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jakncoke
08-03-2009, 11:59 PM
The 20GB, 40GB and 60GB versions of the PS3 have been discontinued. According to this, it looks like the 80GB PLAYSTATION 3 is next.

This notice is apparently from retailer 7-Eleven (7-Eleven sells video games in Japan) and stats that pre-orders for the Black, White and Silver 80GB PS3 will cease on Sunday, August 9 at 10am.

The reason listed for this is "For the manufacturer".

The notice also notes that all in-store displays for the 80GB model are to be taken down. If this is true, then Japan would be left with only the 160GB PLAYSTATION... Or perhaps there is an upgrade in store...




Looks like Aussies are losing the 80gb as well, something is definitely a foot





We heard earlier today that the 80GB PS3 is being discontinued in Japan. It looks like the same thing is happening in Australia, too.

Several sources we have spoken to recently claim that stock levels of the 80GB PS3 console around the country have hit rock bottom. That is, Sony isn’t supplying new shipments of the 80GB PS3 console, leaving retail to sell what they currently have on the shelf.

What does this mean? It sounds like Sony is clearing the retail channel in preparation for a new SKU or a new model of the PS3 console. Or they’re doing it in preparation for a price drop. In both cases, it’s in Sony’s interest to shift all that existing stock before any announcement is made.

Could it be a PS3 with a larger hard drive? We think not. Sony already lets consumers upgrade their hard drive at purchase, so it wouldn’t make sense to clear out the 80GB consoles just to pave the way for a 160GB console.

Could it be a price drop? Possibly. If Sony drops the price while retail is still full of current stock, they lose money. Retail has bought those consoles for a higher price than they’re now able to sell them, and someone has to pay for that difference. For a business bleeding money, that’s not something they’d be keen on.

Could it be the rumoured PS3 Slim? Again, possibly. Sony would want all the 80GBs gone before rolling out a slimmer, cheaper console. And the timing ties in with the unconfirmed retail listing on the German Amazon site over the weekend.

I recently spoke with Michael Ephraim, head of Sony Australia’s PlayStation business and I asked him if the 80GB PS3 at $699 was where they wanted to be.






New sku incoming most likely, perhaps the Slim finally makes it's triumphant reveal

Jaykub
08-04-2009, 12:32 AM
Must suck to be them. Really

AngelOffDarkness
08-04-2009, 11:49 AM
they sucks haha

jakncoke
08-04-2009, 12:38 PM
Must suck to be them. Really

Why? This is the beginning of a 1) cheaper PS3 or 2) slim. Both those options are good. It's not like the PS3 is going bye bye, SKU realignment.