Sony releases $399 40GB PS3 for the US -- November 2nd

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sony will announce their 40GB PS3 today for $399. Right, the same PS2 incompatible, 2x USB port model already announced for the rest of the gaming world. That's $50 more than Microsoft's Xbox 360 (with 20GB disk) and $150 more than the Wii. Still no date, or official press release from Sony but that should be rectified on the quick as the US wakes up to a retrenched, domestic console war.

Update: It's official! This from Reuters: the 40GB model will be on sale November 2nd and the 80GB model will be reduced to $500.

Update 2: Sony's press release is now out.

[Matt @ Oct 18th 2007 3:15AM]

399(PS3) - 249(Wii) = $150 difference

[Jeff @ Oct 18th 2007 3:17AM]

Oh but when you add 3 more Wii Remotes, 3 Nunchucks, 4 games, twenty 2GB SD Cards to get 40GB, the price advantage disappears!

[Garst @ Oct 18th 2007 4:23AM]

But when you add in 3 to 6 PS3 controllers and 4 games the price gap is definately there. You don't need 20 2GB SD cards because the Wii games don't use the storage space the same way the PS3 does. And if you really need more than two 2GB SD cards, you can always transfer the files to you computer if need to. Doesn't the PS3 put large sections of the games to speed up load times that the Wii don't have too much problem with?

It's like you're putting your water in a colander.

[Jeff @ Oct 18th 2007 3:15AM]

I feel bad for the guys who bought the 20GB....mmm....then again maybe not.

[Tim @ Oct 18th 2007 12:15PM]

What will the 60GB drop to... $449?

I still see plenty of those in local stores.

[Mark @ Oct 18th 2007 2:17PM]

Actually the 20 GB has full backwards compatibility so it's still better for people who have a PS2 collection that they still want to play.

[Adeel @ Oct 18th 2007 3:20AM]

That's a $150 dollar price difference between the Wii and the 40GB PS3

[Jonyah @ Oct 18th 2007 9:33AM]

not when you consider that wii controllers are $60 each, compared to $40 for the ps3, plus you have to buy a memory card for the wii. I've spent over $600 for my wii. PS3 is a much better deal, though the 40gb version is really useless. I have the original 60 gig and i'm filling the harddrive very fast, plus the backwards compatibility is very useful.

[Derbeste @ Oct 18th 2007 10:49AM]

Jonyah.....

You're either a fanboy or an idiot.

What do you think you'll buy more of in a consoles life? Controllers or games?

The Wii controller may cost more than PS3 controllers, but PS3 GAMES cost more than Wii games so the price difference still bends toward Wii there.

However, consider the PS3 has absolute CRAP for games and no exclusives....maybe you WILL buy more controllers.

[michas_pi @ Oct 18th 2007 3:32AM]

Goddamn it.

I want to purchase a 20GB PS3, not this shit.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Oct 18th 2007 4:05AM]

Then buy the 40GB and install a 20GB drive. Problem Solved.

[michas_pi @ Oct 18th 2007 4:53AM]

Right, so where can I purchase the Emotion Engine add-on?

Oh wait, you can't.

[Jeremy @ Oct 18th 2007 6:02AM]

I'm glad that in Europe 60GB PS3 is still avaiable. I bought Starter Version (PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games) with 20% discount.

[Jon @ Oct 18th 2007 5:44PM]

Seriously, who cares about backwards compatibility. Just keep your old ps2 if that matters so much to you. If you have nothing better to do then to keep going back to old games you used to play years ago then you should probably find something better to do with your time.. This release is great because it drops the price $100 and takes out things the majority of consumers don't care about.

[Luther @ Oct 18th 2007 12:00PM]

I just picked up a 20gb PS3 off eBay for $311 shipped. Pretty good deal, if you ask me. To me, it was always the best valued PS3.

[Josh @ Oct 18th 2007 12:01PM]

The emotion chip is a hundred and twenty nine dollars and is available at any electronics store.

[Russell @ Oct 18th 2007 3:59AM]

yawn, i'll hook my ps3 back up when there's a real XBLive style system and some must have exclusive titles.

Should have spent my money on beer so at least i'd be able to enjoy that $600.

[Max Fun @ Oct 18th 2007 6:25AM]

If you'd already have an Xbox360, and there isn't any PS3 exclusives you wanna play yet, you've only yourself to blame for spending that $600. Lol...you know what they say... a fool and his money is soon parted.

