$599 80GB PlayStation 3 on sale online

Yep, it's August, that means the 80GB PlayStation 3 is due to go on sale. Sony didn't previously give us a date or anything, but it looks like GameStop / EB Games is stocking the $599 80GB console (bundled with MotorStorm), and claims shipment in 24 hours. Granted, we're now officially back to square one with a lower end PS3 priced at $499 and a higher end PS3 priced at $599 (and no option to compete directly with the Xbox 360 Premium's $399 $350 price tag), but if you're thinking about upgrading that PS2, at least your options are better than they were a couple months ago.

[Thanks, Steve and vidGuy]

Read - GameStop
Read - EB Games (same thing)

[Rusty Shackleford @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:14PM]

b-a-bay-b-e-be-b-i-bicky-bi-b-o-bo-bicky-bi-bo!

[humpty @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:19PM]

Elite $480
HD-DVD $180
WiFi $100

Total $760... looks like PS3 is pretty good at $500 + 5 BD movies.

[Homeboy @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:32PM]

Sony is indeed increasing the value of the PS3.............but that doesn't change the fact that the PS3 won't have any kick ass titles launching before Christmas. MGS, Kill Zone 2 and GTA are all due next year.

[Steve @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:33PM]

The difference lies in the fact that you don't need HD DVD or the wireless adapter to use the console, so you are free to choose whether or not to buy them.

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:46PM]

Plus how much a year for Live? $20? I think someone said that with a 5-year system lifetime, you'd pay $100 for Live, so... toss another $100 on there. And STILL no benefit to games for having the HD-DVD player.

[o29 @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:04PM]

Well it sure didn't take long for one of these stupid comments to pop up. Really, do we need these price comparisons in the comments of every single post about a 360 or PS3? I think we've heard it enough.

[Rob @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:12PM]

Don't forget, ff you're in Canada, it's 6 free BD movies; the same free 5 as the US plus one additional BD movie if you purchase a PS3 from FutureShop (the biggest electronics chain in Canada).

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:14PM]

@Homeboy: Don't overlook Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, Folklore, and Ratchet and Clank Future. Maybe Lair or Eye of Judgement depending on interests. All of these by mid-October.

[AttilaButurla @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:35PM]

You don't need an HD DVD player to watch HD movies on the 360. You can simply download them from the Xbox live marketplace.

And if you want to compare apples to apples, the Elite comes with 40 GB more of storage space.

[T-Mape @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:42PM]

lets take a look at your price comparisons
xbox 360 elite- $480
includes all hd cables
120Gb hardrive
ethernet cable
gaming headset
hd dvd player (not needed for games)- $180
includes 5 free hd dvds
wifi (not needed by everyone)- $100
total- $760
PS3- $600
80GB hardrive
blu ray player
5 free blu ray
monster hdmi cable 6ft- $60 (amazon)
seagate 120Gb internal HDD to match 360 elite- $100 (amazon)
total- $760
so you see the prices arent that different from eachother at all with the fact that some stuff is not needed

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:53PM]

Why is it the shills keep bringing up WiFi?

[JimyD @ Aug 3rd 2007 8:04PM]

T-Mape - anyone who pays $60 for an HDMI cable is a certified idiot.

[Slvrgun @ Aug 3rd 2007 10:38PM]

* WiFi is a nonissue for many gamers who play online. Who wants to use WiFi during a frag fest?

* HD DVD is OPTIONAL and the new deal also comes at $179 plus 5 free titles.

* Newer Xbox 360 Premiums will come with built in HDMI, HDD memory issues would only come with heavy usage of downloadable content i.e. movies, XBLA, music, videos, etc. The newer models will also be $50 cheaper.

* Xbox 360 is also home to the best online service, exclusive content, best video games, best on demand type services, best extending capabilities, best controller and the best GRAPHICS this generation (Yeah I said it).

[Dave @ Aug 4th 2007 12:14AM]

@o29
You asked, "Really, do we need these price comparisons in the comments of every single post about a 360 or PS3?"

When the article claims the PS3 has "no option to compete directly with the Xbox 360 Premium's $399 $350 price tag" then yes, we do need to show the price comparisons.

