No plans for 120GB PS3 in UK, says Sony

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 29th 2008 at 8:00AM }

With rumors predicting the imminent disappearance of the PlayStation 3's 80GB model and its subsequent substitution by a new SKU in America, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has chimed in and told GamesIndustry.biz that it currently has no plans to introduce a 120GB PS3 to the UK. Whereas the rumored 120GB - 160GB PS3 (with Dual Shock 3 controller) would take the retired 80GB model's place in the US, there would be no ex-SKUs to do the same in the UK. The 40GB system is the only in-production model currently being sold in the European region.

As for the arrival of a new PlayStation 3 in America, Sony is sticking to its silenced "no comment" guns.

Tags: 120GB, 80GB, EuroPS3, PS3-120GB, SCEE, SKU, UK

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JJ @ Jan 29th 2008 8:10AM

my personal PS3 SKU is still better, Full BC, 4 USB slots, Card reader and 350GB of storage space!

Take that new SKU! You'll always be a step behind me!

now if only i could turn my 360 into a 500gb sku..and make it powder blue, then i'd be in business =)

FOXHOUND @ Jan 29th 2008 9:37AM

+1 for you, sir.
Because, that's exactly how a PS3 should be used/modded. Sony already put the damn ability to swap out the SATA on it, it's just up to the user to(intelligently)upgrade on their own. Best part is, ALL versions of the PS3 can do it. Though I'm content with 60GB at the moment, I'll probably upgrade mine to roughly that amount before the year's out.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 11:50AM

yea i believe my 60GB will make the leap to somewhere around 320GB (or whatever the biggest i can find is) this summer. ill probably partition around 60-80GB for Linux as well. all i will need then is a video playlist function, a universal bluetooth remote, and a surround sound system to complete my home theater. muuuuaaaahhhhahhahhahhaaa!

umm....hello??? @ Jan 29th 2008 3:59PM

I'm nowhere near the limit of my 60gigs, so I probably won't upgrade the HD anytime soon. but full BC ftw for all my ps1 and ps2 games (especially FinalFantasy and TwistedMetal).

Now if I could upgrade my 360's HD for cheap and add HDMI internally (you can get a MadCatz(?) external addon for HDMI output) I'd be all set.

thanks for whoever mentioned and put the link to play-asia down below, I was going to wait for the US version but I'll just order 2 controllers with rumble now.

Zsavior @ Jan 29th 2008 8:12AM

See what I don't get is why introduce a new SKU I thought the point was to reduce cost to make another price drop. I thought that was the reason they got rid of the 80gb model, I mean isn't the 40gb model selling better than past SKU why not keep the ball rolling and drop the price again? I mean they are so close to grabbing so many more people, why introduce something all together new, and take the chance of spending money you don't need to?

Cause seriously I would love to pick one up if the price dropped again, or atleast pick it up around FF XIII.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 11:57AM

i see where your coming from but who knows, they may be able to drop the prices on both. maybe a $349 and $449 price point. $300 seems to be the magic number, so the closer they can get to that, the better.

the 40GB uses new hardware that is cheaper to produce than the other SKU's so im not surprised by them trying to cut cost where they can if this is the case. also, it seems larger HDD's are cheaper to produce than smaller ones for some reason (not really sure, just heard it somewhere). the 40GB was cheaper than the 20GB and the 80GB was cheaper than the 60GB. so in theory, they could add more stuff and cut costs still.

benbo @ Jan 29th 2008 9:01AM

See now, given the simplicty in drive replacement I can't see the point i this new SKU unless they throw the PS2 BC back in then I'll think about it. It seems insane that, outside the US, there is no way to get this.

Like Zsavious i'll buy one with the next price cut.

Phil Ringsmuth @ Jan 29th 2008 9:25AM

So is this just like how there are "No Plans" for any of the following, according to Sony?

-Multiple SKUs (multiple times, no less)
-Price Drops
-Rumble
-Dropping Backwards Compatibility

Am I missing any?

