Lower-end PS3 to ship with wired controllers, non-upgradeable HDD?

Besides the disheartening news that the cheaper version of the PlayStation 3 will lack WiFi, a memory card reader, and most significantly, an HDMI port, we've now learned that the $500 PS3 may also be shipping with wired, and not wireless, versions of that rumble-less, Wii-like controller. While adding separate Bluetooth controllers would only set you back a few bucks -- if, in fact, the lower-end model actually ends up shipping with BT functionality -- boosting your console's storage capacity in the future may be a non-starter, as Sony reps supposedly told Games Radar that the 20GB hard drive isn't upgradeable. With so many significant differences between the two configurations (and let's not forget the snazzy metallic lettering you get on the $600 models), it's not clear how many consumers are going to agree with Sony's Kaz Hirai that the "crippled" version of the console is a "good value" for them.

Update: If it wasn't entirely clear, please bear in mind that until confirmed by Sony, the information contained herein concerning the controllers and hard drive falls squarely into the rumor camp.

[Thanks, J and Ameya T.]

[Babylonian @ May 14th 2006 5:34PM]

Really? I've been telling all the non-gamers this all week of E3. Maybe someone else already mentioned this or maybe I misunderstood.

[Lou @ May 14th 2006 5:35PM]

Im getting the $600 PS3 for sure now...

[Zadillo @ May 14th 2006 5:37PM]

It's kind of incredible how blatant Sony is being about this. Clearly Sony's intent is to basically push everyone to the higher cost PS3, and make the difference between the two so startling that the consumer focuses less on the cost, but more on how they are getting a much better deal. MS did this to a much lesser degree with the Core and Premium XBox 360 packages (if you calculated in your head the cost of buying a Core XBox 360 system plus a 20 gig HD plus a wireless controller plus a component AV cable plus a remote, you thought the Premium system was a great deal and didn't focus on the $399 price). But as others have said, at least with the Core system you can still upgrade to the same things in the Premium bundle, just at a higher cost. But all of the stuff being crippled in the $499 PS3 system is really ridiculous - it's clear Sony's real purpose in this system is to make it so unappealing in so many ways that people will be thankful to pay $599 to get the higher-end bundle and feel like they are getting a great value at the same time.

[craptacular @ May 14th 2006 5:39PM]

Sounds bad for PS3 fanboys..

[Peter @ May 14th 2006 5:43PM]

At the rate Sony is disclosing the restrictions of the the $500 PS3, I believe we will know by next week that the Blu-Ray drive isn't capable of playing non-PS3 Blu-Ray discs. Not that this really matter anyways since there's no HDMI port on the $500 version.
Still, I'm really confused why PS3 needs a Blu-Ray drive. What game PLAY (keyword here) requires the extra capacity that a DVD can't deliver?

[will z @ May 14th 2006 5:48PM]

this is fucking rediculous this info made up my mind.

IM NOT buying this system.

I am a huuge fan of sony but they cant make us spend 500$ and not even get a card reader.

[Vman @ May 14th 2006 5:51PM]

I already told myself I was getting the $600 model just for the bigger HDD the minute I found out. I really don't mind what they do to the low end one. As long as I'm able to get my $600 one.

I don't, however, believe that the stuff that they are taking out of the low end model ONLY adds up to $100. They have taken $300 worth of stuff out of it already! Maybe they will start marketing the low end at $399 now that they won't have anything good in it. You people wanted your "gamer only" model. Now you got it, so stop complaining. Those that have been following this are going to get the $600 one anyways.

[hyAxis @ May 14th 2006 5:51PM]

One less possible future PS3 owner. I'm going for Wii.

[Ad @ May 14th 2006 5:52PM]

Sony are clearly not taking the cheaper console seriously and i don't think any one else should either. There is only one ps3 and it will cost $600.

It's not expensive i guess because of what you get but it sure is a lot of money. Whats really scary is what will no doubt be the UK price of �420, which is just about $800! XBOX 360 games are already $92 so i shudder to think what we will have to spend to get a decent ps3 set up.

[SemiLOOSE @ May 14th 2006 5:55PM]

lol..sounds bad for ps3 fanboys...

i already got my money ready for ps3, whether it be 600 or 800

and that 40" bravia HD

Sony will come through in the end,
every person who bought a ps2 is a potential customer for sony, with 100million shipped...thats atleast 20 million ps3 buyers...

[John mahoney @ May 14th 2006 5:55PM]

Given the importance of the gaming division to Sony overall (it's one of the few profitable parts of the company), the PS3 launch is going to be painful. At the price point they are at, and the loss per unit on the console, they will need an exceptionally high attach rate for their games. It is not clear how long it will take them to develop the market back to the point where the gaming division can stop buring through cash and can start generating it again.

It's critical for Sony overall.

