Best Buy stops selling the 80GB PS3

Well that was fast -- just a day after we'd heard that Best Buy was dropping the 80GB PS3 SKU, it's gone from the retailer's web site. We aren't sure what this means for the broader US market -- several other stores are still selling the 80GB model -- but for now, it looks like customers of the Blue will have to get their PS2 fix from actual PS2s.

[Thanks, Rob]

[mike @ Jan 25th 2008 5:43PM]

Glad I got my 80GB already!

[pigfister @ Jan 25th 2008 6:07PM]

you may have a backwards compatible PS3, but you are not going to get any more b/c updates!

this was already announced at the euro launch with reduction in b/c updates.

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4331&NewsAreaID=2

FTA: David Reeves "Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology."

this = you are not allowed to play your back catalouge you have to line our pockets and purchase from the PSN and new PS3 titles ONLY!

[mike @ Jan 25th 2008 8:13PM]

Then I will simply not update my PS3, not that hard ;)

[Garst @ Jan 26th 2008 2:55AM]

Updating your PS3 isn't going to take away backward compatiblity. You just won't get any more PS2 games that will play on your PS3 when you update your firmware.

[Azayzel @ Jan 27th 2008 8:51AM]

Shoulda bought yourself a 60GB model when they were available, then you wouldn't have to worry about any updates. I don't see what the big deal is with the 80GB model, it only had partial compatibility due to lack of the Emotion-Engine graphics chip, so it wasn't like it had the full-on PS2 package.

Course this also means a lot of angry customers may end up returning their 40GB models when they get home and find out they cannot play their massive PS2 collection on it. Already been happening here! Glad I got one of the original 60GB models. Guess Sony will have to pony-up with some marketing cash to smooth over all the pissed off customers (so much for that cash they saved in removing the chips!).

[pigfister @ Jan 28th 2008 1:35PM]

there are new suk's maybe it will include b/c.

[Paul @ Jan 25th 2008 5:44PM]

hopefully, Sony sticks to one SKU, that way it costs them less to produce different motherboards and maybe the PS3 will get another price drop.

[NovaLand @ Jan 26th 2008 3:30PM]

The day they decided to include a hard-drive into the PS3-configuration was the day they decided that there will at least one hundred different releases - and one hundred different reasons to buy a new one every month.

[Neebs @ Jan 25th 2008 5:45PM]

The Wii is more BC with the PS2 than the 40GB PS3.

Discuss.

[mike @ Jan 25th 2008 5:50PM]

Please explain more...

[edgore @ Jan 25th 2008 5:56PM]

At least there are Wii or GC ports of some PS2 games...I don't believe the PS3 has many

(Very glad I bought a used 60gb)

[Nathan @ Jan 25th 2008 5:54PM]

I am interested in your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Reginald @ Jan 25th 2008 6:49PM]

Great Simpson's reference Nathan!

[Neebs @ Jan 25th 2008 6:55PM]

Ever get that feeling, where bam!, there's 4 reply emails in your inbox, and you don't remember what the hell you posted?

Yah, I got the feeling.

[Silverfrog @ Jan 25th 2008 10:16PM]

Um, yeah because what would we do without being able to play our gamecube collection?

/Sarcasm off

But seriously, Neebs. PS3 can play games remotely via wifi. That trumps your abilities to play your 5 gamecube games on Wii.

[Uejji @ Jan 27th 2008 9:43AM]

As much as I liked Remote Play when I had a chance to try it out with our PS3 and my friend's PSP, playing PS1 games remotely was just too laggy to be useful for any sort of reaction-based gameplay. Even with the quality turned all the way down there was a noticeable delay between what I did on the PSP and the action actually happening.

So, (in my opinion mind you) Remote Play of PS1 games turned out to be far more of a gimmick than Sony led it up to be.

[Steven C. @ Jan 25th 2008 5:49PM]

I guess everyone wanting PS2 compatibility, twice as many GBs for PSN downloads and personal media, and enough USB ports to play Rock Band without a hub will need to get there fix over at Amazon.com which consistently reports the 80GB PS3 as the second best seller in PS3 hardware sales behind the BD remote. The PS3 controller is third and the 40GB PS3 is fourth.

