Rumour: 120GB+ PS3 on its way in rumble bundle?

by Jem Alexander { Jan 28th 2008 at 9:35AM }

Ars Technica's seemingly reliable inside source has snuck out of the shadows with another interesting bit of hardware "news". We know that the 80GB PS3 is being discontinued, even if Sony won't admit to it themselves. The rumour is that another SKU (for those of you playing at home, that's the fifth since launch) will take the place of the 80GB, and will come bundled with a Dual Shock 3 controllers. Prices will stay the same, but the new SKU will have a 120-160GB hard drive.

The article doesn't indicate whether the new SKU will have backwards compatibility, memory card readers, more than two USB ports or, you know, whether it even really exists. We're not convinced that this is the best idea - the 40GB has been the only SKU available in Europe for a wee while now and it's doing great. Why such a big hard drive? Is there something coming soon that is going to require so much storage space? We know Sony have been discussing video and music downloads for quite some time, so is it finally on the horizon?

Speculation on this can go on forever. We're going to remain skeptical until something concrete appears. If it's anything like the 40GB or 80GB revelations, we'll know it's coming a few weeks before it's "announced".

Tags: 120gb, 160gb, rumble, rumor

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

msmithnz @ Jan 28th 2008 9:49AM

I've got 120gb in mine and it's already half full just from demos, PSN games and game installs (oh and Linux). I've already had to move all vid/music over to a 160gb external drive so I'm not sure that 120-160 is all that large if you want to use the all the ps3's media functions.

slim_on @ Jan 28th 2008 9:59AM

I use to keep all the demos but I never played them more than once or twice so now I delete them right after I am done playing. Also deleting all those videos except for a few ones. I have about 35-40 gigs left on my 60GB.

Mortimi @ Jan 28th 2008 9:51AM

Surely having a bigger hard drive will come in handy for the TV service Sony is launching and future TV/movie downloads?Isn't that why Microsoft launched the Elite with a 120gig drive? I'm just going to replace my 60gig hard drive with a bigger one when my warranty runs out!

PSU_Boss @ Jan 28th 2008 10:26AM

Why wait until your warranty expires? As far as I know, replacing the hard drive doesn't void the warranty. There are even instructions in the manual on how to do it.

Dehshizknight @ Jan 28th 2008 4:20PM

Yeah, replacement of hard drive will NOT void your warranty.

Mortimi @ Jan 29th 2008 3:49AM

I'm off to PC World to get me a new hard drive then! Thanks for the info guys!

mattclarkie @ Jan 29th 2008 1:30PM

I tried to remove the HDD, but the blue screw in the bottom wouldn't budge. I tried every screw driver I had around 50 and not one of them could shift it. I assumed that they had cross threaded it. That PS3 is not in my possession, and I haven't tried on my current one so I don't know whether it was a fluke or not.

One word PlayTV. That is why 40gb is not enough.

Tru-blu @ Jan 28th 2008 9:53AM

Indeed. If you utilize the PS3's media functionality to the fullest, 160GB hard drive can get filled up quite quickly.

slim_on @ Jan 28th 2008 11:11AM

Totally off topic. Is there a way to create a permanent user name and not have to confirm my post by emails all the time?

JAH75157 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:41AM

click on your name, login with the password in the email, then change your password to something you remember

Trev @ Jan 28th 2008 10:10AM

Here's hoping for a backwards compatible 160GB. I'll reiterate that I barely touched the PS2 compatibility in my 60GB, but its convenient to have it there just in case I want to. Also, upscaling games is nice.

flipah @ Jan 28th 2008 12:26PM

I have 250gb.. about 100GB++ available.
Storage is a must have for the future.

FDread @ Jan 28th 2008 12:55PM

What the hell do you have on there?

flipah @ Jan 29th 2008 5:50AM

Pictures, Music, DivX-videos, PSN games, PSOne games, Demos etc. but I also have tversity for upnp media streaming.

I also have a dedicated 10GB partition for linux. So the space is being well used. I have bought all games available in the PSN-store and downloaded all the demos I don't have the full version of.

Organic_Shadow @ Jan 28th 2008 10:21AM

40gb = $299 + white version + DS3
120-160gb = $399 + white version + DS3

I think they need to just leave it at one SKU to be honest. The arcade 360 is the equivalent of their 'tard pack' and you're going to stack the 40gb up next to the 120/160 for the same price it used to be then you're going to annoy some 40gb owners.

ptaylor7805 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:51AM

I agree. Sony seems dazed and confused, if this is true. Should just put backwards compat. back in the 40 GB, drop it to $299.99 and stop confusing the good people with all these G.D. skus! If the system can use any SATA notebook HD, they Y O Y keep dropping in different HDs?

Games (exclusives, dev support, lowering production costs, etc.) and PSN content (Home, Singstar content...btw, doesn't Sony own catalogs of content? Y O Y isn't it on the PSN or Singstar?) and functionality should be their priority at this point, seriously!!! The PS3 is getting trounced in this area...