If anyone is interested, I have a more detailed discussion of this at my blog:

http://web.mac.com/digitalpodium/iWeb/TheDigitalEdge/Blog/BA9E5B9B-AABE-4E9D-8407-89BFCD0C559E.html

-john

[ATT @ May 14th 2006 5:57PM]

all wireless controllers are crap in my book sure it's nice to have and show off but it lags compare to wired

[Kenneth Powers @ May 14th 2006 5:58PM]

NOT TRUE NOT TRUE NOT TRUE!

Here is my article posted earlier today about this false info:
http://digg.com/gaming/PS3_Controllers_will_be_wireless_on_cheaper_consoles

[Jason @ May 14th 2006 6:03PM]

This has already been proven untrue. Why does crap like this get spread all over the net like a virus? If you are going to bash the PS3 use real information, not made up rumors.

[Mike @ May 14th 2006 6:05PM]

Peter: All the games will be released in the Blu-ray format, so Sony can't possibly remove it in the $500 version.

My concern with this news is, how is there possibly a difference between wired and wireless controllers, if they both can connect via USB (for charging)? Is the wired controller not Bluetooth-enabled, so a USB cable is required for each one? Doesn't this mean that the 20GB PS3 limits peripherals since all 4 USB ports would be taken by the wired controllers? Besides, if the wired controllers have no Bluetooth capability whatsoever, why is Bluetooth included in the 20GB version if it's not capable of utilizing it?

I agree, I don't think any of this news is true.

[paolo @ May 14th 2006 6:07PM]

not upgradeable HD?? well i am a sony fanboy but you gotta as ask sometimes.. WTF are they thinking??

[RazorElite @ May 14th 2006 6:08PM]

Wtf are they thinking. Now there's absolutely NO reason to get the lower end one. They just stuck that in there to say they actually have a $500 system, but NO other reason. If you can't afford the $600 one, you just might as well skip on the system altogether, until you can afford it. I imagine this will even sell a whole lot less than the core version 360.

I would also still like to see just how much difference the Blu-ray drive makes. Everyone keeps talking about CG, but how much CG are you really gonna put in a game to take up a whole 25GB. Next thing you know, developers end up spending more time on CG than actual gameplay. I can probably see in the next 3-4 years games needing a bit more than 9 gigs, but for right now, it's pretty far from being a necesity. So my point is really, is it really worth paying $600, most of it for the price of a technology that may hardly be used in the first few years of the system.

[Cody S. @ May 14th 2006 6:09PM]

Kenneth, just because something has support for Bluetooth, doesn't mean it utilizes it.

[Mike @ May 14th 2006 6:12PM]

the article doesnt say the cheaper model isnt capable of supporting the bluetooth controllers....it says it wont SHIP with them. so it COULD be true....

[mopper @ May 14th 2006 6:21PM]

lets not forget if you want any version of the ps3 your gonna have to pay more than 500. most places are gonna probably sell it as a "bundle" like xbox360/psp.

[Robotic House Plant @ May 14th 2006 6:21PM]

I don't understand Sony if this proves to be true. Why release a non upgradable system? At least Microsoft allows you to upgrade the Core unit.

Hate to say this, but the more I learn about the PS3, the less I'm wanting one.

[Kenneth Powers @ May 14th 2006 6:23PM]

Cody, the PDF specically says blutooth controllers. Notice how in the PDF it says Wireless Controller (Bluetooth), and then a circle for both columns.

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509ae.pdf

[furtim @ May 14th 2006 6:26PM]

Oh, Jesus. Apparently, they have no intention of actually SELLING any of these consoles. Does anybody else suspect that Sony is pulling some kind of Producers-style scheme where they plan to make a fortune by releasing a dud?

The great tragedy here is that Metal Gear Solid 4 probably won't see a cross-platform release. =(

[Neko Tsukimi @ May 14th 2006 6:28PM]

What Sony's doing now with the PS3 makes the two XBOX 360s look very reasonable... even smart. All this coming in just makes me feel like the average person is not good enough for Sony's precious PS3. I'll wait for a few price drops.

[Yem @ May 14th 2006 6:35PM]

Guys. While I'm sure riling up the fanboys does wonders for your ad revenue, it REALLY does reflect poorly on the editors and writers of Engadget/Joystiq. How about a little objectivity?

The PS3 is more powerful (7 cores vs 3, br vs dvd, 1080p vs 1080i, etc) and therefore more expensive than the 360. Simple. The rest is just marketing.

[nick c @ May 14th 2006 6:36PM]

the only thing good about the non wifi is it will make you go with ethernet for internet gaming, which is better, because tis faster and there will be so much more data pumping through the server, the wifi will most likely lag

[apoc @ May 14th 2006 6:37PM]

Hey Evan Blass, nintendo FTW right?

