UK 80GB PS3 planned for the Summer... maybe

JBeck

JBeck

JBeck

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Retailers have told CVG that they expect the 80GB PS3 - currently out in the US - to hit UK stores by the end of the summer.

UK cash and carry superstore chain, Costco, told a CVG reader that it was clearing out its supply of 40GB PS3 units in preparation for the arrival of the 80GB consoles some time soon. But it's not the only retailer expecting the bigger console in the near future.

A *** staffer told us that, although he had been given no confirmed release date by the retailer, he expects the 80GB console will "very likely" hit the UK soon, especially considering the 40GB PS3's inability to play PS2 games. The 80GB model in the US does include the functionally to play PS2 games.

PS3 customer services offered a similar answer, saying that its head office hadn't yet sent word of an 80GB UK release, but went on to add that it "may come soon", although there was no set date. The advice was "keep an eye on the PlayStation website." We could imagine the person on the other end of the phone winking while saying it.

One London indie games store, who wished to remain anonymous, even went so far as to say the 80GB SKU was on the way this summer. Before you get too excited though we've heard some dodgy stuff from indie stores before like, "Yeah, get Beowolf, it's great."

We dropped Sony a call only to get the official line of: "There's no official word on an 80GB PS3 coming to the UK". Not an outright denial though.

Speculation of a 120GB console was rife when SCE UK boss David Reeves said that he thought a 20GB increase (over the 60GB SKU) was too small, suggesting that doubling the hard drive size would be more worth it. "Maybe you'll see something a little bit later," he teased, with Sony's PR department later deeming it "rumour and speculation".

A bigger hard drive SKU this summer wouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering that the inevitably data-hungry Play TV will launch later this year.

A summer release might also line up nicely for a possible Metal Gear bundle - out June 12 - or for storing levels in LittleBigPlanet when that lands later in the year. Could there be a GTA IV bundle planned for further down the line? You'll know when we do.
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This throws up a dilemma for me, as I was planning on getting a second PS3 Tomorrow along with GT5P. Buy now or wait for a possible, 80GB, BC and DS3 pack, sounds tempting...
 
Nothing new in that article that hasn't been discussed before. the fact that they get confirmation from Costco and an independent store means nothing really.

I can't see a BC model being released again in the UK tbh. I think it is more likely a software BC update will appear for all non BC consoles.

I can see a bigger HDD model coming out (Things like PlayTV and LBP will need it, I guess), and with DS3, but to be honest anyone wants a DS3 badly enough probably already has one via import.

So it boils down to the old do you need BC or don't you arguement.


rp2000
 
I want one but I will wait to see if thats got BC or not. I need one really with BC but i'm not giving money to people selling the 60 gig for more than retail one year on.

Edit the other thing that would worry me is if they bring out the 80 here with BC, the 40's without become next to worthless.
 
With the PS3 being easy to upgrade yourself I dont see it being much of an issue on hard drive space. Only thing that would annoy me is if they brought a PS3 out at a later date with backwards compatability back in and I had an older PS3 without it.
 
Kyle009 said:
With the PS3 being easy to upgrade yourself I dont see it being much of an issue on hard drive space. Only thing that would annoy me is if they brought a PS3 out at a later date with backwards compatability back in and I had an older PS3 without it.
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Exactly which is why I think it's worth waiting to see if it has BC in or not.
 
Indeed, BC is what I'm interested in too, but like rp2000 states, will they bring a BC software solution out for the 40GB?. But then again why sell BC versions in other regions and make a software BC emulator just for europe? It doesn't make sense at all...

I really think that we'll be seeing these babies sooner rather than later, afterrall they must have some BC models sitting around somewhere to replace broken 60GB units that we had here originally.
 
They are bound to bring it out. Why? Because I have just bought the 40Gb version :)

Not that it matters, BC isn't really an issue for me as I don't own any PS2 games.
 
As my PS3 was the first console I'd purchased since a Mk1. Sega Mastersystem - backwards compatability really didn't matter to me.
HD size - well my 40GB was removed and a 320GB installed before I'd even switched the console on once, so no issue there.
As for the DS3 - I've had a couple (love the white, but the black is nice too) for a while now purchased via an EBay reseller.

If the prices drop then cool, but if BC really isn't needed I don't really see what you're likely to gain by waiting.
 
well, they'll gain BC lol. some people do like that sort of thing. i have a 60b so mine has BC of course, but a ps2 game has never been played on mine. i do play SACD's however, i wonder of SACD support is back in the 80gb's.
 
BC didnt bother me either, i only have 2 PS2 games for my PS3 anyway.. i had 2 60gb's luckily i got almost the same money back for 1 on fleabay

same with my 3 wiis i got almost double my money back with 2 and kept the other one.. lol

well got to be in there to get a profit :o
 
As a side question, Where has all the 60Gb PS3's gone??? Are sony not making them anymore or where they just for release porposes?
 
JBeck said:
Indeed, BC is what I'm interested in too, but like rp2000 states, will they bring a BC software solution out for the 40GB?. But then again why sell BC versions in other regions and make a software BC emulator just for europe? It doesn't make sense at all...

I really think that we'll be seeing these babies sooner rather than later, afterrall they must have some BC models sitting around somewhere to replace broken 60GB units that we had here originally.
Click to expand...

Don't forget all the regions have the 40gb no BC model now (Japan just got it I think and USA got it around November, like EU). Both those regions also have a BC model on sale still (I think Japan phases out BC models in June and USA was supposed to, although they announced the 80gb MGS4 bundle!).

The vast majority of PS3s out there I guess have BC on them. The vast majority being sold today probably do not. It makes sense for them to no longer have BC so every new machine is BC less and they will all get a system update for emulation in the future, maybe. So this update would apply in all regions not just EU (for whatever reason people seem to think only EU doesn't have BC all the 40gb in USA and Japan don't either.

It's all a bit of a mess tbh, HDD sizes aside, all new machines should be with or without BC, not a mixture (like in Japan and USA)


rp2000
 
it makes sense when you realise the 60gb models still had ps2 hardware included. hardware needed to make the emulation possible. the 40gb didnt have what hardware was left in the 60gb, and so there was no emulation at all.


if a full software solution was possible, they'd all have it.
 
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