[Mak @ Oct 18th 2007 8:45AM]

That beer seems to have destroyed your bain cells.

The PS3 online experience better than Xbox Live. It's free, and the content is more varied. It needs a makeover sure, but big deal, the content is there.

[timatl @ Oct 18th 2007 7:22PM]

"The PS3 online experience better than Xbox Live."

Mak, that has to be joke. The Sony network is crappy at best. I can't beliew you just said that. Sony will need 2 years to come even close to Xbox live.

[iRobot @ Oct 18th 2007 1:13PM]

please say *yawn* once more time, because it's cool

[Tafkas @ Oct 18th 2007 4:04AM]

Can anybody explain the euro - dollar difference? Is the US price without sales tax?

Tafkas,


http://tinyurl.com/2wmbxn

[Garst @ Oct 18th 2007 4:31AM]

Yes, those prices do not include sales tax. They can't include sales tax in our prices because sales tax ranges from 0% to (I think) 12% depending on where you live.

[wslcrew @ Oct 18th 2007 4:41AM]

Yes it's before the sales tax. In most places in the US, the tax rate is at slightly under 10%, so you will be adding that price on top of $399. It is possible to purchase products without the sales tax via online merchandise like Amazon (I know they don't charge tax for many electronics and also offer free shipping in the US).

With weak dollar, you are paying a lot less than what you will be paying in Europe. If you know someone in the states, or someone planning to visit, have them buy some electronics for you wouldn't be a bad idea. As for PS3 though, Europeans use PAL rather than NTSC so it might not work over there.

[pigfister @ Oct 18th 2007 5:34AM]

The euro price is about price fixing and making europe subsidise the rest of the world because of our strong currency and better standard of living.

if you take the ps3 from japan and add import and sales tax it still works out @ £317 from the £425 that was the price of the ps3. which is much closer to the price in america.

this is why sony sued lik-sang to death, they were going to import ps3 to the uk with all duties paid and courier costs from asia for a total of £300 but because sony didn't want the uk to find out just how much they were being ripped off they placed a gag order on lik-sang sued they out of business citing health and safety to stop the imports.

now they are able to make a lower cost ps3 because they are using foxconn to manufacture them, foxconn use sweatshop labour to cut costs, there was a huge spread in the uk daily mail with pictures of the squalid conditions, the workers were gathered from villages far from the factorys location so the workers had to stay on the complex and give half their wages for board and rent. they were earning around $25 per month.

KNOW WHAT TYPE OF COMPANY SONY IS PPL >> http://www.lik-sang.com/

[Frank @ Oct 18th 2007 4:11AM]

Maybe $50 more than Xbox, but you're getting a Bluray player built-in... everyone seems to forget this. It'll cost ya extra on the Xbox, more than $50... Oh yeah, XBLive... that'll cost ya more too. Why is this always overlooked? Out of the box, PS3 has always been the better deal price wise.

But I agree... PS3 is really sucking with the lack of good games. I've bought more games for my Wii in the 2 months I've had it, than the PS3 which I've had for about 10 months now. If PS3 dosn't release some GREAT games within the next 6 months, they've had it.

[craigehlo @ Oct 18th 2007 9:13AM]

I agree. I've had my PS3 since last Christmas and haven't purchased a game for it since Resistance. I've rented some, but my 360 is getting all the play with Bioshock, Orange Box, Halo 3, etc. Sony needs a slam dunk title in the worst way SOON

The whole Bluray thing isn't much of an incentive until the number of quality titles increases. Same goes for HD-DVD.

[Jonyah @ Oct 18th 2007 9:35AM]

games for the wii and ps3 both are lacking right now. There are a lot more for the wii, but they all suck. the download games for the ps3 blow away the old 8-bit download games for the wii and most of the time they cost less too. This is there the ps3 is really shining and going to win. once home is out and the next big update, there won't be much of a comparison left. ps3 will be the long term winner.

[jsn @ Oct 18th 2007 9:51AM]

including a blu-ray player is NOT a value add... sorry, it's just not. It's only a better value for those who want to use it as a blu-ray player.

it's like selling a car that is exactly like the Honda Civic, except it includes a built-in juicer, bread machine and a clothes steamer, and it costs more. Just because they built all that crap into the car, it doesn't make it a better value. I don't need a freakin juicer in my car.

[timatl @ Oct 18th 2007 9:52AM]

Because 95% be are happy with a standard DVD player or not aware of what Bluray. For most that just don't care. Most people want a good console with good games.

