Gamescom News: PS3 Slim Announced, Firmware 3.0 and PSN Minis Incoming
Sony never said that they were good at keeping secrets. Yes, the internet’s worst-kept secret has finally been let out of the bag. The slimline PlayStation 3 is indeed incoming, and at quite the tempting price: $299 will net you a unit with 120GB of storage, not bad at all. Looks like Sony’s abandoning the ridiculous multiple-SKU strategy and focusing on selling just this single solitary package instead. Smart move, Sony. The PlayStation 3 Slim will have “all the same features” of the current-line PS3 (barring the ability to install Linux/other operating systems on it), consuming 34 percent less power as well as taking up 32 percent less space.
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120GB PS3 Slim
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160GB PS3
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80GB PS3
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| Product code | CECH-2000A | CECH-Pxx | CECH-Kxx / CECH-Lxx |
| Price | $299.99 | $399.99 | $299.99 |
| Color | Matte Black | Piano Black (Glossy) | Piano Black (Glossy) |
| HDD | 120GB 2.5-inch SATA | 160GB 2.5-inch SATA | 80GB 2.5-inch SATA |
| Dimensions | 11.42 x 2.56 x 11.42 in. | 12.75 x 3.86 x 10.8 in. | 12.75 x 3.86 x 10.8 in. |
| Weight | 7.05 lb. | 11 lb. | 11 lb. |
| Power | 250W | 280W | 280W |
| Vertical Stand | Optional ($24) | Not necessary | Not necessary |
| Compatibility | PSOne | PSOne, Linux | PSOne, Linux |
| PS2 compat? | No | No | No |
| BRAVIA Sync (HDMI-CEC) | Yes | No | No |
| Bundle | Wireless DualShock 3 controller | Wireless DualShock 3 controller, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, PAIN downloadable game voucher | Wireless DualShock 3 controller |
In other Gamescom news, Sony also let loose details on PS3 Firmware 3.0, which includes the much-anticipated clock/battery display overlap fix, among other minute fixes. Animated avatars and themes are at the forefront of the new feature improvements, with a new status indicator, tweaks to trophies, a different-looking friends list, a “What’s New” section on the XMB replacing the ill-used Information Board, and other UI tweaks.
Sony also announced their answer to Apple’s hugely-successful App Store: the Minis. They weren’t kidding about the App Store comparisons, as most of their initial wave of titles are already available on Apple’s distribution channel in one way or another: Tetris, Field Runners, Hero of Sparta and Minigore have been announced, with 15 more on the way for its launch October 1st. Minis will be lower-tier PSN downloads weighing in at 100MB and below, probably with the same hump-and-dump particularities as most iPhone games.
Stay tuned throughout the day for more Gamescom news as they break!
The PS3 sure needed a price cut, and the new model may look cheaper but is selling a lot.