Popfrogs @ Jan 28th 2008 5:53PM

So you're asking for a more complex and full featured 40GB for less money? Oh to dream...

Kevin @ Jan 28th 2008 10:25AM

I doubt this is real.
Sony should've realized that the average gamer doesn't need that much space. Also they've left the door open for making the hard drive upgradeable. 40 GB is more than enough for the average gamer. But if Sony throws REAL BC along with the DualShocks into these bundles it might be worth it.

Vincent @ Jan 28th 2008 4:24PM

I have a computer to store my videos and music o.o If I want to play them on my ps3 I just transfer via flash drives or other storage media.
The demos I just delete after playing a few times or getting new ones.
Sure the 40gb won't last me for 10 years, but so far there has been no need for more than that.
Seriously it's not that hard to save up space on the PS3 ~.~

Popfrogs @ Jan 28th 2008 6:39PM

Not hard to save space..unless you have games that like to install. Oblivion and the Shivering Isles expansion, UT3, you name it...everything good wants a chunk of the hard drive.

Will @ Jan 28th 2008 10:29AM

Sony sucks. The 80gb was discontinued because it was selling so poorly right?

kingofwale @ Jan 28th 2008 10:34AM

no, it's because they want to release a WHITE version with Dual Shock 3 and bigger harddrive.

and they don't want to have 3 or more SKU sitting on shelf at a time for months.

Tranando @ Jan 28th 2008 1:39PM

Wrong. You were is such a rabid fanboy frenzy, you forgot to read the [Update] bit..

D-, must try harder at trolling...

Dehshizknight @ Jan 28th 2008 4:16PM

Uhh, 80GB PS3 was the best selling SKU...

Lars @ Apr 8th 2008 5:33PM

Aw, give him a break, I think his post was all sarcasm. Or at least I hope he's not such a delusional troll that he'd actually be serious.

So seeing as how it was sarcasm, here's what he actually said:

"Sony rocks. These new SKU's were added because the 80GB was selling so well right?"

Riley Freeman @ Jan 28th 2008 10:41AM

any intelligent person could have predicted this coming honestly. but why the surprise on the size of the hard drive? i had to delete games to download the club and devil may cray (the club sucks by the way) i have the 60gb version so i just bought a 250gb hard drive i havet installed it yet because i plan on transferring everything but i really dont get the surprise. the 360 has a 120gb version needs to do something to because the rumble is not reason enuff to get or wait for a ps3 but with the big hard drive thats definitely a bonus. so i think its a great idea they will probably only do 120.

personally im not doing any rumble controllers maybe if they release the second generation of the rumble whch the guys that sued them said could have been used for cheaper and easier but sony chose not to. i think this basic rumble crap from ps2 is a waste of money and is a BIG mistake on sonys part.

but good job on the new sku

Don-Don @ Jan 28th 2008 10:35AM

I don't think we'll ever have PS3s with full backwards compatibility anymore. The cost to add in a whole PS2 inside like the 20GB/60GB is too high.

My prediction for the new high-end SKU is a larger hard drive (tho it doesn't matter since they promote the fact that you can replace it with a larger drive yourself), no BC, and all the trimmings from the 60GB (don't remember what was in the 80GB) aka card readers, wireless, 4 USB ports. With the cost savings from ripping out BC and probably the lower blue laser costs, Sony should finally be able to manufacture the consoles below retail.

BC is not dead in the water, people. Don't forget Sony has mentioned something about software emulation in the future, so they haven't given up entirely. But for the meantime, it blows.

KushielsScion007 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:40AM

I'm curious how expensive this new "rumored" model will be? I mean a bigger Hard Drive will surely up the price right? Plus the whole bluray drive?

It would be a step backward if they made it even more expensive which I don't think any company could be that stupid to do....although this is sony we're talking about here.

Noshino @ Jan 28th 2008 1:46PM

"I mean a bigger Hard Drive will surely up the price right?"

Not really, the cost of HDD's keep going down, for example, it cost them more to make 20GB HDDs than 40GB ones, and it was also expensier to make 60GB HDDs than to make 80GB ones...

"Plus the whole bluray drive?"

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/new-blu-ray-laser-could-cut-ps3-costs-further/

"It would be a step backward if they made it even more expensive which I don't think any company could be that stupid to do....although this is sony we're talking about here."

I haven't seen any revision be expensier than a previous one, but then again, who knows

Brodie-san @ Jan 28th 2008 10:42AM

@Slim-on
Comment and in the mail asking you to confirm you should be given a password (note: this doesn't always happen so keep commenting until it does). Then simply enter in your email and password in the current users section above. Also, you can click on the link and go to your blogsmith profile and change profile/password/whatever.

PSheddy @ Jan 28th 2008 10:43AM

Maybe it's just trying to directly compete with the 360 Elite? So the average consumer sees them as nearly equal, and not think the 360 has a superior HDD..

Saffie @ Jan 28th 2008 11:01AM

This if offtopic, but what's the highest you can go in changing your hard drive for the PS3?

