40GB PS3 + 80GB price cut confirmed for the US [Update]

by Jem Alexander { Oct 18th 2007 at 7:30AM }

Bet you didn't see this coming. We certainly didn't (that's sarcasm, by the way). SCEA have now confirmed that the 40GB PS3 will be coming to America for only $400 on November the 2nd. Not only that, but the 80GB model with have its price slashed from $600 to $500.

Of course, the 40GB will "suffer" the same "drawbacks" as it does in Europe and Japan. Namely, a lack of backwards compatability, fewer USB ports and no memory card readers. Expect a surge in the sales of the 80GB system. We're just confused as to why Sony is waiting until November 2nd to get this launched. It's almost been out for a week over in Europe.

[Update 1: Price-reduced 80GB systems are now available at GameStop. Also available at amazon.com]
[Update 2: Images of the 40GB box have been uploaded. Check past the break.]

Tags: 40gb, price-cut, price-drop, SCEA

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

PS3 Fan @ Oct 18th 2007 7:45AM

XBOX XBOX XBOX! lol

jeremybara @ Oct 18th 2007 7:47AM

Why the confusion? It makes perfect sense from a business perspective. The 'average' consumer electronics buyer will not know of the new model being made available until after it has hit retail shelves. Thus, Black Friday will be the perfect opportunity for Sony to move the excess inventory of 60GB units that are still in the distribution chain.

Kattleox @ Oct 18th 2007 7:50AM

That's cool. Of course, I have a 60GB from days of old, so this means nothing. Well, actually it means more 360 trolls in R:FOM and Warhawk trying to teabag. *heebie-jeebies*

Kspraydad @ Oct 18th 2007 7:51AM

The 80GB price drop is IMMEDIATE...but what about the 60GB on the shelves now?

phattie @ Oct 18th 2007 7:52AM

OK... bring over the Ceramic White version.

jeremybara @ Oct 18th 2007 7:54AM

Haha, whoops! I just realized the error in my previous post :) God my days are soooo off since moving to Buenos Aires.

coplice @ Oct 18th 2007 8:08AM

they should drop the 60g to $450 then...
it has a lot more than the 40g and a few less than the 80g, if you arent into racing game, you dont need the 80g bundle with motorstorm

animekid3515 @ Oct 18th 2007 8:13AM

meh, im not that happy now, in aus over here, the 40 gig replaced the 60 gig, and we arent getting an 80 gig... so now i have to pay an extra $100 for the ps3 coz im not trading in my ps2 anymore. oh well, now we're like on the level of BC as the 360, im pretty sure the 40 gig still plays ps1 games.

Hyams @ Oct 18th 2007 8:37AM

Wait - the US 80GB is $500 (approx. £250)? Over here in the UK, the 40GB version costs approx. $600 (£300).

:(

FrankTheCrank @ Oct 18th 2007 8:45AM

I bought a 20GB near launch. Paid $499....Do I feel bad? eh...well, the wireless would have been nice...but it's not a deal breaker...and the bigger hard drive would have been nice too...

But, I've already upgraded my 20GB to 160GB...and I have FULL backwards compatibility. Plus I've been playing for a whole year already.

SPIRIT @ Dec 13th 2007 1:45AM

IM LOST ON 20 40 60 80 GB SO IF U HAVE THE 20 DOSE I MEAN THAT THERE ARE GAMES WE CANT PLAY? TO WHAT IM READING I WAS THINKING THE 60 WAS BETTER CAUSE U CAN PLAY PS2 GAMES IM JUST LOST WHAT THE POINT FOR 20 TO 80 ??

Akamaru @ Oct 18th 2007 9:18AM

@FrankTheCrank:

Like you said you have been playing for a whole year so that is always worth a premium. Also, it seem that all of the new PS3 skus are coming with the chrome bezel so you have the rare all black PS3. Wifi rocks though but you can just use any other USB wifi card.

Jakkal @ Oct 18th 2007 9:21AM

We europeans are used to wait (for everything Sony), maybe it was about time for the U.S. to do the same.

minimalniemand @ Oct 18th 2007 9:41AM

"We europeans are used to wait (for everything Sony), maybe it was about time for the U.S. to do the same."

This also was my first guessing about the reason for this. I think they said: "Ok, lets show them europeans, that we also let others wait"

animekid3515 @ Oct 18th 2007 10:14AM

how about you let sony do their master plan... they had one for the ps1 and ps2, they both won. trust me... as always for sony, it is just a matter of time b4 it shoots past the others out of nowhere.

Anghel @ Oct 18th 2007 11:24AM

Finally I am getting a PS3 :)

MadCowMartin @ Oct 18th 2007 11:37AM

So US gets the 80gb for 500 dollar while we have the 60gb version for 500 euro. Which is being phased out too. So either they're using us to pay for your 80gb version and leave us with 40gb only in the end or they'll introduce the 80gb version here as well when 60gb stock has run out.

Random1448 @ Oct 18th 2007 12:58PM

I'm just happy they dropped the 80gb i'm gettin' that now.

scottb @ Oct 18th 2007 1:32PM

So I don't get it the 60 Gig version is 499 and now the 80 Gig version is 499. Are they going to drop the price of the 60? My local store had a stack of 60 Gig units, how are they going to sell these?

Relaxiknowarchie @ Oct 18th 2007 1:47PM

With the Canadian dollar doing so well against the American I'm finding it hard to justify buying any electronics here.

$549 for the 60gig
$659 for the 80gig bundle
A $50 drop here is not enough.

I am hoping that Sony will drop the price to match that of the American price. I could always get one from ebay but I like to have a store backed warranty

blai @ Oct 18th 2007 2:20PM

to Relax: whereabouts are you in Canada? Future Shop is selling the 80gb bundle for $499.99 with a free enchanted arms game.

C.Evans @ Oct 18th 2007 2:21PM

All those Europeans who complain about price, when talking about anything you should never just use the exchange rate to see if you are being ripped off. European products are always more expensive that their US alternatives, face it, it's been like that since forever!

Mango @ Oct 18th 2007 4:07PM

VAT makes it alot more expensive. That's the only reason. Good reason tho cause VAT sucks.

OrganicShadow @ Oct 18th 2007 4:59PM

Upon notifying pending PS3 buyers of this news, they now are interested in the 80gb, or 60gb. No word yet on what the price of the 60gb will be but BC is a big deal to one and it isn't to the other, so yeah.

I guess the real question now is will Sony stick to the $400/$500 strategy or go back to the old scheme? They should really try to just melt it all down to a single SKU- the 40gb unit IMO.