Got news?   tips@destructoid.com  |  Never miss a story:   RSS + Twitter + YouTube
Hey! New here? Destructoid is a gaming discussion community, updated nearly every 20 minutes. Make a quick avatar to comment and enter our contests. Take the tour!
 


Home Sony updates

E3 08: New 80GB PlayStation 3 model coming out this September
8:58 PM on 07.15.2008, Hamza CTZ Aziz 34 comments

     Sony

At their press conference earlier today, Sony unveiled the new 80GB PlayStation 3 "Core Pack". This latest model will have the same features as the 40GB PS3s, but with double the harddrive space and will retail for $400, the same price that the 40GB models are right now. 

The 40GB models are now on their last legs and will soon be taken off the market, joining the 20GB and 60GB in the console graveyard. It hasn't really been made clear yet by Sony, but since the 80GB " ... will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model", then it looks you'll have the same backwards compatibility issues. So you can play PS1 games, but no PS2 games.

What do you all think? Do you even care anymore about backwards compatibility?  

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW 80GB PLAYSTATION®3, LIMITED EDITION PLAYSTATION®2 BUNDLE, AND PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT PACK AT E3 2008

Company Also Launches New PLAYSTATION®Network Video Delivery Service and Showcases More Than 140 First-Party and Third-Party Games Across All Platforms

LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 15, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit, making a series of announcements which demonstrated the strength of the PlayStation brand across all three of its platforms and further leveraged the heritage and momentum of PlayStation’s family of products to provide consumers with more compelling entertainment options than anyone in the videogame industry.
Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company’s hardware line-up.  The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content – all for the same price.  As with its predecessor, the new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray™ player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine™ and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION®Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.

LAUNCH GALLERY (1 IMAGES)
Photo
 

Next page: More E3 stories




dephect's Avatar
dephect at 07/15/2008 21:05
I was pissed off reading this was coming out seeing as I just got my ps3 about 4 months ago... but now I am even more pissed off knowing this one doesnt have B/C either. Oh well... least we can play ps1... eh, yeah...
Haxan's Avatar
Haxan at 07/15/2008 21:11
I had to track down and pay slightly more for a 60GB version because BC means that much to me.
Starman's Avatar
Starman at 07/15/2008 21:12
so does "and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB" mean there is no backwards compatability?
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 07/15/2008 21:38
This bundle for $400, plus GoW3, plus the newly announced R&C title have sold me a PS3. I shall own one come September when this is released.
Blarg the Destroyer's Avatar
Blarg the Destroyer at 07/15/2008 21:43
So much for future-proof.

Usually, throughout a consoles lifespan improvements are made to it. Better, faster drives, slightly different -sometimes better- chips and what not (to avoid piracy).

Improvements are made to the system, not downgrades. I will not buy a PS3 until the emotion engine is put back into it.
Dead Movie Star's Avatar
Dead Movie Star at 07/15/2008 21:48
HELL YES I CARE ABOUT BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!

The PS3 is looking better every day. I better start collecting pennies if I want to get it in a few years.
Rusty Ghia's Avatar
Rusty Ghia at 07/15/2008 21:55
I have too many damn systems already and too few connections, so yes, backwards compatibility IS IMPORTANT to me. And why the hell doesn't Sony sell a VGA adapter? I'm not going to buy a costly TV just for a PS3.
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 07/15/2008 22:10
Yes I care about BC. I NEED to play persona 3 &4
NyghtcrawleR's Avatar
NyghtcrawleR at 07/15/2008 22:21
Yes this will take over for the 40gb. No it wont be b/c.

Basically there will be 2 80gb models. This one and the b/c one such as the MGS4 bundle. Thats why they are calling this new pack the core pack. It has no b/c. The premium (ripping 360 terms) would be the b/c ps3 with more usbs and media card readers....
PetiePal's Avatar
PetiePal at 07/15/2008 22:31
I care and a lot of others do too. A fully BC system is what I want when I upgrade, or I'm not upgrading.
Spooky Electric's Avatar
Spooky Electric at 07/15/2008 22:38
YES, IT MATTERS.

It doesn't even need explaining, but system revisions are supposed to IMPROVE functionality, not remove it. Yes, they are cutting costs, but are they aware of how many gamers they're losing by removing backwards compatibility? Those interested in the PS3 are going on ebay and buying 60 and 80 gig PS3s for it, which ultimately makes for less PS3s sold, since the ones being bought are the same ones that shipped months ago, if not years ago.
BattyAdroit's Avatar
BattyAdroit at 07/15/2008 22:43
So, this is just an upgrade to the current 40gig, and there should also be the 80gig with the backwards compatibility. Two skus. This news doesn't seem like something worth getting up in arms about it. a core system, and an elite system.

Seems like a no-brainer from here.
Salty Soil's Avatar
Salty Soil at 07/15/2008 22:46
Backwards compatibility can go either way. I like, and prefer, to play my games on the console they were meant for, but I don't have unlimited living space of which multiple consoles can reside.

I don't mind hooking or unhooking older consoles, but I still see BC as a worthwhile convenience.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 07/15/2008 23:02
I cared about BC back when there was a lack of games on the PS3, but now, I don't play any ps2 games. I would've still jumped at the chance to buy a 80GB PS3 for $400 regardless of the BC.
In fact, I know my wife will need a ps3 when Little big planet and Home come out. So, this is perfect for her.
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 07/15/2008 23:09
so why is it that Microsoft's the only actual company focusing on the hardcore gamers now?

I seriously don't like that. But I seriously like how Moneysoft is trying to please us.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 07/15/2008 23:11
BC = britneys Child ?
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 07/15/2008 23:13
Did anyone see the DualShock logo on the box? Does this mean what I think it means, or am I reading too much into it?