[Fruition @ Aug 6th 2007 4:27PM]

@T-Mape

Why would you buy a hard drive off of Amazon? Newegg has 120GB hard drives going for $66... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149057

[Chris Murphy @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:22PM]

PS3 is stragling trying to hang on. I wouldent doubt they would stop making the $499 versions soon

[cduran01 @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:25PM]

They already stoped production of the 60GB one, which means they already stoped making the $499 one. The 80GB one is now the standard model. Im sure they will drop the game and lower the 80GB price down to $499 soon.

[netboolie @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:23PM]

Saaaaaaaaaweeet!

[cduran01 @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:23PM]

Actually we are not back to square one....back when the 20GB was around for $499 it didnt have wifi or memory slots. The only way to add these is to get external components, which no one usually likes to do. This time around, the 60GB is fully featured and the hard drive can always be upgraded without the need of any external devices.

The 20GB had reduced value, while now the 80GB has added value, there is a difference.

[Wii60 @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:18PM]

Yeah, but we lost some backwards compatibility...I really want to shelf my ps2

[Ahmed @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:09PM]

The strange thing is for that small hard drive upgrade (60 to 80) you are still paying the $100 premium you were paying before for wifi, memory slots etc., how does that make sense? I think there will be another price revision very soon.

[Bogdan @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:27PM]

Sony is insane. $600 for a game console? What were you thinking about, Sony?

[Mr Angry @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:31PM]

It's a high end system, for those with the disposable income to afford the newest technology, and to enjoy the newest advanced in gaming, connectivity and HD movie output.

There are plenty of other systems which might interest you, such as the PS2 or XBox at much lower cost, shop around you might pick up a bargain, and the games are really really fun!

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:49PM]

Compared to a $2000 TV or $8000+ in games over the life of the console? Compared to dropping $500-2000 every few years on a PC? You can install Linux on the PS3 ... a box that plays all the latest games *and* runs Linux/OpenOffice/etc and even plays HD movies for $600 is hardly a bad deal. Comparable features on other consoles are even more $$. I think we've been past the price point thing for awhile now. Quit whining.

[Stymie @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:16PM]

$8000+ in games? Do you ever get out of your mom's basement? Just tell me which one of these things plays Madden the best.

[john @ Aug 3rd 2007 8:09PM]

oGMo,

Yes it's cheap compared to a TV, or a PC, or 133 games (seriously?). However, compared to just about every other console (which is what it actually is), it's a LOT more expensive. You can lament that we should be past the price by now, but clearly based on sales most people are not.

[Albert @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:27PM]

Mmm, you know what would help PS3 sales?
If they sold the ps3 WITHOUT a hard drive for $400 so people can upgrade it to 100+gb for cheap price.

Just suggestion but I'm already happy with my 60gb ps3 =]cant wait for time crisis4. It'll keep me busy till killzone2 and MGS4 comes out.

[AceMilo @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:33PM]

"Elite $480
HD-DVD $180
WiFi $100

Total $760... looks like PS3 is pretty good at $500 + 5 BD movies."

Um... no. Just for gaming, $279 core vs $599 true ps3 (since the 60 gig is no longer a sku). For HD 279 + 150 (best buy dropped the price) = $429. Or, just go buy an hd dvd player for $300. If you want a bluray player, great buy a ps3, but I'm a gamer so I'll stick with the 360.

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:55PM]

$279 core doesn't have a HDD or HDMI. It takes at least $760 for a "true 360" that begins to feature-compare to a $499 PS3.

And it looks like Best Buy is discontinuing the 360 Core, too. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/30/best-buy-done-with-xbox-360-core-model/) How long do you really think that'll be around for?

[AceMilo @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:14PM]

Who cares about "feature-compare"? I'm talking about GAMES. The ps3 is SUPPOSED to be a gaming machine, but at its core, it is anything but. The whole idea of the 360 is for 279 or 350 you can get EVERYTHING you need to play GAMES. IF you want high def movies, you can buy that. If you want wireless, you can get that too. The plus side is you don't HAVE to spend extra money on stuff you don't need/want. The ps3 on the other hand, takes the opposite mentality. They FORCE you to get bluray, and everything else they throw in the ps3 that isn't necessary to playing games. If I wanted a bluray player, yea I'd probably buy a ps3, but I'd still game on the 360 since it is superior in almost every way to gaming on the ps3. Ps3 is the jack of all trades, master of none.

