Is the 20GB PS3 already on its way out?

by Blake Snow { Feb 28th 2007 at 8:25PM }

According to one research firm, it costs Sony $65 less to sell a 60GB PS3 than it does a 20GB version. With that incentive, the manufacturer likely offers slightly better margins to retailers. So is the 20GB PS3 on its way out? Anecdotal evidence as reported by Next-Gen suggests that 20GB PS3s are near impossible to find in stores while 60GBs are readily available. But Sony PR director David Karraker maintains that his company will not put the kibosh on the $499 model and that their availability is solely up to retailers. "The type of model found in stores is completely up to what the retailer orders, so if they don't see a big demand for a particular SKU, they simply don't order it from us," explained Karraker. "At this time there are no plans to change our US model offerings." One still wonders, however, if that will remain the case. 20GB PS3s won't even launch in Europe next month, traditionally one of Sony's biggest markets, if not the biggest.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

pete @ Feb 28th 2007 8:35PM

I sure hope not. Cause if i get a PS3, and thats a big if, i deffinatly want the 20gb one just because its cheaper.

Marlos Hill @ Feb 28th 2007 8:41PM

60gb @ 20gb price FTW!

like thatll happen.. lol.

Really tho. i bought the 20GB one...if that didn't exist id have never purchased a ps3.

oldschoolgamer @ Feb 28th 2007 8:43PM

I have heard so many conflicting remarks from Sony over the past 2 yrs to where I don't when to believe them or not. Clearly there are too many people running Sony who are not on the same page or consensus. There beginning to look like the Dallas Cowboys did in that playoff game last season where they self-destructed.

Dave @ Feb 28th 2007 8:48PM

Yeah? Total BS, Sony. When I was in the market for a PS3 a month ago (I eventually decided against it) I was hunting for a 20 Gig model. Stores don't even get them in, and there IS demand for a cheaper model. It seems like you ONLY have a PS3 at the $500 pricepoint just to let people know that you DO have something at a $500 pricepoint. It's not purchasable, and anybody who has hunted or talked to a store knows.

Marco Cano Jr @ Feb 28th 2007 8:51PM

I really shocked that the 20 GB version PS3 isn't more sought after. Its cheaper and its alot of things you need for it. The 60 GB is a bunch of useless crap.

Oh well, people will keep complaining about the Playstation 3's price and asking for its exclusives to go somewhere else.

Dave @ Feb 28th 2007 8:53PM

20 gig PS3 is a figurehead. Sony loses too much money off of it to bother making as many.

aaron @ Feb 28th 2007 8:53PM

"There beginning to look like the Dallas Cowboys did in that playoff game last season where they self-destructed."

Cowboys were already self-destructing going into the playoff game at Seattle. Sony was already self-destructing going into the release of the PS3...hmmmm....

mrfong @ Feb 28th 2007 8:54PM

Yeah, the Target that I work at has had about four 20gigs since launch, and about 35 60 gigs. If you want one, we've got 'em in stock :)

OGHowie @ Feb 28th 2007 9:01PM

I wish my 60gb looked like the 20gb. The cheap silver accents look tacky as hell.

Daryl @ Feb 28th 2007 9:05PM

No thanks. Not interested in a PS3.

Toasty @ Feb 28th 2007 9:30PM

@ OGHowie

I feel the same way about my 360. The silver cover for the DVD tray really bothers me. Funny how both companies made the premium consoles seem tackier than the base consoles.

tmmoore_nc @ Feb 28th 2007 9:32PM

I don't see the 20 gb HDD being out of production for at least a year. Otherwise, it'll be a major blow to Sony because $100 isn't much of a difference to some, but $200 is.

BPM @ Feb 28th 2007 9:38PM

Guess I'm the only one who likes shiny things...

Well, me and raccoons, anyways...

Rob @ Feb 28th 2007 9:45PM

@ BPM

at least raccoons get their shit for free, lol

Torrey @ Feb 28th 2007 9:56PM

I work for Circuit City and I can say that my store hasn't gotten one 20 gig model in since launch. I actually was looking in our system today and the 20 gig is now listed as "out of program." We have about twenty of the 60 gigs in stock though. They just kinda sit there.

steve17 @ Feb 28th 2007 9:57PM

@ toasty.

i dissagree about the silver lining. the core 360 looks too plain. and i think the 60 gig ps3 looks better than the 20g.

does anyone else see the DIRECT rippoff with sony's models. they did EXACTLY what MS did. thats just wierd.

Psaakyrn @ Feb 28th 2007 10:12PM

Sure, Sony makes a bigger loss on 20G models, but it seems that they sell better. If Sony's intention is to penetrate the market (and it seems so, since Sony makes a loss on the 60G model anyway), it's probably a good idea to manufacture and sell more of the model that sells better.

n2 @ Feb 28th 2007 10:20PM

The question you need to ask yourself...

Was it ever IN to begin with?

dsub @ Feb 28th 2007 10:20PM

Personally, I get tons of people that come into EB wanting a 20GB PS3, but then they see that all we have is a shelf full of 60GB models and they are immediately turned away. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a SINGLE 20GB model since LAUNCH.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 28th 2007 10:37PM

What's with the FOX question mark title here?

The only company who would know the fate of the 20GB said it isn't on the way out.

So what's the title? "Is the 20GB PS3 already on its way out?" "No."

Please don't pick up the scummy FOX (and other news channels) tactic of intentionally misleading with headlines.

TheHostileDwarf @ Feb 28th 2007 10:45PM

OMG!!! A title that asks a theoretical question!!! OH NOES!!! Scummy fox.

