This would be a fantastic deal, if it wasn’t so damn, damn awful. Scratch that… it’s devious. It works out to be ~$600 for 20GB… as long as you don’t mind losing backwards-compatibility, some USB slots and the card reader. Add to this the fact 20GB is worth $4, going by current HDD prices, and it’s basically one of the worst deals I’ve ever seen. The sad thing is people are going to buy into it.

Nothing more to say, really, except to warn your friends and family who are lucky enough to own a 60GB that the deal is horrible.

Sony PlayStation 3 Console (80Gb) [Thanks David W./Luke P.]

A press release from the company can be found after the jump.

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia Confirms PLAYSTATION®3 80GB Model Launch Date

Double the storage capacity, plus a DUALSHOCK®3 controller, for $699

Sydney, 15 August 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) today confirmed the 28th August 2008 as the Australian release date for its new PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) 80GB model, replacing the current 40GB version. The new model, announced at E3 in July, offers all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model, but with double the storage to accommodate more games, movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content – all at the same recommended retail price of $699.

Not only does the new PS3 model offer increased storage, but it also ships with a DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller. Utilising Bluetooth technology for wireless game play, the DUALSHOCK 3 provides the most intuitive and involved game play experience thanks to the inclusion of SIXAXIS™ motion sensing technology and in-built rumble, ensuring each hit, crash and explosion is more realistic than ever.

“Having achieved an install base of over 350,000 consoles to date, the PS3 has already found its place in many Australian homes,” said Michael Ephraim, Managing Director SCE Aust. and New Zealand. “With more compelling content being made available to PS3 owners every week through the PLAYSTATION®Network, the extra storage offered in this new model will prove invaluable.”

“In addition, the 80GB memory allows you consolidate all of your digital music, photos and movies in one central place within the home and experience them on a high definition TV. Add to this the ability to enjoy Blu-ray movies and games and it’s clear why the PS3 has earned its place as the leading entertainment hub in today’s home.”

Thanks to a constantly expanding and diverse software line-up, the PS3 continues to grow in its appeal to a broad range of consumers; from hard-core gamers through to general entertainment enthusiasts. While upcoming exclusive blockbuster PS3 titles, such as Resistance 2™ and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation™, appeal to gaming enthusiasts, other titles like MotorStorm™ Pacific Rift and LittleBIGPlanet™ can be enjoyed by anyone who’s looking for pure entertainment. Add to this the arrival of PlayStation’s leading social gaming titles like SingStar® and Buzz!™ to the PS3 platform and there is something on offer for every type of entertainment seeker.

There’s also the strong possibility the 80GB will replace the 40GB. If the 80GB comes in at the same price as the 40GB in the US, and the 40GB isn’t replaced locally or given a price cut… well, I’d be more than a bit upset with Sony, given the massive difference in US/AU RRPs already.

Update: Looks like Sony was too busy talking to Gamespot. It has confirmation the 80GB is coming to Australia, though there are no details on pricing. Thanks Luke P.

“This new 80 GB PS3 is perfectly suited for HD games, music, movies and more”. Full release below…

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces New 80GB PLAYSTATION(R)3, Limited Edition PlayStation(R)2 Bundle, and PlayStation(R)Portable Entertainment Pack at E3 2008

Company Also Launches New PLAYSTATION(R)Network Video Delivery Service and Showcases More Than 140 First-Party and Third-Party Games Across All Platforms