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:39PM]

Don't consider the compulsory HDD, HDMI, Blu-Ray, and free online service as not having to do with games. Second-gen 360 and current first-gen PS3 games compare. This won't last: with things like Killzone 2 levels taking 2GB apiece, we'll probably be seeing multi-disc BD games by the middle of the PS3's lifecycle. The *5-minute demo* for Heavenly Sword was just shy of 1GB. Not having high-capacity media is going to kill the detail of 360 games before long.

Plus with the HDD in all models, and free online stuff, developers can be sure customers can create, upload, and download new content. We've barely seen launch titles so far: with things like Home and Little Big Planet setting the stage for taking advantage of user-provided content, anything else will seem archaic.

[Max Fun @ Aug 4th 2007 12:11AM]

If you take out the 'non-compulsory' components like the HDD, you might not be able to play the future games because once MS phases out the core system, they might allow HDD a requirement for future games. Also, without XBox Live (Gold), you'd take away a huge part of the 360 gaming experience.

You'd save some money, but you can no longer compare the gaming experience between the 360 and the PS3.

[jL @ Aug 6th 2007 9:19AM]

You'd save some money, but you can no longer compare the gaming experience between the 360 and the PS3."

You're right. You can't compare the two. The 360 has the better games with the better graphics and probably will until 2009-10ish. Or maybe it's 2011? Possibly at 2012? Probably not by 2015. But definitely not by 2017. So buy a PS3 around 2015-17 (the end of the planned PS3 cycle) when Blue Ray II comes out and the graphics are maybe (this is widely debated) a tad better than a decade old Xbox 360.

[HB96st @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:38PM]

Elite $480

HD-DVD $180 + 6 +1 in the box HD Movies (you left that out.. You're welcome.)

WiFi $100

Total $760... looks like PS3 is pretty good at $500 + 5 BD movies.

-Yeah I guess the PS3 is good... IF YOU WATCH MOVIES.

However, If you want the BETTER gaming experience, XBOX360 hands down.

-Better, and more GAMES

-Nothing beats XBOX LIVE when it comes to online console gaming. (please dont say second life -imean home..)

Oh, did I mention that you dont need to buy the HD DVD add on OR Wi-fi attachment to play games??

So, in summation, A $480.00 Elite KILLS a Blu-Ray player... -OH, my bad, That also plays games too!

[MikeG @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:38PM]

And still they advertise that damn light-up controller!!
My PS3 controller doesn't have a light up PS button, no one elses does, but every commercial image of them DOES!

[HB96st @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:42PM]

Because Sony knows the SDF likes bright lights...

[HB96st @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:46PM]

Mmm, you know what would help PS3 sales?
If they sold the PS3 WITHOUT Blu-Ray for $299 so people can AFFORD it for a cheap price.

Oh, but then Blu-Ray would've never stood a chance of beating HD DVD... Ohhhh, I get it now... use the SDF to push a new medium to control all... wow.

[x20mar @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:54PM]

Can't they just make a hard drive-less PS3. That way the console will be cheaper for all of us and we get to choose a decent hard drive capacity.

[Jagster @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:57PM]

Looks like the gulf between the price of a 360 and a PS continues to grow.

- At PS3 launch, it was a $100 difference between the 360 Premium ($399) and the PS3 Core ($499)
- Soon it will be a $150 difference between the the 360 Premium ($350) and the PS3 clearance model ($499).
- Soon after that it will be a $250 difference, the the 360 Premium ($350) and the PS3 80 GB model ($599).

Does anyone else see the PS3 price is going in the wrong direction? Does anyone really think the PS3 is worth $250 more than the 360 just to play just a few (quite literally) exclusives?

Anyone that wants to throw in that PS3 plays BR movies, I ask, what does a BR player do for someone with just a SD TV?

[Homeboy @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:06PM]

If you own an SD TV then you shouldn't buy a PS3 or 360 in the first place. You are better off with a Wii, PS2, or Xbox 360

[john @ Aug 3rd 2007 8:11PM]

Homeboy,

Wait, should they get a 360 or not?

[Dave @ Aug 3rd 2007 8:24PM]

@Homeboy

Are you suggesting that a PS3 without Blu-Ray wouldn't be a worse buy for someone with an SDTV than a 360? So you're suggesting that without the added value of Blu-Ray, the 360 is the better console?