TheEnd187 @ Jan 28th 2008 4:44PM

I think biggest Laptop HD atm is 500GB? but Samsung is supposed to release 1TB drives later this year

halebound00 @ Jan 28th 2008 11:06AM

This would be cool I guess, since they seem set on having a 2 SKU scheme. What they really need to do is start promoting what this thing can do. If I have to tell another person that this thing is a Bluray player too my head might explode. Also, does anyone know if there is a site or something that has a comprehensive listing of features/things that the PS3 can do (remote play, installing linux, etc...). Someone should do that.

Seattle Yonkers @ Jan 28th 2008 11:11AM

Doesn't the 80 GB version say Limited Edition right on the box. Wouldn't that indicate a, you know...limited run of this particular edition.

Efeez1986 @ Jan 28th 2008 12:07PM

Thank you Seattle Yonkers. I'm tired of people on here bitching and moaning. Why the hell is everybody complaining about backwards compatibility? When the hell are you guys going to step into the next generation of gaming, get a used PS2 if you want to play PS2 games and shut up. "blah blah blah, they should drop PS3 down to $50"LOL. I'm tired of people saying they should drop PS3 even more than they already have. Why don't some of you guys just find better jobs if you can't afford a PS3, because it's not expensive to me and a lot of other people. If they keep dropping the price, then their going to make less and less money off the PS3 and that will end up hurting PS3 owners/

Jakob @ Jan 28th 2008 1:04PM

You're so right. You should only buy a PS3 if you want the PS3 games, not to play PS2 games.

gibson355 @ Jan 28th 2008 2:55PM

I upgraded my 60GB to ~100GB a week or two after buying it. I rarely delete a demo unless its intolerable and I don't want it's mediocre filth polluting my hard drive. I think a SKU with a larger HD makes sense..I expect Sony to make a major push for d/l films and music this year, perhaps moving many of the features that are in LocationFree to the PS3 via firmware update. Many of us are gamers who use PS3 for it's primary stated purpose, but it's also a hugely capable media center and many are buying for just that reason, with games as a nice-to-have in addition.

will @ Jan 28th 2008 2:13PM

I hope they relese the new controler..

psn. bear1507

ryan @ Jan 28th 2008 11:42AM

just gimme a cheap PS3 ($299) with rumble, that's all I ask. thnx

Chris @ Jan 28th 2008 11:52AM

Isn't this for the upcoming playtv, which includes twin tuners and can record in HD.

Willykyu @ Jan 28th 2008 3:43PM

i'm pretty pissed SONY just doesn't give us the choice between a "deluxe" version, and a cheap one! There's no 60 GB version left in Europe! I have a jp 60GB one, and I'd like to have a Euro one! I want to enjoy my euro PS2 game UPSCALED (there're plenty of them I still haven't finished) and still listen to my SUPER AUDIO CDs if I want to. I'd keep my japanese PS3 to play my jap PS2 games and to watch locked Zone A Blu-ray discs....
Well, I just want to have a CHOICE to buy a COMPLETE version of PS3 if I want to. No matter if it's 100euro more expensive!

ultrasur1 @ Jan 28th 2008 12:24PM

keep up the good work...err...rumors.

FatalisticDread @ Jan 28th 2008 12:33PM

Using the streaming abilities of the PS3 hooked up to your home network sort of kills the need for more space for music and movies...but most of the people I talk to just like for things to be "bigger!"

TripleTags @ Jan 28th 2008 2:24PM

10 years of PSN games ;)

Bryant @ Jan 28th 2008 12:51PM

Just happy to have the best SKU so far - launch 60GB that I paid only $400 for, brand new. Regarding the HDD size, as many other posters here have pointed out, you can always upgrade it. But hardware backwards compat? Can't beat that. (which I don't really care much about, really - it's just nice to know I have it just in case.)

Anyways, back to the topic - it just makes sense for Sony to release a new better SKU, no? I don't see what's so surprising about it. I'm guessing same price as the current 80GB, with the new DualShock3, but without the games. Same semi-software emulated backwards compat. If we're lucky, might even include Home. *fingers crossed*

John @ Jan 28th 2008 2:52PM

Not even a whole day after I said 'bigger hd, DualShock 3, same price' did it become a full fledged rumor. Nice.

watcher @ Jan 28th 2008 1:53PM

Lol! Good guess, but there are other sources that are in play here that helped made this a full fledged rumor.

DMeisterJ @ Jan 28th 2008 2:53PM

This will be great. Hopefully, they scrap the b/c altogether, add in the rumble controller, add in Uncharted, and keep the 4 USB ports, flash card readers, and wi-fi, and keep the price the same, or even drop it. It'd be a buy.

I'd buy it for $500, and I'd definetly buy it for $400; With the recent reveal of them producing the 40 gig @ $400, and with them making even smaller Blu-Rays, the price of the 160 gig could be $400 bucks, and I'd buy it in a minute.