Rumor: Pictures show 'slim' PS3 model in production

by JC Fletcher on May 14th 2009 9:30AM

We hope you like salt, because you should take these images with a couple of handfuls of it. Game Column & Blog has posted what could be pictures of the outer shell and box for an unannounced, slimmed-down PlayStation 3.

The purported new model swaps out the shiny 'Piano Black' exterior for a textured look like that of the PS2, and, for some reason, ditches the Spider-Man font for a logo that is also more in line with the PS2. Actually, now that we think about it, it makes a lot of sense to model an upcoming PS3 redesign after the still-successful PS2.

These pictures arrive amidst rumors that, in addition to the (rumored) PSP Go!, some other new Sony hardware may be unveiled at E3. If those rumors are true, and if the new hardware is a PS3, then ... these pictures could still be fake.

[Via Mr. Universal]

Source

Tags: ps3-slim, redesign, rumor

Reader Comments (192)

There's actually a balance.

It's cheaper to use smaller chips if your chips are extremely large and powerful (because you can fit more on a wafer, use less cooling, etc). This is why PS3/60 are soon going to be 45nm.

It can be cheaper to use larger chips if your chips are small and not very powerful (because they're small enough to not have many defects etc anyhow, so you can pay less for the use of older fabrication technology, they already don't need much cooling, and so on). This is why Wii is still 90nm.

(I wouldn't be surprised to see Wii move to a smaller process as well, but there's definitely not as much of a rush about that.)

Naw, smaller is cheaper. You do have to cover the costs of developing the new chip though. Also, depending on the package it is in, you may not get any external size (only die size) benefit from shrinking it.

But still, smaller is cheaper, just maybe not enough cheaper to bother with. If your die is small enough already, the package and profit make up more of the price than the actual die cost.

Looks legit.

Looks pretty decent to me. The PS3 is sexy right now, but not being flat on top is kinda weird because you can't stack it with anything. I guess it would always just have to be on top ;)

I don't own a PS3. That new logo looks more "everyday gamer" style to me. The old logo screamed "I'm big, black, and all business." I think I like the old logo. But that simply could be a prototype...or a knock off.

If it got cheap enough...I just may buy one some day.

They should immediately start including the hardware revision number in the console name. This particular unit, if real. could be the PlayStation 3.2, for example. If they want to go REALLY incremental, they can release PlayStation 3.20, etc.

Were they to take this advise, I would predict revisions will stop and sales will increase dramatically right around the time they introduce the PlayStation 3.60.

@ Hyams, Maverick Saturn, why not the LS2LS7? why not the LS2LS7?

thanks

Really? I hope that is not the final design and more of a concept art. But you know it doesnt matter.

Hey Sony instead of concentrating on a redesign....how bout releasing some A+ games like you did on the PS2? Yeah yeah I know there some but when you compare where the PS3 is at in time to where the PS2 was there is something wrong here.

Hey dude, can I borrow your time machine? I need to make some stock picks from 4 years ago.

@el serpeinte Oh please everyone brings up old stuff look how many still bring up the RRoD or even the lack of games for hardcore gamers on the Wii and yes they bring that topic back because it is relevant today so with that logic the PS3 lack of more A+ games on the system is still relevant. Dont believe look at Sony's projected sales for this year and next year. So go back and think before your fanboyism hits, compare both the PS2 and PS3 market to how they where related to the time of release. Sony could be more aggressive with there game line up but all I keep hearing is another SKU for both PSP and PS3. Why would anyone go out and rebuy the same unit when the first one released at launched is perfectly fine??

Not sure of its legitimacy myself, though the evidence does seem to point that way.

This would be exactly what Sony needs to turn everything around in their close race with 360 (especially close in Europe), and put more pressure on Wii in Japan

the logo alone screams fake to me. slim? sure, but it won't look like that. and what will they do with the current models sitting on store shelves? huge price cut?

though if they went crazy and introduced a slime version with color variety... it would be on.

Holy crap, a slime version? Awesome!

That box looks really convincing, more so than if it was fake. I'm sure all the people who have been holding out would buy one if it was 299 and had BC. I might even trade in my PS2phat and PS3 160GB for this. It sure would clean up some of the cable mess. Seeing how the PS2 sales are finally tapering off, this might be the right time. By Christmas, the PS2 will probably be a non-factor. Don't forget, Sony recently registered CECHI and CECHJ as console model designators with the FCC, with requests for confidentiality, but there was no hard drive size mentioned.
Plus, the power supply produces 380W, while the current consoles require 110W. Sony has also mentioned plans to release a 45nm Cell this year, so the console might pull 100W at most, but if the power reduction was consistant, it'd be 65W! I'd say this is real.

nothing would make me trade in my 250GB PS3 that can play every Playstation game ever made for a slimmer model that can only play some games.

I hate to tell you people, but Sev from PSLS has confirmed it is indeed, real.

"Sorry to tell you guys but that pic is 100% real.

