can get much more for the extra £50, why would anyone in their right mind by a 40gb?

Still freaking stupid to take out BC, when PS2 games are all that breathing life into PS3 for the moment, til better PS3 games turn up. I won't even mention imports, as I'll have to keep my PS2, like I did my PS1 to play them.

Jeez Sony, one step forward (DS3) many steps back. All you need to do is add £300 price to the 80gb model and stop being so greedy. What should be interesting is finding out how they are gonna sell this 40gb model without marking it NOT COMPATIBLE WITH PS2/1 GAMES. Will Game be forced to explain the differences?

Once again, Sony, they are splintering their market. Very bad move.

i think sony are trying to get it right but the one big worry with getting rid of backwards compatibility is the ps1 games one the ps store allso how have thay stoped it if its done by the bios the its easy well sort of re-right it i think it will sell like hot cakes in the fact that i no many people who want a ps3 but will not spend 425 on one games prices are good at pcworld as non are over 40 and as a blu ray player 299 is nothing

congratulations on the longest sentence ever

Sure, no one is disputing the £300 price tag, but we should be getting the 80gb for that price, without any compromises. It could also be Sony trying to kill PS2 use, so PS3s sales will improve.

Beyond that, there's little logic here, since you shouldn't be dictating price when you are last. I'll hold out til the 80gb one is £300, as i need BC.

I'm not concerned about an extra 20GB when you already have plenty, and it's only £300... Backwards compatibility, if it really does save them money, is a trivial thing to lack - keep your PS2, problem solved.

It comes with games, internet service is free, and it plays Blu-rays, so I see it as a bargain, and it's about time Sony did it. The only problem I have is that I paid £425!

What I don't understand, though, is apart from being cheaper, what makes the XBox 360 any better than the PS3, and just because Microsoft made a games console, does that really make them cool? Here's something to think about - either way you've blown hundreds of pounds/dollars and hours of your life playing trivial games!