Crazy 88 @ Jan 29th 2008 9:26AM

I am really interested in the Dual Shock 3 controller. Is there any word on the release of them yet? I would even take a ballpark about them.

kbomb1upc @ Jan 29th 2008 9:52AM

You can order DualShock 3's from www.play-asia.com. I got mine from there a couple of weeks ago. Its easy and a well trusted site.

Chameleon @ Jan 29th 2008 11:41AM

@kbomb
was wondering if rumble works with current games as well or just the ps2 games ....

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 12:00PM

@ Chameleon

if your console is online then alot of your games should already be updated for rumble support. i dont think all of them support but i know some of the bigger games do. i remember getting updates already that included rumble for Heavenly Sword and Resistance. im sure there are plenty more that got updated as well.

Chameleon @ Jan 29th 2008 9:07PM

much obliged ....

glitched @ Jan 29th 2008 9:30AM

GT5 prologue has been dated for US release as April 17th. The 80gig motorstorm bundle will be replaced by a dual shock 3 prologue bundle

Josh* @ Jan 29th 2008 9:51AM

I don't know why Sony thought Euro territories don't need BC, it's the only thing holding me off purchasing (well, that and there's no Rock Band in the UK yet).

I've always owned Nintendo and was looking forward to finally playing stuff like Ico, Okami, Shadow of the Colossus, God of War etc in addition to Ps3 titles.

Night Elve @ Jan 29th 2008 9:57AM

To tell you the truth Backward Compatibility is overrated.

Since I bought my PS3 (8 Months ago) probably just a few times I have put a PS2 game in it and just to check if that game is compatible.

Josh* @ Jan 29th 2008 10:03AM

The difference is, old games will still be new to me. So I will use it. I'll have to find a second hand 60GB model around, I guess.

vidGuy @ Jan 29th 2008 10:19AM

They don't have plans; they call them goals. To Sony PR, there's a big difference. They'll release the new model regardless.

Worst Review Ever @ Jan 29th 2008 10:26AM

The PS3 sku thing is like the weather in Utah. If you don't like it just wait 15 minutes, it'll change.

FOXHOUND @ Jan 29th 2008 12:29PM

Florida's the same way... we just had crazy monsoon rain a week ago at roughly 65-70ºF(night to day highs) ... and now it's breezy frigid air at about 40-60ºF(night to day highs). Nice to know there's other parts of the 'States that have that same kind of peculiar weather.

dr_snacks @ Jan 29th 2008 10:30AM

Why is anyone expecting a price cut? Because Sony is nice and they love us? Listen, there's no price cut and BC is gone. With blu-ray having won the format war and the dollar sinking in value every day, Sony has no incentive to drop the price of the PS3 and every reason to expect the 40GB to sell at its current price.
As for BC, why would Sony want to give you the option to ignore their upcoming PS3 releases in favor of the vastly popular PS2 library, available at no profit for them at Gamestop and on eBay? I bought PS3 as a blu-ray player and now I'm looking get some games to accompany it. I'm pretty sure Sony can expect others to follow the same course. Their PS3 library is nowhere near as strong or promising as their PS2 is, so it's in their interest to lock us out from it. Especially when they are still selling new versions of the PS2 hardware!
These corps are not our mommies, stop expecting them to be so giving. They do what they need to do to get the most money the can, and BC and a price drop ain't it.

Zsavior @ Jan 29th 2008 10:50AM

That is my point Dr snacks how does this move make them more appealing to people who and not looking to buy new things. Yes if you already own a PS3 you are anticipating new games. But if you don't own a PS3 like me there is no real incentive to buy one. I own a Wii/360 I dl alot of my movies and DVD is just fine to me,and many others.

BC I believe is not that big of a deal but releasing a new SKU with nothing more than added GBs makes no sense to me when instead you could drop the price. They won't be making money on producing the new 120 or 160 gb version so how does this benefit them? While yes they will be losing money if they drop the price to 299 but they would be moving a lot more PS3s into peoples houses who now need a reason to use the machines.