/sarcasm

Gansly @ Feb 28th 2007 10:46PM

#16
Nope, the $500 model actually plays online for free and saves your games without extra cash spent on MS branded accessories.

Lord Chako @ Feb 28th 2007 10:46PM

My store rarely ever gets the 20gig model. I think since the ps3's launch, there have three occasions where we got a couple of 20gigs. The 20gig does sell better, but you have to wonder, is it because of the price, or because they ship so few of them? We have 60 gigs galore, but the 20gig are a rare find. Not that we really have anyone asking for them. I think most of the casuals tend to forget that there is a 20gig model, because it's so hard to find, and it really isn't advertised.

Lord Chako @ Feb 28th 2007 10:48PM

Gansly,
For $500, it better.

Pete C @ Feb 28th 2007 10:53PM

This is news? Sony said well before launch that 80% of all PS3s shipped would be the 60GB model. Sooo...why is this a surprise to anyone?

dsub @ Feb 28th 2007 11:15PM

#22

you forgot to mention that it does both of those things for $100/200 more. Meanwhile anyone purchasing a 360 could spend that extra money on a year or more of live and a couple of the numerous games WORTH PLAYING available for the 360...

Matt @ Feb 28th 2007 11:51PM

Sony stopped producing 20gb models. According to my boss at BestBuy...and the computer which says they are "Out of Program".

Dan S. @ Mar 1st 2007 12:36AM

I'll take my 20G modified with a 100G hard drive anyday over the 60G version.

Hikaru @ Mar 1st 2007 2:00AM

I don't know, but Gamestop/EBGames removed the 20GB version from their websites and store ads...I just bought one last Saturday, I called to 19 stores searching for the 20GB one until I found it! After that I bought a 80GB HDD for $40 and looks better all black...well the PS3 logo is still silver..

ace @ Mar 1st 2007 2:35AM

i see 20 gb every so often. they aint that uncommon...

steve17 @ Mar 1st 2007 2:56AM

@22.

more specifically i meant what they did with silver lining on the expensive one and not the base model. MS did that a year ago. does anyone else notice that its too specific to be a coincidence? still say sony doesnt copy everything MS does?

this next comment is directed at u sony fanboys who are lurking in here waiting for ps3 trash to sprout up. well here it is. 2 major critisizms of the 360 were a *small* 20g hard drive and no hdmi. well ur $500 paperwieght has that same *small* 20g drive and no hdmi. so they are in the same boat as far a features. minus the fact the 360 is $100 cheaper and has plenty of good games.

come on. bring on the hate....

Jas @ Mar 1st 2007 5:55AM

Now all they need to do is cancel the 60gb model and all will be right in the world.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Mar 1st 2007 7:04AM

If the hard drive is upgradable, why do you need the 60GB model?

Seriously, this is like all the Wii people running out and buying 2GB memory cards, even though the system has memory built in, and, more importantly, nobody actually *knows* how much space they need.

People just have an obsession with having the "best" version of something and all its accessories. If I had any interest in a PS3, I'd get the 20GB model.

Eric @ Mar 1st 2007 9:13AM

I'm convinced that the 20GB PS3 was never anything more than an attempt to get closer to the 360's price point and is only slightly more a real console than the Phantom at this point. If I can't go to any of the major consumer electronics stores and get it, online or IRL, it may as well not even exist.

R @ Mar 1st 2007 9:52AM

Glad I got the 60GB, that way I don't have to run another 25 feet of wire up to the modem/router upstairs for online. TV, audio, power - one less wire to worry about back there. Also PSP connectivity was a selling point for me and that doesn't exist with the 20GB. I can see why many gamers would want the 20GB, what with the HD swap. But, if I do need more space, I'll pull the 60 drive out, pop it into an external case and it will still see use on my PC. I wouldn't necessarily do that for a drive of 20GB size. 60GB 2.5" SATA drives are selling locally for at least $80 plus tax. Those little suckers ain't cheap. And yeah, I haven't seen any 20GB models around here (East Coast Canada)...but clearly that model is not a big part of Sony's plan moving forward. We'll learn more about that at GDC I guess when some real news happens.

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 1st 2007 10:23AM

I got the 20GB 11 days after the launch. $499 when most were selling for nearly two grand on eBay.

Loving it ever since. I feel I got my money's worth. It's a kick ass Bluray player and the games are just icing on the cake.

I will be adding a 120GB HDD sometime later this year. I already had a wireless game adapter. As for memory slots, I use USB thumbdrives, they work great.

Hikaru @ Mar 1st 2007 10:40AM

steve17

Actually, the 20GB version have HDMI output, the only differences are the WI-FI and the memory card slots, but that can be added with USB adapters and are not worth the extra $100,you should be more informed before trashing someone else console... and as I said before I upgraded my "small" HD very easily, something you can't do right know on your "small" 360 HD...

Dolla Dolla @ Mar 1st 2007 12:01PM

This is interesting. Before launch, Sony said the split between 60gb and 20gb would be 80/20. So, for every million PS3's they made, only 200,000 of them 20gb. It makes sense that these are selling faster cause there are less of them AND they are cheaper. If I were to get a PS3, I'd opt for the 20gb, cause you can upgrade the hard drive to anything you want, and wireless isn't that important.

Adding HDMI into the 20gb is why it costs Sony so much to produce the lower model. I think it would be a mistake to drop it.

airpolgas @ Mar 1st 2007 4:09PM

"while 60GBs are readily available"

This must not be true, since Sony PR says they are selling like hotcakes!!!

On a serious note, now that there is a $600 BluRay player, I am actually considering getting a PS3 because it is a player and then some. I'll weigh my options after doing my taxes.