Sony has run out of 60GB PS3s -- get one while you can

by Colin Torretta { Aug 29th 2007 at 7:00PM }

Well we knew it wouldn't last forever. Sony has just confirmed with GamePro that they have run out of 60GB PS3s in their warehouses -- the only 60GB units left are ones that are in the retail channel now. This means that if you want a $499 PS3 with full backwards compatibility, you better hit up the shops soon.

According to David Karraker there is still 'ample supply' left in the retail stores, but with the holidays fast approaching and some fantastic games hitting the PS3, don't expect that supply to stay ample for that long. Still no word on whether Sony will keep the 80GB PS3's price at $599 once the 60GB SKU runs out of stock completely, but GamePro is agreeing with Michael Pachter that Sony will probably drop the price on the 80GB unit before Christmas.

Tags: 60gb, 80gb, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andy @ Aug 29th 2007 7:09PM

Getting rid of the top selling Playstation 3 model seems silly to me,

Keep making consoles Sony because alot of kids (and adults too) will want a PS3 for Christmas. We don't want another Christmas 06'.

Stephen @ Aug 29th 2007 7:23PM

It's virtually guarenteed that the $499 pricepoint will stay.

The 80GB units coming out of Sony today are considerably cheaper than the 60GB units selling for $499 now.

They will have to make a few adjustment.

My predictions:

Once 60GB $499 are gone, there will be a $499 80GB model, no extra games. In addition, there will be the current $599 pack, boltered to match the Euro pack (ie. Motorstorm, Resistance, Extra SixAxis).

Perhaps Sony should get their ass in gear, and get purchasable PSN cards in stores. These can be used to encourage new PS3 buyers to shop on PSN.

$499 gets you basic 80GB PS3 (plus 5 free Blu-Ray movies of course), and a $20 PSN card.

$599 gets you 80GB PS3 (plus 5 free Blu-Ray movies), a copy of Motorstorm, a copy of Resitance, an extra Sixaxis, and a $20 PSN card.

Stephen @ Aug 29th 2007 7:24PM

I didn't even mention the $100 cashback on a Bravia HDTV they could throw in the box :-)

Andy @ Aug 29th 2007 7:29PM

"Perhaps Sony should get their ass in gear, and get purchasable PSN cards in stores. These can be used to encourage new PS3 buyers to shop on PSN."

I agree completely. The only reason I haven't got any PSN games is because I don't have a credit card. And its free advertising at cash registers. They should partner with McDonalds or one of the big fast food chains and have the cards at tills nationwide.

"I didn't even mention the $100 cashback on a Bravia HDTV they could throw in the box :-)"

I also like that idea too.

stirlo @ Aug 29th 2007 8:23PM

you guys know that you can get "pre paid" credit cards all over the place? and if you can be bothered, organise a Direct Debit visa/MC from your bank, it's really easy...

RazielDune @ Aug 29th 2007 8:29PM

woah wait didn't they say they had a surplus of 4 -5 million 60gb ps3's? ....they couldn't of sold that many...so it had to be closer to 2 million...

flo @ Aug 29th 2007 8:45PM

hold up the 80 gb doesn't hav backwards compatibility!?

FM @ Aug 29th 2007 8:49PM

Didnt Kaz himself announce a prepaid PSN card back in e3 2006? Anyway looks like I better grab a PS3 before xmas. I am completely surprised with Warhawk,we had a LAN party at my campus and it kicks ass. Gt5 prologue looks promising!

Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 29th 2007 9:22PM

@flo

The 80GB PS3 is backwards compatible but it uses software emulation instead of hardware emulation (the discontinued EE chip). The EE chip, so far, is the better of the two methods but it is also more expensive to manufacture.

I'd expect the backwards compatibility list for the EE-less PS3s to expand once the EE PS3 is entirely phased out.

ruibing @ Aug 29th 2007 9:36PM

I think we are all forgetting that 360, Wii, and PS2 ALL use software emulation for backwards compatibility, so there shouldn't be a problem since Sony has never once stopped placing PS3 as one of their top development priorities since its introduction.

CGamble20 @ Aug 29th 2007 10:42PM

@10

out of those only the PS2 could do its entire past libraries without a special downloadable version or anything along those lines.

Right now we have about 95% compatibility. with software its probably closer to 80%, but then they can always update it.

either way it kills the box. (as far as bc)

Bluebrake @ Aug 30th 2007 12:44AM

Is there a NA backwards compatibility list for the 80 gig model? I've seen the EU version, but I'm not sure if games on there are missing because they're not supported, or because they weren't released in Europe.

Anthony PIttarelli @ Aug 30th 2007 1:49AM

i saw the first 8 0 gig ps3 ive seen in the wild today, there was only one - but the store apparently has been out of 60s since 2 days after the announcement

Anthony Pittarelli

Travis @ Aug 30th 2007 8:26AM

@ruibing:

Are you sure about that? The Wii really is a gamecube with higher clocked chips, more memory, and some extras (flash storage, wifi, motion controls), so there would be no need for emulation (if you must classify it, it'd be hardware emulation).

As for the PS2, I'm fairly sure that's hardware emulation as well. I know it was when it came out, and I don't remember reading any stories about it switching to software emulation.

So if I'm right about that, the 360 was the only one who was using software emulation until the PAL PS3 and the 80gb US PS3.

From what I've heard, PS3 software emulation is pretty good. However, for anyone hoping that it'll someday reach the levels of hardware emulation (or maybe even surpass it by doing graphical updates, etc), you're probably going to be disappointed. If you're the type of person who would want to try a lot of old PS2 games on your PS3, then you really should get the hardware emulation. I'd be willing to bet that software emulation on the PS3 won't get much better than it is now (it's just not worth the resources for Sony, most of the big games seem to work fine with it already).

Xoonaka @ Aug 30th 2007 10:31AM

Travis, don't forget about all their VC titles. Those are very likely being run on software emulation.

Hirsbrunner @ Aug 30th 2007 11:09AM

"This means that if you want a...PS3 with full backwards compatibility, you better hit up the shops soon."

Oh crap! What am I gonna do?

Oh wait...that's right. I'm waiting until it drops to a reasonable price. $299 is the sweet spot.

C'mon, Sony! Make it happen.

LeChuck @ Aug 30th 2007 1:02PM

I don't even have a lot of PS2 games and half of them aren't on the EU bc list. And a lot of the big games that are on there are listed as playing with issues. The software emulation is a letdown as far as I can tell.

LeChuck @ Aug 30th 2007 1:03PM

I should point out it is LOADS better than Xbox 360's list though.

Brad @ Sep 2nd 2007 2:15PM

Keep in mind that the Sony website had a short compatability list even before the EU launch of the PS3. What I am saying is, the compatability list was really short, even when only PS3's with hardware EE were being sold. So, compatability is probably much better than the length of Sony's EU list.

Having said that, I am glad that I have a US 60GB with the EE chip...