Nobody is saying Corporations give us anything but they have to at least entice us, and the promise of FFXIII later and blu-ray dvds aren't doing it. I see a surge in PS3, as some of my friends have opted to get it, but if they really introduce a new sku at the price point of 499 I don't see them bringing many people over to their side. The 499 80Gb price point didn't work before, why would it work now?

dr_snacks @ Jan 29th 2008 11:06AM

The new SKU is still a rumor. I get the feeling that they're going for the simplicity of one SKU. Since BC was basically the only attractive difference between the 40GB and the 80GB, (the system is built to have its hard drive easily swapped and most people care less about an array of flash card slots and extra USB ports than they care about a component out port, which Nintendo quietly and successfully dropped from the Gamecube), I don't see the point of a two SKU strategy anymore (if they are truly giving up on BC, and despite their chorus of "no comment", they've at least said as much as that), and I'm guessing Sony agrees.

deaftly @ Jan 29th 2008 10:31AM

That pic reminds me of how god damn ugly the ps3 design really is.

Chameleon @ Jan 29th 2008 11:53AM

i don't have a problem with the design, but that truly is an unflattering shot ....

splash @ Jan 29th 2008 10:39AM

Translation: Sales are tanking in the US so we have to do something to entice buyers, whereas in the UK they'll buy anything with the Sony name on it.

JJ @ Jan 29th 2008 10:51AM

Well in order for sales to tank they'd have to be doing less than they were... by all accounts sony is doing better now than they were a year ago.

JJ @ Jan 29th 2008 11:07AM

and the 360 is any better?

Really the only console that i think has a good design is the Wii and thats only because its small and can be easily hidden.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 29th 2008 11:09AM

Sony never has any plans. All of this stuff happens by accident.

Goreful @ Jan 29th 2008 11:14AM

"and the 360 is any better?"

Yes, it's better than the PS3. Deal with it.

Squirrel3D @ Jan 29th 2008 12:27PM

And I don't think he needs to state any reasons why, becuase the proof is in the success of the X360 compared to PS3.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 12:09PM

read his post first, he meant the design of the consoles. and stop trying to force your opinions on people. i think the PS3 is better than the 360. deal with it.

Todd @ Jan 29th 2008 12:12PM

I wonder what kind of sales this will get. The hardcore GT fans like myself have already bought a Japanese copy and have been playing it for a month. Others might not want to spend $40 for a glorified demo.

Kengro @ Jan 29th 2008 12:14PM

I'm not getting the 40gb, if that's the only one they ever will realese in Europe i'll stick with my 360 only idea. I got 100 Ps2 games, a fuc*ed Ps2 and no patience with such bullsh*t

Bluebrake @ Jan 29th 2008 1:13PM

"Whereas the rumored 120GB - 160GB PS3 (with Dual Shock 3 controller) would take the retired 80GB model's place in the US, there would be no ex-SKUs to do the same in the UK."

I don't see how this proves that. Ask SCEA this question and they'll tell you the same thing.

Why are we even bothering to ask Sony about these things? We know perfectly well they're not going to tell the truth. If they haven't announced it themselves, they're not going to leak it to a gaming blog.

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Jan 29th 2008 1:47PM

It's not offered as proof, it merely points out that there is no higher-end model in the UK to begin with. It's also a terrible pun on "SKU."

Bluebrake @ Jan 29th 2008 2:04PM

Ah, you're right, I misread. I may have been primed to interpret it that way after reading the linked gamesindustry.biz post, which does make that conclusion.

iFester @ Jan 29th 2008 1:32PM

I own a 40g PS3 and have had it for 2 months now and played a couple of games on it. I still think Sony will do an Xbox Originals service for PS2 games in the future. If that occurs, I'll be upgrading my HDD as I haven't played many PS2 games.

na2ru1 @ Jan 31st 2008 12:47PM

the 40 gb model looks cheap and ugly. The less holes make it look boring.

The worst part of it is the front chrome bit. It isnt shiney anymore. Its some sort of light grey matte finish.

The card slot compartment is jus fixed solid black cover. I am SO SO glad to have got the 60gb.

A.Mohammed ALi @ Feb 8th 2008 5:22PM

That really sucks. I want a PS3 with the whole shabang, not some crappy version.

I also want it to buy with MetalGearSolid4.
the 40Gb just doesn't do it for me.

the 60gb sold well because the 40 gb was so bad!damb you sony