14 DAY TRIAL // It's official, PlayStation fans, Sony has confirmed and dated their new 40GB PS3 model for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The new system, launching throughout the PAL territories on the10th of October this year, is going to retail for 399 Euros.
As everyone already knows, the formerly rumored system features no backwards compatibility with PS2 games, two less USB ports, and no multi memory card port. But the Blu-ray player is still there, along with the Wi-Fi and HDMI. The pack this SKU is launching in will contain just one SIXAXIS wireless controller.
Even the official report mentions the 60GB PS3 as the better offer for hardcore gamers, as this one does feature backwards compatibility with PS2 games, an additional controller, 20 gigs of extra disc space, all this for just a mere extra hundred Euros (499) - if you're going for the Starter Pack, that is. However, the 40GB PS3 too features upgradeable firmware, just like the 60GB SKU, allowing new functionality to be added, such as the latest update which enabled PS3 users to upscale DVD playback to full 1080p.
"The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners," said David Reeves, President of SCEE. "It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect High Definition entertainment system".
Sony is also promising a more extensive line-up of PS3 titles: "a total of 65 titles across all genres" by Christmas. Actually, this is what they need to roll out to get the PS3 moving, not an inferior model of the PS3 console.