Best Buy discontinuing 80GB PS3

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 24th 2008 at 10:30AM }

Click for high-resolution image.

An anonymous Best Buy employee has sent us a scan of an internal letter, which notifies employees that the 80GB system is being discontinued. "The 80GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won't be replaced at this time," it reads. "It will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time."

The 40GB model currently costs $399, and is the cheapest PS3 available. However, it does have a few limitations: it lacks memory card readers, features only two USB ports, and most importantly, loses backwards compatability, as noted in the memo. "This means that there currently isn't a version that is PS2 compatible," it notes.

There have been very shady rumors suggesting Sony is planning on introducing a cheaper $299 version of its console (although that has been repeatedly denied by Sony). Earlier in the week, we also discovered an FCC filing for a white model PS3. Whatever's going on, it appears that Sony's making moves for a big change. Stay tuned.

Tags: 40gb, 80gb, best-buy, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

KushielsScion007 @ Jan 24th 2008 10:37AM

Is there a link to the rumor about the cheaper version of the ps3? I haven't heard anything about it so I'm sorta curious...

As for this news...wow is all I can say. Thats what 3 different skus canned in lil over a year? Thats got to be some kinda record.

If this rumor about the cheaper sku is true is right I wonder what they'll be taking out of it to make it that cheap.

Andrew Yoon @ Jan 24th 2008 10:40AM

The rumors were so shaky that we didn't ever post them on PS3 Fanboy. However, I updated the story with links to two different denials. That should give you all the information you need!

KushielsScion007 @ Jan 24th 2008 10:51AM

Thanks...and I see your point about the rumors.

Ronaldo @ Mar 6th 2008 11:09AM

That sucks i got my 80 gb ps3 like a week befor this happend at best buy i am so thankful i got my 80 gb ps3 in time

Tru-blu @ Jan 24th 2008 10:42AM

Interesting. I better tell my friend to pick up that 80GB model before he misses out on the options that the 40GB doesn't have.

Jason @ Jan 24th 2008 6:36PM

Me too...

It sucks to be one of those people who kept saying "I'll wait till stuff like MGS4 and GTAIV come out to get a PS3." Now they are going to get a stripped down shit SKU. Maybe its Sony's way of punishing the disloyal. ;)

Kane @ Jan 24th 2008 10:49AM

they need to leave at least one PS2 compatible version...

JerJerBinks @ Jan 24th 2008 11:18AM

I believe that they are currently building software backwards compatibility for the 40GB version of the PS3. It makes sense now that they are discontinuing the 80GB version.

Trev @ Jan 24th 2008 11:28AM

I was thinking the same thing. I hope they're pulling some bigger hdd = new model thing like they did with the 60 to 80gb model change. Not having any model available with ps2 compatibility would be a dumb move.

G. Scott @ Jan 24th 2008 11:37AM

The 40 gig model has been announced to be the worldwide standard PS3.

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-40059.html

Sony has totally given up on its promise to have backwards compatibility. In fact, Sony executives have stated that they are not and will not be working on backwards compatibility for any PS3 models. PS3 is meant to play Bluray discs and PS3 games, not PS2 games... ever. Not downloadable versions, no software emulation.

If you want to play PS2 games, buy a PS2.

snQQpy @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:42PM

No, Sony does not need to keep one compatible PS3 for PS2 games. If you think about it, why would Sony do that. They cant make any money on PS3 sales as long as they have a console that supports all previous versions. It seems that what Sony is trying to do is restructure the playing field.

If you want to play PS2 games, do it on a PS2 and same if you want to play PS3- do it on the PS3.

This is purely guesses of mine. If in fact this is how Sony is thinking, then they should have never come out with a console that was backwards compatible to begin with.

Aaron @ Jan 24th 2008 10:54AM

The $299 PS3 is coming check it out http://gamerumor.blogspot.com/2008/01/299-ceramic-white-playstation-3.html

Blackacidstang @ Jan 24th 2008 10:55AM

40GB being 299 and a new 120GB for 400? Just a thought.

