Rumor: 80GB PS3 models to be phased out at Best Buy

Posted Jan 24, 2008 at 11:14AM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3 Tags: Best Buy, FCC, Japan, Sony

Following the holiday rush of gaming console sales, it looks like Sony's 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 won't be making a comeback according to an internal letter from an anonymous Best Buy employee reporting the discontinuation of the PS3 model.

The letter was sent to the PS3 Fanboy website and noted that the 80GB version "will come off the planogram on Jan. 28". It also mentioned that only the 40GB version of the console will be available on shelves at Best Buy at this time and no further announcements from Sony have been made about any new products.

The lower cost 40GB PS3 model priced at US$ 399 sports fewer features compared to the 80GB model. Among these are fewer USB ports, lack of memory card readers, and no backwards compatibility. Gamers will be severely limited with their gaming options if this plan pushes through.

Putting in a little speculation, all of this may have something to do with the FCC filing of the new white-colored PS3 model that was recently released in Japan. Everything's still up in the air, though, so there's no final word why the possible phasing out of the 80GB PS3 may occur. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out in the near future.

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Comments

# . — Nerd 2008-01-24 07:10

Sony may be coming out with a 120GB model :)

# New Model or Bringing Back of an Older Model???? — Steven777 2008-01-24 07:19

They could possibly be bringing back the 60gb model due to the fact that it is the highest rated model out of all of them. Or they will use the 60gb structure and add a bigger HDD like 120gb.

Kaz Hairi said they could possibly bring back one of the older models, he never said that they were forever gone. QJ.net had a article on that not that long ago.

# damn it — jimmyalmeida 2008-01-24 07:55

i finally get a ps3 and this happens. f they come out with a better one or a white one for the same price im gonna be pissed...

# I'm with you steven... — Someone_PR 2008-01-24 08:15

Now with the reduction cost of production.. I think they will come out with the 60gb again... here in Puerto Rico the city only sell 40gb ones... we don't have a best buy.. will comes in april... so I can't tell...

With a better hard drive I don't know.. but one with the emulation engine I guess so..

# This would be a smart move — platon 2008-01-24 09:40

One model = one production line, it's cost efficient, so the price could drop even before the end of 2k7. THat's a good rumor, and it would be great news!

# . — Dustball 2008-01-24 12:10

The 80 GB model of the PS3 is pretty much identical to the 60 GB model anyways, except for the fact that it has 20 GB more hard drive space and it's backwards compatibility uses software instead of hardware.

Everyone that has a collection of PS2 games will obviously have a PS2 aswell so I don't see how the 60 GB is so much better than the 80 GB model. The majority of PS2 games work on the 80 GB model anyway and if they don't work you can just play them on PS2. All of my PS2 games work fine on my 80 GB PS3, but then again I bought my PS3 for PS3 games, not PS2 games.

# Might just be coincidence ... — instantstupor 2008-01-24 13:39

but I just jumped onto BestBuy.com and checked out the hardware section and only the 40 GB SKU is being shown.

# Obviously — Burn_Griffith 2008-01-24 14:31

Well, there you go.

This' also good as people can get the system at a more affordable price. Still, they have to sacrifice the latch that feeds the SD, Memory Stick + Flash Cards.

But, eh who cares. All I care about is gameplay.

# hmm — hush404 2008-01-24 15:30

i hope they do bring back the hardward of the 60gn with beefed up HD space. It was the best sku.

# . — Naroon Kasui 2008-01-24 16:45

Im not gonna keep unhooking my PS2/PS3 just to play PS2 games. If they pull the 80gb from all stores, they better make up for it. I still dont have one and i will never settle for a 40gb.

# I don't see why.. — Stealth! 2008-01-24 17:25

People are getting crazy about a rumor. I doubt they will discontinued the 80GB model unless the market and people demand no BC, which i don't think will happen at the moment.

# PS2 Games For PS3 — CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS 2008-01-24 23:49

Since I have bought my PS3 in December of 2006 I have purchased many PS3 games as well as some PS2 games. I use my PS3 to play PS2 games and prefer using the PS3 to play them on then my PS2 which I gave to my daughter.

# exactly — na2rul 2008-01-25 04:40

40gig sales were pretty gd but i bet many were still expecting PS2 BC. ive told my cousin......WAIT for it. 60 gig model will be a lot more worthwhile in the long run.

# Bull-Crap — LordDragon 2008-01-25 12:45

I work for Best Buy and the 80 gb sku is still in rss.The only reason we don't have them in is because they sell faster than we get them in.Most people are trading the 40 gb units in for 80 gb units and we usualy only get 5 or 10 units per shipment.The warehouse is still trying to recoup from the christmas sales so most units including nintendo and microsoft consoles are in short supply.

# hmm — na2rul 2008-01-27 09:09

im really not surprised ppl trade in their 40gig for the 80gig sku. its simply logic

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