[Derbeste @ Oct 18th 2007 10:55AM]

Ah yes....because that's what most people buy a gaming system for.......movies.

Forget the fact that the #1 selling console can't even play a DVD.

[A C @ Oct 19th 2007 12:27AM]

So you guys have a hd video game console... so most of you probably bought or have a hdtv to go with that. You probably have a hd receiver or hd package from your local cable or dish. So what do you watch movies with ? If Sony is bringing down the price of the playstation 3 , that is good for people like me who enjoy high def movies , music, sharing pictures , storing home movies with ( i put 250 gb on mine )etc... Bringing down the price have benefits too. If you like games and a big online community then go with the Xbox 360 now.. If you love movies and want an all in one media center and eventually games later on or once in a while... then get a PS3 ..period.

[waiownsyou @ Oct 18th 2007 4:36AM]

I feel that week-long camp for the $600 PS3 almost a year ago was a waste of my time. I still haven't played the damn thing yet.

[Jay @ Oct 18th 2007 10:11AM]

Yeah, we believe you.....

[rickmurt @ Oct 18th 2007 4:35PM]

and please remind us WHY you didn't sell it on eBay 5 minutes after buying it?

[Blakamin @ Oct 18th 2007 4:48AM]

Out in NZ as of 2 weeks ago... For once we aren't 1 day ahead and 20 years behind the times

[Tony @ Oct 18th 2007 5:03AM]

Cool, a $400 blueray player.

[Steve @ Oct 18th 2007 7:47AM]

Any HDMI out?

[Taustin Powers @ Oct 18th 2007 6:21AM]

There will be quite a few good games out this fall/winter: WarHawk (already out), Uncharted, Ratchet & Clank, Assassin's Creed, Haze, Unreal Tournament 3 (hopefully they'll still make it this year), The Orange Box...they all look very promising to me. (Yah, some of them aren't exclusive, but honestly, who cares? They're still good games for the PS3, which is what PS3 owners want.)

But the really big hits (Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Grand Theft Auto) aren't coming till next year, unfortunately.

[james @ Oct 18th 2007 7:23AM]

go away, Dustin. no one wants to go to your smelly site. and at least TRY and leave a coherent comment. you strike me as a PS3 owner.

[Jason @ Oct 18th 2007 8:50AM]

My question is,

where in the hell is F/W 2.0?

[Hijakk @ Oct 18th 2007 9:05AM]

There are still quite a few 60GB PS3s in stores around me.. I wonder if they'll get a, I suppose, $50 drop...

[Ike Skelton @ Oct 18th 2007 9:05AM]

No backwards compatibility no care. That was a big mistake taking that out. I've got so many PS2 games I still love to play and even some old PS1 games that are still fun.

XBOX makes me not want to buy it because of the charge for xboxlive. I guess I'll just keep playing my old ps2.

[Max Fun @ Oct 18th 2007 7:48PM]

You already have a PS2, so why do you care so much about the backwards compatibility? Just hook them both up.

[thenonjasquad @ Oct 18th 2007 9:17AM]

What is the difference between the 40gig and the 80gig aside from the hard drive size? Are they seriously charging $100 extra for an 80gig drive that in reality is only about $10 more than a 40gig drive?

[rickane58 @ Oct 18th 2007 9:33AM]

no, the 80 gig has the 'emotion engine' which allows for backwards compatibility. Also, you get 2 more USB ports and a multicard reader

Also, as is common when comparing hard drives for these, the hard drive is 2.5" so it is somewhat more expensive than the normal desktop drive

[chris fredette @ Oct 18th 2007 2:31PM]

The 80 GB does not have the emotion engine it uses software for backward compatibility. It also has the memory card reader and 2 extra usb ports.
I believe the 40GB has no backward compatibility at all. And I quote:
"For the new 40-gigabyte PS3, Sony has removed its ability to play games for the predecessor PlayStation 2, which is still selling strong despite its aging technology."

[jLynx @ Oct 18th 2007 10:32AM]

You get 2 more USB ports and a multicard reader!!!!!!

I'm sold.

[glocks out @ Oct 18th 2007 11:00AM]

No, the 80GB does not have the Emotion Engine.

[theninjasquad @ Oct 18th 2007 10:36AM]

Could you not just plug a USB hub into the 40gig version and plug in a USB card reader to it which would then give you the same thing?