Nate @ Jan 24th 2008 10:59AM

I don't think they could squeeze the machine anymore than they already have.... although, to be fair, they are breaking even on the $400 40 gig ones, so maybe they could stand to introduce an entry level one (no idea what they'd drop from it... wireless?) that loses a little money at $299. I think it would be a very good move to get the marketable price down to $299. Then it's barely more than a Wii.

wicko @ Jan 24th 2008 11:00AM

Boy, am I glad I have a 60GB model.. Is no BC really worth the price drop to people? Hang on to your PS2s I guess!

wonway01 @ Jan 24th 2008 11:02AM

I pretty much agree with what they are doing.
PS3 launches and needs to get PS2 users to the PS3 so they offer full compatability for the hardcore players.
Eventually bring the cost of production down and losing some compatability.
Now after a year+ lose BC all together and make production costs as low as possible.
At this point you arnt as worried about PS2 to PS3 adopters. People that moved early did so with ease. People from now on either were not too interested in changing hence not too worried about BC when they switch or they are new commers that don't have anything PS2.
If PS2 users want to switch eventually they can just keep the PS2 or bail on it all together.

Boris @ Jan 24th 2008 11:03AM

so this means im screwd when i go try to buy and 80 gb in march...wil this be in all stores?like walmart,kmart,target,sears...etc?

mike @ Jan 24th 2008 11:06AM

according the the link, the 299 version is exactly the same as the 40 gig, so how is there a price drop? They just said, " Hey lets make the white version cheaper"

Ben Lizzotte @ Jan 24th 2008 11:11AM

I work at Best Buy and I was talking to our Sony rep and I'm pretty sure this just has to do with the motorstorm bundle. We've been out of the 80gb for awhile now and she said that Sony is waiting for the current 80gb to sell out across the country and then they'll be sending out regular 80gb without the game bundled in.

Neo @ Jan 24th 2008 5:12PM

Best Buy employee here too & from what I know it's the same situation as the xbox360 holiday bundles. Though I don't know why it happened with the 80gb first as the 40gb was "at-risk" in our store...~

massive_98 @ Jan 24th 2008 11:17AM

Whats next? A 320GB panda fur PS3.

By the way, that note sounds really fake.

roach @ Jan 24th 2008 11:18AM

Glad I got the 60GB!!

But honestly, this is getting ridiculous!

Organic_Shadow @ Jan 24th 2008 11:21AM

How about nix the 80gb, drop the 40gb to $299, offer the 40gb in white as well as black, and add backwards compatibility update to the firmware?

Since Sony isn't losing any money on PS3's anymore they surely can afford to pay their software engineers to fix our backwards compatibility problem right?

Xiru @ Jan 24th 2008 11:24AM

One SKU with BC for $299 spells win for Sony. No more confusion for consumers as to which console to buy.

SpiritThief @ Jan 24th 2008 11:33AM

. Bah BC will never go away. They will sell the Program for it on PSN once they get fully complete, or they will start selling PS2 DLs as well. There too much money left there for them to make.

It will be a furture add on, taken out to lower the retail price to push more .

least that they way I see it. Oh well 60gig PS3 in my room

DMeisterJ @ Jan 24th 2008 11:40AM

40 gig 299 and 120 gig 399? Still ships w/Motorstorm and software b/c and memory card readers?

Killjebus @ Jan 24th 2008 11:41AM

The DS3 is coming right? So, it makes sense that Sony wants to discontinue the PS3's with the Sixaxis. My guess is that the white PS3 and the as yet unannounced new sku PS3 will come with the DS3.

Sony will discount the current 40gb Black PS3 to $299 until they are gone. After that, they will lower the price of the white PS3 with DS3 and lower the price of the unannounced successor to the 80gb PS3.

At least, that is my guess and if I were Sony that is what I would do.

mercurywa @ Jan 24th 2008 11:52AM

OK, so does this mean that this is my last shot at something backwards compatible, period or ????

Steven @ Jan 24th 2008 11:52AM

@ G. Scott:
you are wrong about Sony not being concerned about backwards compatibility.
http://playstation.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/curious-job-listing-found-on-the-scei-website/

Chris Rah Osiris @ Jan 24th 2008 12:04PM

GDC should certainly be interesting this year

bob @ Jan 24th 2008 12:14PM

wtf i just got a 40 gig and now a 100 dollar price drop this is #$%^&*(*&^%$#$%^&*&^%$%^&^%$%^&^%$%^$%^&*

massive_98 @ Jan 24th 2008 12:20PM

Thats a good point Killjebus. I completly forgot about DS3.

