Sony: no 80GB PS3 for Europe

European gamers hoping to score a PS3 with a larger-than-60GB hard drive had better bust out their screwdrivers -- Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves isn't planning on selling that 80GB PS3 in your hood anytime soon. Writing for MCV, Reeves says the larger hard drive only makes sense in a market like South Korea, which has "very high broadband penetration and the people there are used to downloading content, so they require a certain size hard drive." Ouch, way to underestimate your customers -- better start downloading more movies, Europe. Reeves goes on to say that he doesn't "feel" competing with Xbox Live since Sony is in a "different stadium," and that it doesn't have "eyes on the competition in any way." We're not going to tackle that one, except to point out that if Sony was looking at the competition, it might notice that 120GB hard drive said competition now has available.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

[Andune @ Jun 12th 2007 7:51AM]

Surprise!

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 12th 2007 8:00AM]

They are talking about average people, not tech blog readers and commentors. If any of us want bigger drives, we would most likely install it ourselves or plug it into the USB port.

[x20mar @ Jun 12th 2007 8:04AM]

We will have our revenge!

[Andi Smith @ Jun 12th 2007 8:04AM]

Except, of course, the 120GB X-Box isn't out in Europe either (yet)

[MS @ Jun 12th 2007 8:16AM]

If they would put some more decent content on the European PS Store we could download it!

[noisia @ Jun 12th 2007 8:19AM]

europe seems to be the stepchild of the whole tech world.

[BFish @ Jun 12th 2007 8:24AM]

Nice attitude with Sony. Doesn't matter that europeans pay +30% higher proce for their console with weaker hw than the yankees. No need to increase the hw size huh, the consumers that are used to download stuff are more into TB-class with their storage units and some 80GB with Sony's consoles is just a big shame for Sony itself ;)

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Jun 12th 2007 12:13PM]

That 30% premium is not bad considering:

1. Sales tax. 15-25% depending on country
2. Sky high Euro
3. 2 year mandatory warranty.
4. Various other taxes and import tarifs.

Turns out the PS3 is a bargain, all things considered.

[Rick Lyon @ Jun 12th 2007 8:25AM]

Is everyone at Sony, pompous and blinded by sheer arrogance? That will bring them down sooner or later if they can't predict or connect to consumers.

[brad @ Jun 12th 2007 8:32AM]

Dear Sony,

You claim that your not in the same stadium as everyone else...please explain what stadium your in as the Wii is in the process of playing for the world series and the x360 is making a run at a superbowl title, one finds sony sitting the bench. Your alot like an over zerlous athlete who thinks that they are merley better than everyone else with out putting up. Id seriously like to ask you to reevaluate you game plan as your doing horribly in japan, sub-par in the USA and the same in europe.

Thanks for your time,

Someone who likes competition in the marketplace

[Dean @ Jun 12th 2007 8:33AM]

"better start downloading more movies, Europe."

yeah, cause boosting their profits will really show them

[reid @ Jun 12th 2007 8:47AM]

Sony Just love to crap all over Europe! Next you'll tell me that the PS3 is almost double the price here than what they sell it for in the US.


...YOU WHAT?!!!

[Rob Sanders @ Jun 12th 2007 9:42AM]

There is no love lost between Sony and Europe. First the antics with the PSP, now the PS3 goes the same way. Not only do we like to get screwed over and over again, now it

[blcskate @ Jun 12th 2007 9:43AM]

This whole article makes no sense. Anyone can slap a 2.5" drive in a PS3. Unlike the 360, PS3 can accept third party drive. That means you can slap a 200gb drive in a PS3 right now. If you really need the space than do it. No expensive upgrade needed. Nothing like putting an MS overpriced drive in. The thing I don't understand is why you need more than 60gb in a system. Your saves and demos can't total 60 gigs and you can stream content from your pc to the PS3 so there is no need to store photos and videos on it.

I think people are just pathetic when it comes to bashing Sony on any possible occasion. Yes they have made a lot of stupid decisions, but so does every other business and company in the world. Just get used to it and stop pissing and moaning. You should spend more time playing games and enjoying them and less time bashing something you aren't even trying.

[Aaron @ Jun 12th 2007 11:33AM]

I agree, I can't figure out why this is a big deal. Why would you need that much anyway? That's a dumb thing to say with a computer, but this is a game console; all you're storing is saves and whatever you download. I have a 360 and I'm doing just fine with the 20 GB drive. Sure, I have to delete stuff sometimes, but it's only demos and a couple of TV shows that I paid for and can always download again. I think it's kind of stupid to act like Sony dropped the ball by not offering the larger drives. You don't even need them.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 12th 2007 11:19AM]

Nuff said! Couldn't a said it better :^)...

[ssuk @ Jun 12th 2007 10:30AM]

Sony, you're a bunch of wankers. That is all.

[iront @ Jun 12th 2007 10:45AM]

In 9 weeks Sony has sold 1 million 60GB ps3's to Europe - That's good going. consider it's taken 5 times longer than that to sell 1.6 to the US. Within 6 months European sales will overtake American sales of PS3. While America is still dealing with HD-DVD's The rest of the world has moved on. There is no HD format war in the rest of the world, it's Blu ray all the way - something the American Blogosphere is only just starting to catch up with - You're going to need some stats updates from the regions that count for more sales - (that's not America anymore).