[Max Fun @ Aug 4th 2007 1:00AM]

Jagster, the 360 Premium vs PS3 Core is valid because their features are more comparable. But comparing the 360 Premium to the 60GB/80GB isn't quite so simple because these come with a lot more features that you can't find on the 360, especially now if you consider the bundle with 5 BD movies.

So even though the price difference seems to be greater, it is clear that the PS3 (especially the 60GB version) is better value for money.

[Jagster @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:14PM]

120GB 360 $450
HD-DVD $180 (plus 6 HD-DVD movies)


80GB PS3 $600
PS remote control $25 (Best Buy)
120 GB HDD $115 (Best Buy)
6' HDMI cable $59 (Best Buy)

Total $630... looks like PS3 is pretty weak at $769 + 5 BD movies.

Fixed!

[Wii60 @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:21PM]

If you're stupid enough to buy an HDMI cable for 60 bucks...

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:43PM]

5 meter HDMI cable, $12: https://www.cablesforless.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=975

Also stupid for buying an 80GB PS3 and changing the HDD, when you could buy a 60GB PS3 for $100 less and do the same.

[Max Fun @ Aug 4th 2007 1:18AM]

If you need to match all the features on the 360 Elite to the PS3, then you you'd need to match all the features on the PS3 to the 360 as well for your comparison to be fair, for example the wifi and the multicard reader.

You can say that you don't need either, but then I can say that I'm perfectly fine with the current 60GB of HDD (which will cut the price down by $100 again) or the remote control.

[Fruition @ Aug 6th 2007 4:43PM]

Um, a 120GB hard drive for $100+? Try $66 off of Newegg, save you over $30... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149057

If you're trying to bloat the cost of getting a PS3 to compare with getting a 360 Elite, then Best Buy is the perfect place to do it... Nothing but overpriced stuff there, my friend. If you want to do a cost-comparison, it's really only fair to pick the cheapest accessories available, because someone who is concerned with price will obviously choose the cheapest.

[HB96st @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:19PM]

Sorry oGMo, you're reaching too hard.. And its making you look stupid. I brought my 360 for 1 thing.. ONE. -To play Next-Gen GAMES.

-I didn't need a WiFi plug.

-I Had like 3 DVD players in my house, 1 that stores 5. Why switch to a new format?

-I can afford Xbox Live... MILLIONS play WOW and pay a MONTHLY fee to play ONE GAME. I pay $50.00 A YEAR to play AS MANY GAMES AS I WANT. $50 BUCKS!



"Compared to a $2000 TV or $8000+ in games over the life of the console? Compared to dropping $500-2000 every few years on a PC? You can install Linux on the PS3 ... a box that plays all the latest games *and* runs Linux/OpenOffice/etc and even plays HD movies for $600 is hardly a bad deal. Comparable features on other consoles are even more $$. I think we've been past the price point thing for awhile now. Quit whining."

And you wanna cry about $50 Bucks??!?!? -I think we've been past the $50.00 Live fee thing for awhile now. You Quit whining.

"Plus how much a year for Live? $20? I think someone said that with a 5-year system lifetime, you'd pay $100 for Live, so... toss another $100 on there. And STILL no benefit to games for having the HD-DVD player."

Seriously, you have the nerve to say all that... Pitiful. -you just made yourself look REAL STUPID.

-Oh, with my assistance!

LMAO

[oGMo @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:53PM]

BD on the PS3 has little to do with movies (though once you have an HDTV and a PS3, you'll want to see a few, because they look amazingly better). It's all about capacity. Killzone 2 has amazing detail, but levels are 2GB apiece. On an 8GB DVD, you could fit *three* (as you need some left over for code and other assets). You want to play a 3-level game?

As for $50/yr (I underestimated at $20, then... a 5-year lifespan would put that at an extra $250), we're comparing base console costs here, so while Sony may charge you $500-$600 up front, they're not charging you an extra $250 as you go later. Who's shady now?

And the HD-DVD player STILL doesn't benefit games. You want to talk about games? Let's get back to space-deprived asset-poor 360 discs. Assets aren't just about graphics (textures, models). It's about the whole level. All the interactive little parts. Voice acting, music. This is why high-capacity media is cool, and why it's important for next-gen games.