Don't go by what the final model looks like just by these crappy images of the casing.

The final model will be much nicer looking.

But this is REAL. Mark my words. I am looking for a way to somewhat "prove" it. I might just have something, I am just very nervous about getting in major trouble with Sony over it.

Also, in response to all the people saying it looks cheap. If consumers wanted a cheaper PS3, they are going to get it. You get what you pay for.

If I were you guys, and you don't have a PS3, go buy one RIGHT NOW. "

This has to be fake. Sony would never make a smart move like this. I mean, just look at how excited people are; look at how people are talking about wanting to buy one. Nah, has to be fake.

It seems too early. This is only the system's third year.

It took 6 years to get a PS1 redesign, it took 4 years for a PS2 redesign, and now, the most complex machine of them all is getting a slimmer redesign after only 3 years?

Dang! That may mean Sony might announce the PS3 Slim at E3 and not the PSP2. They could end up waiting until TGS to announce the PSP2 (PSP Go).

Looks like a grill of outings in the park. No disrespect Sony.

Damn, looks like I'm waiting till after E3 to consider buying a PS3. DAMN YOU RUMORS, DAMN YOU TO HELL!

Whoa, 120 GB and a slimmer model (look in the lower right-hand corner). That's nice. I hope they officially announce this at either E3 or TGS.

i should had waited i just got my PS3:(

Why release another SKU in the market when right now Sony is not pushing the amount of hardware out right now. All I am saying is the system is fine as it is. If anything drop the idea of a new look, drop the price of the standard system and get out some exclusive games.

the picture is obviously photoshopped. the black on the top of the console doesn't match the black on the rest of the picture. they basically brushed the top 'flat'. k, thx, try again.

There's more than just the one pic.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=15846805&postcount=451

Might not be real, but it's definately not a photoshop.

This i probably why they are not confirming the ps3 price drop! Because there will be no fat ps3 to drop the price of!

Man, so much to read. And I've learned things.

Number 1 being that MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) is the stereotypical die hard, possibly console flaming, Sony fanboy.

Number 2, the picture in the article can't be proven to be either real or fake at this point. If it's real, the pic would be a concept model at most. If fake, someone knows their way around Photoshop.

It would only make sense that they could possibly be planning on a new model. Newer, cheaper resources are available. I would say it would be a right path to take. Sales and the economy's condition combined, saying that they're losing a lot of money would be an understatement. Sony is in a position where they can't make mistakes.

I don't care if it's slim or not, or just new packaging. If it's sans fingerprint-vampire, I'll hop on it.

Why does everyone say 'oh teh new PS3 won't haz Blu-Ray?' The games are released on fricking BLU-RAY people! Why release a console that can't play it's games? Most people aren't ready for digital distribution yet, and the ones who are probably already have one. Downloading all 50GB of MGS4...genius! Maybe Nintendo should remove the Wii's DVD drive and put in an NES slot! That'd be even more 1337!

That's pretty small. I'd be very impressed if they were able to release that this year. It still seems a couple years out.

They should address the fact that their machine is huge and needs to be down-sized. But that pic above looks REALLY down-sized.

そうですね～コストがかかるんでしょうね。
HDDつんでますしね・・・
スリム化よりコストダウン化がまず優先でしょうしね。

Now I can have pancakes for dessert after I eat my steak! YAY!

I would consider selling my PS3 to get a slimline version of the PS3, so it was actually portable.

This looks much better than the current model. I really hate the shiny, curved, huge look of the current PS3.

If they made this and lowered the price significantly, it would be a lot more tempting to buy one... but frankly, I'm still not sure that there's enough of a difference to make it worth adding it to my 360. The main PS3 exclusive that looks great to me is Uncharted. Killzone looks very good too, though it doesn't really look different enough that I'm that hyped about it.

I can't see any difference in cross platform games, so it all comes down to the exclusives to me.

I can not BELIEVE this farce!

Maybe its me but I see nothing particular special about the Slim PS3 to incite mass sells UNLESS it came with a price cut. I am actually in the market for another Blu-Ray player but a slimmer PS3 does nothing for me unless it came with a price point in line with a stand alone player.

If Sony ends with the Slim PS3 as their big reveal, I think it would fall very flat on the market.

yay! More monies for Sonies!

Yeah, that's the last thing... If this is $299, Sony might be able to revive the PlayStation brand.

But why post in Japanese?

OK, it's really rare for me to have problems with the comment system, but I did here.

When I click on the Reply button for TV's Frank, the 'replying to x [Undo]' text doesn't come up, though the page still jumps down to the comment box.

For some reason I'm still not able to reply to TV's Frank, but I'm obviously able to reply to this comment right now.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/983/983279p1.html

K.O.! Knock-Off!

Say it with me, IBM 45nm Process. That's driving the reduction in size due to heatsink reductions.

Previous 50 Comments

Rumor: Pictures show 'slim' PS3 model in production

Reader Comments (192)

Posted: May 14th 2009 12:24PM xxxsam said

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