I may be wrong, but I figure Best Buy's move is just in anticipation of a new PS3 bundle that will contain Sony's new DualShock 3 controller. I have two DualShock 3's myself that I ordered from overseas and they are a FANTASTIC addition. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss something until it's back.

[Eddie @ Jan 25th 2008 5:53PM]

Personally I don't need backwards compatibility (still have a perfect condition ps2 :D) so Im waiting for dualshock3 *cough*andwhite*cough*
hehe

For someone like me who was on the fence for this gen's consoles BluRay winning is also pushing me over the edge.

[Noshino @ Jan 25th 2008 5:55PM]

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/01/25/analyst-80gb-system-abandoned-due-to-sales/

"Update: GameDaily goofed? Well, this is interesting. We just heard from The NPD Group who told us, "In the last quarter (when both were on the market), the 80GB sold more units than the 40GB." When pressed for a more exact breakdown of the sales data between the two SKUs, NPD said they could not provide that. It's certainly a surprise to us, however, that the more expensive 80GB would have sold more than 40GB, which many have attributed the PS3 sales spike to."

Steven, your point?

[Noshino @ Jan 25th 2008 5:55PM]

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/01/25/analyst-80gb-system-abandoned-due-to-sales/

"Update: GameDaily goofed? Well, this is interesting. We just heard from The NPD Group who told us, "In the last quarter (when both were on the market), the 80GB sold more units than the 40GB." When pressed for a more exact breakdown of the sales data between the two SKUs, NPD said they could not provide that. It's certainly a surprise to us, however, that the more expensive 80GB would have sold more than 40GB, which many have attributed the PS3 sales spike to."

Steven, your point?

[Steven C. @ Jan 25th 2008 6:04PM]

Noshindo,

The point being if anyone still wants the capabilities that the current 80GB PS3 offers, trot on over Amazon.com and pick one up.

:-)

[Tyler @ Jan 25th 2008 5:49PM]

Its listed as an "At Risk" SKU, with the out of stock date being 1/28.
The 40gb PS3 is also at risk and is out of stock 1/27...

[Chris @ Jan 25th 2008 5:52PM]

Does best buy not what to earn an extra $200? The only thing I could think of is a 100+ GB ps3 might come out in the near future.

[Steven C. @ Jan 25th 2008 5:56PM]

"I guess everyone wanting PS2 compatibility, twice as many GBs for PSN downloads and personal media, and enough USB ports to play Rock Band without a hub..."

Oh, and don't forget about all the memory card slots that the 80GB PS3 has that makes moving files to and from the PS3 a breeze.

[John @ Jan 25th 2008 6:03PM]

I would never have bought a PS3 without backwards compatibility. To hell with wired controllers... or not having enough ports to charge them all.

[Homeboy @ Jan 25th 2008 6:12PM]

5 dollar USB hub < $200

[Steven C. @ Jan 25th 2008 6:29PM]

Powered USB hub = ~$25+, multi memory card reader = ~$15, Motorstorm = $60, 80GB ATA HD = ~$60, backwards compatibility = priceless. ;-)

[Teddy @ Jan 25th 2008 6:10PM]

It looks like Sony is about to announce new SKUs: DS3 included ?
Higher HD capacities ?
Lower prices ?
All of the above ?

It looks like my PS3 purchase is getting closer. I don't believe we'll be losing BC on the new 120/160GB $399 model (crossing my fingers on the BC and lower price).

[Shane @ Jan 25th 2008 6:11PM]

Not convinced this is the end of PS2 backwards compatibility.

It simply doesn't make sense--a machine having access to the biggest, most successful library of video game entertainment is worth a few bucks in chips. To do so w/ the entire product line, rather than with a stripped-down entry level system only, seems utterly foolish.

I think Sony has another plan stewing here.

If not--its got to be their biggest mistake yet. And I'm doubly glad I got my 80GB when I did...

[Christian @ Jan 25th 2008 6:24PM]

I comment on the other article and I'll comment here too. I am a Best Buy employee and what I have read that was confirmed by a Sony rep is that the SKU has been pulled because they are taking Motorstorm out of the 80gb, then selling through the 40gb, then taking Spiderman on Blu Ray out of the 40gb. Xbox did the same thing recently because the SKU changed for the 360's that had Forza Motorsports and Ultimate Alliance. They no longer come with those two games. This is just what I read so don't worry people!!

