Sony announces new PS3 Slim, coming first week of Sept. [update: now with pics!]

by Justin McElroy on Aug 18th 2009 2:20PM

click for high-res PS3 Slim gallery

We know, we're as shocked as you are! Sony has used the GamesCom stage in Cologne to announce the oh-so-tiny PS3 Slim. The good news is that the system sports both a slimmer form factor (33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter and 34 percent less power use) a 120GB hard drive and the tidy price tag of $299 (or €299, £249, and ¥29,980). It boasts all the same features as the current PS3, which means still no backwards compatibility with your PS2 games.

If you've been holding off on buying a chunkier PS3 until the inevitable release of its slimmer little brother, your wait will finally end in September.

PlayStation 3 Slim

Tags: cologne, gamescom, gamescom-09, ps3-slim, sony

Reader Comments (386)

Last I checked, the elite cost $100 more.

wow Joystiq, i didn't expect you to whine about BC. I thought only the rabid fanboys who used to bitch about the price would have one last straw to grab.

Yeah because only "rabid fanboys" complain about features that were promised from the get go and then later axed by a company. God forbid someone actually likes to have the ability to play all of their PS2 games on their PS3 like they were promised.

You did have the ability. Only problem is not enough people cared about it that they axed it. Even the MGS4 80GB version had BC with most PS2 games, and you skipped on that instead so you could complain about it not being present in the latest ones.

Looks to me like they gave you BC, you just chose to ignore it.

But there was a BC PS3, its not Sony's fault that many did not buy it when they had the chance. Hardware changes over time, Sony never said that the PS3 will remain the same throughout its lifetime.

I have an original FBC PS3 60GB, and I cannot remember the last time I played a PS2 game on it. Why? because there are many great games for the PS3 in glorious HD.

So the only thing left to bitch about is the lack of BC?

You pathetic bunch of crybabies and whiners.....waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

It's not whining to want a feaure that the machine used to have. It's not like the next ipod is going to remove the ability to watch videos or next phone lose the ability to store numbers.

Only totally outdated features should be removed, the PS2 is still seeling well if you look at the NPD figures, there is still software being released on it. There is no reason that the ps3 should not have BC.

How many people upgraded from a ps2 phat to a ps2 thin? I know I did. However I wont be 'upgrading' to a ps3 thin as my current ps3 is 'better' then it.

It wasn't because they didn't care about BC, it was because they were $600 freaking dollars. That's why they didn't sell as good as they should. They axed it to cut cost. I cared about it then, didn't care enough to pay $600.

I want BC and it's one of the reasons I haven't bought one and am still waiting until they are cheap so that I can buy both a ps3 and ps2 (sold my ps2 a long time ago to pay for the 360). Even still I don't want 15 consoles hooked up in my house. It's nice to have BC. Doesn't mean I won't ever buy one, just not in a rush because of it.

Go Killjebus, GO!

Pics from Gamespot:
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2009/224/6215296_blog017.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2009/224/6215296_blog016.jpg

Looks ugly to me.

Will it come in white?

They should keep the big ones black and made the smaller ones white...

@uncle jesse

I see what you did there...

Now I only have to get $300. btw the price of th PSPGo looks even more ridiculous now.

Looks like I can finally add Blu-ray access to my Netflix

Will MS follow. They said they would follow any price drop the PS3 has. I really dont care since I already own a 360. Good for all gamers out there. Its time for the 360 and PS3 to catch up the wii already. I doubt it but I hope so.

Oh Yeah!! Massive sales incoming...right?

Depends on how well sony gets the word out, and we all know how bad they are at advertising.

They should be putting signs, banners, and ads at every store that sells games to get the word out. Lots of tv ads too.

This'll get Microsoft running in Europe, at least. I don't know how salvageable sales are in America at this point, but it'll be a solid shot in the arm.

Japan, however, they've got a good shot of taking the holiday season from Nintendo, between this and FFXIII (though Nintendo's got a neat range of titles with strong Japanese appeals out currently and incoming soon)

very cool, should put alot more ps3's out there. kinda lame about the complete lack of backwards compatibility tho, i just played shadow of the colossus for the first time a few months ago because my older 80gb ps3 DOES have b/c, i suppose a ps2 can be had for peanuts nowadays however.

i'm almost afraid to see the photos of the slim, i'll end up wanting one!

They do have a patient for software BC, maybe it will be an update at some point?

Well played Sony. Here's my credit card. I'll take 1 Slim please.

Looks like the same finish as the PS2. Wish it was shiny, oh well, looks good.

Engadget has an official pic now.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/sony-debuts-slimmer-ps3/

Exact same as the current PS3, only smaller in size.

I said I would buy a PS3 if this was true, and it is. So I need to find the nearest store that will let me pre-order one.

Here is a better one:

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/08/ps3-slim-big-1.jpg

Hmmm, should I sell my 60 GB model now?

Never. Just upgrade the HDD. You've got full BC with that baby.

you can do that or you could have some give you a swift kick in the ass, once you find out your new slim ps3 has no BC.

That's my point. I don't give a fuck about B/C as I never use it so I'm wondering if I could get a good price for a system with it.

As you can see from this thread alone, there are a lot of people who refuse to purchase a new PS3 because they want BC. So yes, you could make a pretty penny from selling that system.

there should've put 2 skus.

the first one should be the regualr ps3 slim.

the second one should be a 60 GB ps3 slim that has BC for 400 bucks??? anyone with me???

I might buy it if it is £200 in the uk which i doubt really. Wouldnt mind having the old one if its at £200 but I'm guessing the slim is gonna be £300 and £250 for the old 1.

I think it will be £250 for both seeing as it is $300 for both, I have been wrong bfore though....

I have to admit that this is a very good deal. Can't wait to buy one.

im guessing yes, Sony wouldnt change the hard drive size, but then again i could be wrong.

FUCK YEAH SONY!

I like the shiny one too, but damn does it show dust fast. The matte finish will probably be well received by those who don't clean a lot or have kids to scratch the device up.

What does it *sound* like? Is the fan as loud as the 60gb PS3 after it's been on for an hour or so? That is the only thing that makes a difference for me at this point - my 60gb gets irritatingly load for watching movies...

The newest Phat models were very quiet, and most of the venting had been eliminated. The Slim should have 45nm chips, so heat and noise should be a non-issue.

It shouldn't be as loud. Just like the 360, as the power usage goes down, the less air needs to be moved and so it gets quieter.

Sounds like this might be sometrhing to consider once I don't have any PS2 games I care about playing anymore, which might not be too much longer.

It's ugly as hell!!

Because what a system looks like really matters when playing games

Pics or it didn't happen...oh wait...hmmm

I like the fatty better.

*awaits inevitable fanboy replies and the "that's what she said" retorts*

will it play Shadow of the Colossus? No? Fail.

will it play Uncharted 2?

Fuck YEA!

Seriously I'd buy one of these if it could play SoC. Classic game. I'd have to buy a PS2 to play it. So lame.

I want one and I already have a 20gb PS3.

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Sony announces new PS3 Slim, coming first week of Sept. [update: now with pics!]

PlayStation 3 Slim

Reader Comments (386)

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