The_Black_Circle @ Jan 24th 2008 12:55PM

There is no evidence whatsoever that there will be a price cut on the 40GB SKU.

Haiddasalami @ Jan 24th 2008 12:56PM

maybe the 80gb is being phased out for an 80gb white ps3? Seems like a photoshop, I could do that and its real easy. But who knows!

jojo29 @ Jan 24th 2008 1:08PM

Where can i buy a Dual Shock 3? Aren't they released in Japan already? Where would i be able to import one? Like which reliable site would i be able to order one from

RagingStormX @ Jan 24th 2008 1:26PM

@ 31 playasia dot com... I am sure I've read an article where Sony said that after the 80gb motorstorm bundles..they will be bringing out a regular 80gb ps3 by itself. Well I've got my 80giger...so I am not worried.

Me @ Jan 24th 2008 1:32PM

@31 I got mine from play-asia dot com aswell.

Carl;)G @ Jan 24th 2008 1:39PM

Yeah a cheaper $299 version. But there taking out the
Biu-ray player and sticking in a Betamax player! ;-D
Hope they do a new PS2 B/C PS3 version again tho!!! :-/
Worse thing Sony have done was drop PS2 B/C on PS3 i think! :-/ I love playing my PS2+PS1 games on mine;)
(I got a 60GB U.K PS3 thank god!;-P)

muen5150 @ Jan 24th 2008 2:00PM

Sony not losing money anymore on PS3? Jesus you people have your heads up your asses! What dream world do you live in where Sony will give you loaded PS3 for $299? They don't want you to have BC, they want you to buy new games because that's where they make their money!

adrianC @ Jan 24th 2008 2:07PM

I think this means Sony's gonna start packin their boxes with ye olde rumble controllers... its about time already

Chris @ Jan 24th 2008 2:36PM

I actually learned about this on Saturday. I was talking to a Best Buy guy and he told me about this move. I was in shock and he said nobody knew what was going on. He said that they were told to stop carrying the 80GB but he didn't know if they were getting a newer version or newer SKU's. If I find more details, I'll get back to you.

BMo @ Jan 24th 2008 2:46PM

This makes perfect sense. Sony does not want to price drop a bundle system (80gb w/ Motorstorm). So they are coming with a an 80gb without Motorstorm for the price drop and a base 40gb model that will also have a price drop with the white dual shock controller and white ps3. Then the black 40gb will also get a price drop and you will get spiderman 3. You will just have to pick white or black. Dual shock or Spiderman 3.

lawrence @ Jan 24th 2008 2:59PM

60 gb is the best make those back price it 600$ with the same bc and .....

John Willaford @ Jan 24th 2008 3:11PM

To clear it up. The 80gb has different hardware from both the 20gb and the 60gb. It never had the Emotion Engine on it. That was software emulated. The rest was there. Now, there will be no hardware and no emulation, which, is exactly what the current 40gb model is.

Efeez1986 @ Jan 24th 2008 3:36PM

Dammit, would you people shut the hell up crying about backwards compatibility. If you want to play your ps2 games so bad, get another PS2.

Justin @ Jan 24th 2008 4:10PM

Im an employee at Best Buy and that looks nothing like what our memos in Toolkit look like...

Kruegmeister @ Jan 24th 2008 4:13PM

If you want Backwards Compatibility... BUY NOW!
The Wii has Proved that Price is King!
If Sony releases a $299 PS3 they will be making a good move in the ThisGen War.

The 360 has 10% Backwards Compatibility and is doing well.
Other than mine which has some inability to play ANY copy of Halo3 which is the Main reason I bought it...

Since I have a 360, a Wii and a PS3, I personally do not want to keep a PS2 around. But I do want to play PS2 games. Which is why I am glad I have my 60 Gig because it is Compatible with just about everything... Woo Hoo...

If you want Backwards Compatibility get a 60 Gig or an 80 Gig before they are all gone!

James @ Jan 24th 2008 5:41PM

http://www.comptechlib.com/7629.html

The 360 has around 30% BC, and AFAIK they did the most popular/bestselling games first, excluding some of the most demanding (I think it took a while to get to Halo 2).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_with_Xbox_360

Scanning that list, I don't see any "NO" entires (for my North American 360) that I could possibly care about. I'm not an Xbot (I have a PS3 too), but I thought you were being unrealistically harsh in your post.