[Jeff @ Jan 25th 2008 6:32PM]

I hope they take out Motorstorm and drop the price by at least $50. That'll warrant my purchase of a PS3.

[Alex @ Jan 26th 2008 12:58PM]

I was doing my christmas shopping at a circuit city around mid-december, and saw the "new" 80GB PS3 without motorstorm. I asked 1 of the salespersons there, he said as soon as the old ones run out that's what they'll sell.

[Halex @ Jan 25th 2008 6:26PM]

Isn't is it just a matter of time until we see a price drop (and a doubling on the size of the HDD)?

[apeguero @ Jan 25th 2008 6:43PM]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm glad I picked up the 60GB PS3 when it dropped to $500.00. HW b/c FTW!

[Halex @ Jan 27th 2008 4:22AM]

@apeguero: Lucky you!

[pacokorn77 @ Jan 25th 2008 6:26PM]

During work, I checked our inventory system, and it still says Active under Status. The 60GB, to my memory, was quick to turn to "Discontinued" after Sony announced the price drop/liquidation sale.

[omearamd @ Jan 25th 2008 6:28PM]

So, does the PS2-compatible hardware inside the 80GB PS3 (or lack thereof) have any impact on the Remote Play functionality?

[Bengus @ Jan 25th 2008 6:32PM]

Perhaps they are planning to replace the 80GB model with higher capacity model, for eg a 120GB hard drive.

[dharh @ Jan 25th 2008 6:36PM]

I'd rather use my PS2 to play PS2 games anyway.

[Zak @ Jan 25th 2008 8:00PM]

I'd rather have one console hooked up to my TV than two. (or two rather than three, if you include my Wii.) Point is, it's stupid to have to hook up your PS2 right alongside your PS3 if you just want to play some PS2 games. Sony should take a cue from Nintendo and make the PS3 fully backwards compatible again.

[Mr. S. @ Jan 25th 2008 8:31PM]

Zak's icon, FTW!

[Brad Green @ Jan 25th 2008 6:53PM]

You know, all of this is because Sony is trying to recoup their losses from selling it way under cost. They made the bet, and its going to win them the next-gen format war, but its losing them money now.

[Rock Stone @ Jan 25th 2008 8:25PM]

Noob, non-owner question:
Does the 60gb and 80gb have the same ps2 b/c hardware?

I thought the 60gb had both chips and the 80gb has 1 chip and the 40gb has no chips... (relating to ps2 b/c)

So if the above is true, the 80gb has the best feature set but the 60gb has the best chip set, right?

[Arjun @ Jan 25th 2008 9:49PM]

The 60 GB Model contained the Emotion Engine chipset that the PS2 contained for backwards compatibility. The 80 GB Model uses a software emulation method of backwards compatibility.

So:

60 - Hardware
80 - Software

[Desi_D @ Jan 25th 2008 9:30PM]

60GB has everything 80GB ( minus the 20GB of course) does, and better b/c. 60GB is the best bet if you can find it.

[Garst @ Jan 26th 2008 3:07AM]

It was the 60GB and 20GB systems that had the hardware b/c. Although the 20GB system could be a myth, because I never saw one. The 80GB is software b/c.

[Deezul @ Jan 25th 2008 9:24PM]

I'm curious what folks with a replacement warranty at Best Buy are going to do if the machine dies...

[EndlessMike @ Jan 28th 2008 9:41AM]

There's two ways to use a Best Buy replacement plan: 1) take it into the store. If you do this, they'll take one off the shelf of equal or lesser value and give it to you, swapping the hard drives if you ask or 2) you can call the replacement provider who will send you a box to ship it in, and they'll send you a gift card worth the value of what you paid, so you can net a little extra money.

[Deezul @ Jan 29th 2008 8:04AM]

I know their policy - but what happens when you have a HW backward compatible machine and you can't GET one? The replacement plan is therefore USELESS. At least with the 360, except for upgrade hardware, a Core/Arcade can be made functionally equivalant to an Elite with just a 120GB Hard drive. You can't buy something to magically give your PS3 HW BC. Maybe you could push BB into giving you a free PS2 in addition to a PS3 to cover that...

[BigTeebo @ Jan 25th 2008 9:46PM]

I have so far stepped out of the current-gen console race. In 3 months, I will have no idea what the PS3 configuration is. They are running out of A x 10GB configuurations.