[benny @ May 14th 2006 6:42PM]

Gamesradar is part of the MSN network. They've been spewing out lies regarding the PS3 all week.

[Akshat @ May 14th 2006 6:43PM]

Games Radar doesnt seem to mention a source, so i think its a miscommunication of sorts ... Sony arent gonna mess up an official specs pdf are they?

[Peter @ May 14th 2006 6:43PM]

>13
"Peter: All the games will be released in the Blu-ray format, so Sony can't possibly remove it in the $500 version."

Mike: But this begs the question I posed originally: why do these games need to be released in the Blu-ray format to begin with? Do the cut scenes run so long that they can't fit on a regular DVD? If they do run that long, are you buying a game or more of a movie? In other words, where's the game?

Realistically, I see Sony trimming everything except the Blu-Ray drive in order to minimize the loss on each console. It is likely that the movie/studio divisions want to maintain this piggyback arrangement.

[Ag @ May 14th 2006 6:46PM]

This is just more of Engadget's Sony-hating FUD.

Sony said in the interview that you can use any external HDD and connect it to the USB port. So it is upgradable.


Also, Bluetooth will be built into the base version, so you should be able to buy a wireless controller later.

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30746

[Robotic House Plant @ May 14th 2006 7:00PM]

Since Blu-Ray is backwards compatible with DVD (or at least it can be), it's conceivable they could release a game on DVD and still play it, right?

[DudeLove @ May 14th 2006 7:02PM]

"But this begs the question I posed originally: why do these games need to be released in the Blu-ray format to begin with? Do the cut scenes run so long that they can't fit on a regular DVD? If they do run that long, are you buying a game or more of a movie? In other words, where's the game?"
In my opinion, the more storage on a disc allows more movements if character, if you try creating a game, the more motions you put in the game, the ammount of colors takes up a lot of space.

[c.Lake @ May 14th 2006 7:13PM]

That's the sound of Sony shooting their other foot.

[harper @ May 14th 2006 7:20PM]

In reply to 'DudeLove'
We do need 'Blu-ray' for games. It will allow developers unprecedented creative freedom. They wont have to worry about such hassle's as, "will we be able to fit this game on a 4gb disc". Imagine the new 'Grand theft auto', Its going to be bigger, sexer and more detailed than any gta before it ; not only all down to the, 'cell chip' but because the creators now dont have to worry about fitting a huge game onto a single 4gb disc. Furthermore, by having the ps3 a next gen console it will run games at much higher res, meaning more space is being taken up on the disc's straight away. not to mention the 5.1 surround etc. Does that make any sense?

[Petey Boi @ May 14th 2006 7:22PM]

Im going to buy the P$3 console but they better not make a new one any time soon. If they do make a new one within the next 5 years, sorry but im no longer going to support sony anymore. Money is not free!

[mugen @ May 14th 2006 7:23PM]

the only wire hooked up to the ps3 controller will be the usb charging cable, both systems will have bluetooth!

wii is nothing but a ps2 with a novelty controller that has been used for many years for cheap sports games that you can hook up to you're tv.

[Michael A. Jenkins @ May 14th 2006 7:24PM]

Will someone PLEASE show me an article that DEFINITIVELY states that this story is patently false?? I keep hearing people say, "It's not true; this is a lie". Well, if that's so, PROVE IT....give us an article that proves that it's false, or at least denies the story's allegations. I should warn you though; just because someone DENIES a story doesn't mean it's not true.

[harper @ May 14th 2006 7:27PM]

in reply to 'balls'
it has 3 cores thats why its called the cell :S.
Power does mean a hell of alot not everything though take the ps2 vs gamecube for example. The ps3 is almost double the 360's power in terms of terraflops, both cpu and gpu. 'wii' will flop just as the gamecube did. They dont have the titles both sony and microsoft do.

[harper @ May 14th 2006 7:33PM]

SORRY it is 7 bloody cores 7?. I feel like a noob now.

[Reality @ May 14th 2006 7:34PM]

To 23: "The PS3 is more powerful (7 cores vs 3, br vs dvd, 1080p vs 1080i, etc) and therefore more expensive than the 360"

1. 7 cores vs. 3 cores doesn't mean anything, the general public doesn't care about processor design strategies, they care about graphics and game play.

2. 1080p vs. 1080i doesn't mean anything in the real world (Source: CNET)

3. People might care about getting a blu-ray drive, but until bluray beats hd-dvd (which may or may not happen), it's not necessarily a good investment. And if blu-ray is the only reason to pay the extra money for a PS3 over an Xbox, then it's strange that sony wouldn't include a HDMI port on the base model.