Because that would make this package very attractive.
TurboSpaz's Avatar
TurboSpaz at 07/15/2008 23:15
An 80GB hard drive from Microsoft would rape $270 from your wallet, the same price as a 1.5TB hard drive. I have no real reason for bringing this up, it just pisses me off that they do that.
groebo's Avatar
groebo at 07/15/2008 23:18
BC matters... which is why i bought the 80gig on the price drop =)... [hug]PS3[/hug]
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 07/15/2008 23:35
I guess I'm in the small group of people who doesn't really care about BC, and I've got a 60 gig. I've played 1 PS2 game on my ps3 since I bought it in January of last year and that was God of War 2. I recently sold all of my ps2 games 30+, save a few for nostalgia sake, including my ps2 at my sisters garage sale. They were sitting in my basement collecting dust, and I made about $140. And to my surprise every single game I had out there sold, even the old sports games from years ago. Maybe other people care about the old stuff, not me.
casualweaponry's Avatar
casualweaponry at 07/15/2008 23:36
I really need my 2D fighters and JRPG's. So glad I own a 60 gig.
mix's Avatar
mix at 07/16/2008 00:17
If people are that worried about B/C just grab a PS2 (like $60)as it is an amazing system with a crap ton of great games, so you really can't loose.

And for the most part if you are complaining about B/C I bet 95% already own the PS2 so do what I did, keep it and USE IT! Tossing aside your old system wouldn't be very smart at all seeing as how so many people buy up all the older systems now a days, so if you toss it you will be picking it up within 10 years time anyways.

I will be tossing a 250 gig HDD in my Ps3 very, very soon :)
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 07/16/2008 00:31
Ugh. "Dumb Sony" is rearing its ugly head again. Sigh. Why would you NOT want to add some degree of BC?
whormongr's Avatar
whormongr at 07/16/2008 01:19
I own a 40 gig (you know it only takes about 50 bucks and a screwdriver to make it into a 160 gig and I got the 40gig for $299, so I don't feel too gypped on this one) and though I like backwards compatibility, I do have to say that I would rather them do s/w disc emulation with the 40/new 80 gig as when you look at the power and heat ratings on the newer models it is far lower than the original releases that contained 2 chips in them.
Vitamin Awesome's Avatar
Vitamin Awesome at 07/16/2008 01:30
Ah fuggit, I'm just gonna look for a bricked 60gig and send it to sony and tell them that the 2.40 update killed it.

I've been through quite a few PS2's due to Disc Read Errors. I wanted a PS3 because of the Backwards compatibility, but I just see it as Sony milking their last Generation to make up for the money they lose on each PS3.
GrayFox's Avatar
GrayFox at 07/16/2008 07:12
I was excited when I heard that the 80gb ps3 was being reduced to $399 and was thinking about picking one up as my PS2 is on it's last legs, but after hearing this I most certainly am going to wait it out. With FF13 being announced for xbox, I can wait as long as it takes for Team Ico to release their next game, so a long time. This might save Sony money or something, but not having BC has cost them at least one purchase for the time being.
Sassafrass's Avatar
Sassafrass at 07/16/2008 09:31
I know this makes me a total weirdo: but I never owned a playstation 2. I've considered getting a playstation 3 several times, but I'm still waiting for a model which has backwards compatibility at a reasonable price. There are still a ton of great PS2 games that I want to play when I end up buying a playstation system.

If they cut out backwards compatibility entirely, I'll probably never get a PS3. I might just wait until PS2s fall to about a hundred bucks. There are some great games there I don't want to miss.
hoydensnare's Avatar
hoydensnare at 07/16/2008 09:37
I'd really like to finally stick my PS2 away. But Sony just can't seem to create the perfect console option. They add one feature just remove a previous one. Still, with Criterion Collection coming to blu-ray in October, it's about time to make the jump.
PappaDukes's Avatar
PappaDukes at 07/16/2008 11:37
It is a DAMN good thing I got my 80 gig when I did. This sounds like a terrible deal. I mean honestly, no backwards comp. for PS2 games!? That's absurd.
emotoaster's Avatar
emotoaster at 07/16/2008 14:39
Why not keep the 40 gb and price drop it? Oh Sony how I love thee.
Edco's Avatar
Edco at 07/16/2008 21:23
Yeah I care! WTF Sony? What was so freakishly unique about the 60 gig version that you can't replicate on your new models?

And I love Sony's official response, "Just keep your PS2, silly!" That's all fine and dandy, but have you evel looked behind a gamer's TV? The wires! The wires!!
prev next

Returning Dtoiders: login now to post a comment

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just Create an avatar now - it's fast and free: PLUS you also get your own gaming blog and begin posting stories and uploading videos in our open community area that may also appear on our home page. Sign up and we'll guide you through it, it's easy and 100% anonymous.




 Original Videos

 Reviews
Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack
Overlord II
Yosumin Live!
Let's Tap
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Wii)
View all Game Reviews

 Community blogs -   39780 Dtoiders!

This month's theme: Untapped Potential

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals

How Pokemon Red is blatantly better than Pokemon Blue











more original Destructoid stories


 Popular now more













Destructoid is:
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief		 Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Dale North
News Editor		 Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Anthony Burch
Features Editor		 Rey Gutierrez
Video editor & director
Niero
Founder, publisher
Letters to the editors
tips@destructoid.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
Dyson Samit Sarkar
Contributors
Adam Dork
Ben Perlee
Daniel Lingen
Joseph Leray		 Joe Burling
Mikey
Will Maddock
Stella Wong




get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
discuss a review
contribute a news tip
write a guest editorial
 support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
 keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meet-ups 		seriously

about us
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap 		our network

Tomopop
Japanator



Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006