[Danny @ Jun 12th 2007 11:52AM]

We don't download enough to qualify for a larger hard drive? Gee, thanks Sony. I thought that some use would come of my 20mb connection, but clearly I'm sitting there looking at it rather than using it.

[pigfister @ Jun 12th 2007 12:24PM]

this is the spin "we are not going to release this" then "there has been such demand for the 80 gig that we are going to release it" why don't companies stop the spin and lies and just tell the truth or fk off!

http://kotaku.com/gaming/teh-footure...ork-266676.php

Originally Posted by scea above link:

"[The "restructure"] is reflective of shifts in the marketplace and in consumers' wants and needs, such as the rise of digital content delivery and networked services."


so let me get this right, sony made hundreds of employees redundant in europe and the us due to a changing market towards digital distribution but then says there are no plans to actually distribute media via the pipe as Sony are in a "different stadium" to quote David Reeves.

[Trent @ Jun 12th 2007 12:33PM]

How long are you European cats going to deal with Sony's hubris? I would have lost patience long ago.

[Phil @ Jun 12th 2007 2:23PM]

Not really. I lost patience with Microsoft when my third Xbox360 broke!

[Trent @ Jun 12th 2007 3:35PM]

Can't argue with you there Phil, I'm on my third 360 as well.

I don't think I suggested MS as a solution though. ;-) If I did offer a suggestion I would have suggested a Nintendo Wii. I love mine!

[Anders G @ Jun 12th 2007 5:49PM]

Well. I bought my PSP in Japan like 6 months before it was released here in Sweden.. What's the deal with Sony always pissing all over Europe?
The claim about broadband penetration is just bogus.
I'm actually looking at a chart right now of the top 10 countries in the world when it comes to broadband penetration by population. Here goes:

1. Denmark (That's Europe btw Sony!)
2. Iceland (Yeah, Europe again)
3. Netherlands (And yes. Europe)
4. South Korea (Wha? Only on 4:th place)
5. Hong Kong
6. Switzerland
7. Finland
8. Sweden
9. Canada
10. Norway

So, let's see. Of the top ten we got 7 (thats S E V E N) in Europe.

What a load of bull.. I bet the 80 gb version will be release in the US before it's relased in europe (USA is on place 19 on the list by the way)

[james @ Jun 12th 2007 2:01PM]

when will sony wake up and admit to the word defeat

[Phil @ Jun 12th 2007 2:24PM]

Erm, when they're defeated maybe? Because they are far from that.

Good grief.....oh dear.

The Playstation 3 has sold more at this stage than both the PS1 and PS2 had.

And that's with increased 'competition'. 'Nuff said. :-)

[JohnDoe303 @ Jun 12th 2007 2:47PM]

lol, it doesn't make a difference! The 360 cannot be upgraded while the PS3 has a tutorial on how to upgrade the HDD in it's instructions. I'd rather have a 20GB to save 100$ and spend it on a larger external eSATA HDD.

[tR1n1Ty @ Jun 12th 2007 2:50PM]

Europe will not be missing out on anything

[marcin @ Jun 12th 2007 8:23PM]

I dont see the problem switching an HD with the bigger one is so easy...

[MM @ Jun 16th 2007 6:41PM]

Big deal the PS3 uses "real" hard drives not like the xbox that has it's own, you can go to a store and buy a bigger hard drive. and for the people that say sony just screws over europe that is bull, sometimes you have to wait a bit longer for things becuase of import laws but we in North america are still waiting for the psp camera so :P

[Blackcanary @ Sep 2nd 2007 9:10AM]

Sony i use to stick up for you and defined the PS3 but after seeing the Japanese and Hong Kong, USA PS Store its come down to me saying what everyone else is you do not care about people in the UK.

Japanese PS store has so meny PS1 games they have Tekken 2 FPS alot of Plat formers and RPG. they have alot of add ons to boot to like sonic blast factory. what do we have 3 PS1 games 3 addon packs for 3 games Motor storm Ridge Racer 7 and Genji.
What the hell gives you the right to put games on the Playstation Network that don’t work for one Spyro 2 it wont load a level and i’m stoped looking at a black screen.
I wont my Money back.
You say that you want the gamers to have a good experiences on the PS3 all the other the world the only country i see that the gamers ant complaneing is Japan because they get games that don’t get relised in europe games that i for would like to play and read it in English not Japanese.

We don’t want stupid trailers that we can see on the net or on TV of films coming out the Japanese site hardly has does they have the Game Movies which i think is Fantastic why the hell did you only bring out Boku no Natsu Yasumi 3 in Japan i was looking forward to that i was even going to buy a copy online when i find out that you can’t change the language to English and that it doesn’t have english sub titles in it get your act together.

And what happend to Supper Puzzle street fighter HD that was supposed to be a world wide relish why is Europe always last in line we still don’t even have Tekken 5 DR online.

Sony if i have to write a letter to you i will. And if things do not change i will take this as fare as i can just to see that u are trying to in prove things.
If i remember one of Your team members said that the People in Europe don’t mind delays because we don’t make a big fuse a about it. Will if u want a big Fuse i’ll give u one.

[tomijlahtinen @ Sep 4th 2007 1:31AM]

Looks like I'm not doing my share on P2P traffic after all. The blame is on our former secretary of culture, a.k.a The Stupid Cow. She made downloading anything so illegal in Finland that even reading Engadget needs to be done underground...