[Reality @ May 14th 2006 7:38PM]

Oops, CNET Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6361600-1.html

[TC @ May 14th 2006 7:48PM]

33: Harper: Actually, even with higher rate textures there should be very few games that can't fit onto 8Gb of DVD (Even PC games struggle to fill a DVD, high def and all). Even if the game data was stupendously big you could store it compressed on the disc and unzip to the HDD. Blu-Ray will however let you be a bit more carefree with how you develop your game and let you stream some nice movie footage/uncompressed audio alongside the game data. This is useful because the PS3 has a limited dedicated audio solution compared to the other consoles (It uses the Cell for audio - so when you develop you choose how to divide up the CPU time for audio/video etc.) So the less decompression work you give to the CPU the better.
Personally, I think Sony have the base PS3 if you just want to play PS3 games, so I would be suprised if it allows you to do much else other than watch DVD movies (Maybe BD movies at standard def too). The lack of memory card slots is not an issue as a lot of people have USB memory keys and can plug these (or a PSP) into the USB port. The high end one is still very tempting due to that very full feature set, but if it wasn't for the lack of HDMI the basic would be the one to get.

[REP @ May 14th 2006 8:12PM]

Bwhahahaha...means 99% of the PS3 buyers will be buying the higher end model. I hope you Sony fanboys have a lot saved up because around Christmas and sometime after this piece of crap will be easily selling for $1500-$2000 on ebay. I guess that is a really fine dining experience. And I'll be laughing my a$$ off the whole time.

[Carl @ May 14th 2006 8:40PM]

As a (soon to be former) sony fanboy, I would've never believed they'd price the ps3 a penny over 399.99, but they've crossed the line, ran accross it more like. I bought a 360 after seeing that microsoft designed it for ease of use and utility, its a well designed system (I only had one game for my first xbox: halo2), but to ask 200$ more than microsoft and deliver comparable graphics and a tacked on motion sensing controller with no rumble, they have no focus, and its simply not worth it. I'll take my 360 and wii, atleast they focus on one thing at a time, rather than devide it up; 360 for online play and graphical games, and wii for general nintendo quircky (its not innovative...) gameplay

[harper @ May 14th 2006 8:48PM]

so-so Sony fanboy
With the ps3 price you can sense sony's panic. They have latched the price way to high, just like the specs. Sony is panicing about losing billions if it doesnt get this right, first time -hence the 'wii' like controller- this is a dangerous time. The ps3 could potentially kill sony.

[R0DJOh @ May 14th 2006 8:51PM]

Well... you get what you pay for.

Wait... no... actually that's still a rip-off.

[Burt Reynolds @ May 14th 2006 8:59PM]

Give up on the fcking complaints about the PS3 cost and hardware already. If you're a poor fcker, dont but it at $600. All Sony needs to sell is about 10 million PS3s in stage one. After that they'll be able drop the price CONSIDERABLY. No matter if you idiots buy it or not - they will reach this threshold because the Japanese market is behind Sony 100%. Japanese people are (largely) very nationalistic and will never support the Microsoft emporium no matter what. Add to that the amount of titles for the Japanese market - developed for the PS3 by Japanese game houses and the Japanese market will continue to (largely) boycot the XBOX[whatever they stick after it]. After this price drop, Sony will be able to hit the average stupid/poor consumer in the US/Europe.

And once they win the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD war, they can dump the prices again as they'll make enough on Blu-Ray alone to cut the prices on the Blu-Ray drives to nothing in the PS3.

As far as features and hardware goes, Sony are feature-proofing their system. 1080p may only be used by 10% of their customers at launch (I'll be one of them, having both a projector and 2 1080p capable TVs - either Sony or Samsung - at the launch) but in 3-4 years, BEFORE the 3rd-gen consoles are out, they'll be available to most consumers. The same goes for Blu-Ray. Sure - few games are impossible to fit on 8GB today (though there are some), but in 1.5-2 years there'll be game studios that can properly utilize the 50GB Blu-Ray space to a maximum.

Oh, and for the idiots who say Blu-Ray is another Beta-Max - dont worry, Sony learned their lesson the first time around when they blocked the porn industry from using their format. Now they're instead inviting the porn industry and due to the additional features, additional space the porn industry will largely use Blu-Ray.

[philliezfreak @ May 14th 2006 9:04PM]

Think about this:

The Xbox 360 Premium costs $100 less than the non-prem of the PS3, plus, the price drop that is going to come.

Who is really going to want to pay $200 more for a less powerful and enjoyable gaming system. Sony is in way over their head. I think that Sony just killed their own industry.

[AJ @ May 14th 2006 9:10PM]

Boy oh boy--XBOX360 fanboys must really be feelin' the preasure! To actually believe this crap as "real news" makes me want to throw up mammas meatloaf. And I happen to like her meatloaf, so I have to try real hard not to spew!

This is just another example of how far 360 butt-monkeys will go to discredit the PS3. Can't wait till we get a side by side of multi system released games to see which one really kicks ass ( hint: Cell Processor)