LOS ANGELES, July 15 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit, making a series of announcements which demonstrated the strength of the PlayStation brand across all three of its platforms and further leveraged the heritage and momentum of PlayStation’s family of products to provide consumers with more compelling entertainment options than anyone in the videogame industry.
Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company’s hardware line-up. The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content — all for the same price. As with its predecessor, the new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray(TM) player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine(TM) and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION(R)Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.
Following the success of five PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) Entertainment Packs, SCEA announced the Ratchet and Clank(R) Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack, a new bundle showcasing PSP’s multi-functional feature set, targeted for holiday gift-giving. Launching in October 2008 for $199.99 MSRP, the bundle will include a limited-edition “Silver” PSP system with the highly acclaimed game, Ratchet and Clank(R) Size Matters; a blockbuster movie on UMD(R) (Universal Media Disc); a PLAYSTATION(R)Network voucher to download the innovative puzzle game, echochrome(TM) from PLAYSTATION(R)Store: and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM) for storing music, videos, photos and more.
In addition, SCEA introduced a new family entertainment bundle for the PlayStation(R)2 system, the most successful console in industry history. The limited-edition LEGO(R) Batman(TM): The Videogame PlayStation(R)2 Pack will feature the highly anticipated TT Games/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment title LEGO(R) Batman(TM): The Videogame, Warner Home Video’s Justice League: The New Frontier on DVD, and a PlayStation(R)2 system — all for $149.99 MSRP, which represents a $30 savings for consumers if the contents were purchased separately. SCEA will also launch more than 130 new titles for PlayStation(R)2 system this year, totaling 10,000 PlayStation(R)2 titles by end of the year.
“It’s undeniable we have three successful platforms, the broadest and best line-up of some of the biggest exclusives in the business, and are continuing to deliver compelling and original content to our consumers,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. “Expect to see continued momentum this year as we remain focused on delivering products and services that extend the strength of our brand and reaffirms PlayStation’s place at the centre of consumers’ homes.”
Additionally, the company previewed more than 140 first and third-party games at E3 2008 proving its content line-up this year is unmatched in the industry due to its depth, breadth, and diversity. Throughout the holiday season and this fiscal year, SCEA and its third-party partners plan to release more than 140 software titles for the PS3 available on Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD).
SCEA is also developing more than 50 games, game packs, and add-ons downloadable via PLAYSTATION(R)Network in North America this year, offering something for every taste, lifestyle and budget. Also, to continue offering greater value to PlayStation fans, SCEA will launch PS3 Greatest Hits program on July 28 with 10 first and third party titles at a reduced price of $29.99. The PS3 Greatest Hits titles include Warhawk(TM), Motorstorm(TM) and Resistance: Fall of Man(R) from SCEA; Call of Duty(R) 3, Activision(R); Need for Speed: Carbon, Electronic Arts; The Elder Scrolls(R) IV: Oblivion(TM), Bethesda(R) Softworks; Ninja Gaiden(R) Sigma, Tecmo(R); Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six(R) Vegas and Assassin’s Creed(TM), Ubisoft(R).
SCEA also reiterated its commitment to make PLAYSTATION(R)Network the best entertainment experience in the industry, by announcing a new video delivery service on PLAYSTATION(R)Store for PS3 and PSP systems in the United States. The new video service, available today, allows U.S. consumers to download full-length TV shows and movies to both their PS3 and PSP through the PlayStation Store for rental or purchase.
In addition, SCEA further outlined progress against its revolutionary online experience, PlayStation Home. Highlighting new first party high definition virtual environments for hit PlayStation titles including, Unchartered: Drake’s Fortune and Warhawk. With significant third party support already on board, Sony Computer Entertainment will be expanding the beta in Summer 2008 and commence the open beta service by Fall 2008.

Reality is the price wasn’t that big of a deal and $US 499 sold a lot more than we thought, so the 80 GB got dry at retail not due to us artificially compressing it but the demand became greater than we thought. So you’ll see us replenish these in the marketplace. We’re still committed to our current strategy and there is much to do about nothing, I think is the way to think about it.

Good news for Americans, I guess, but if they’re not phasing them out in the US (at least not yet) it just makes the lack of a BC-friendly PS3 in PAL territories all the more difficult to understand.
SCEA’s Scott Steinberg on PS3 Momentum [GameDaily]

Rumours of a 120GB model have been spread to retail employees, but this conflicts with reports from other Best Buy moles who say that internal communications indicate only one model—the 40GB barebones edition—will be stocked after January 28th.

PS3 Fanboy has visual evidence of the notice to employees about the 80GB discontinuation, further proof that backwards compatibility may soon be a thing of the past. We’ve been bugging Sony about the situation all day, but have yet to receive anything other than a paraphrased “hold tight” about the rumours.

Best Buy discontinuing 80GB PS3 [PS3 Fanboy]

The current PS3 system software and future updates will continue to support backwards compatibility for the current 60GB and 80GB models.

Good news for existing owners! Also, I wonder why he mentioned 80GB. Sharples works for SCEE, which has never seen an 80GB model. Unless he knows something we don’t.

The $US600 PS3 seems like a decent deal to those who have been on the fence about buying the console, what with the larger harddrive and a free copy of a relatively solid game. Of course you could just buy the 60GB version for $US100 less and then buy the game of your choice and have money left over to put toward upgrading the PS3’s harddrive on your own, a relatively simple endeavour.

Sony points out that they expect to be sold out of the 60GB version by this spring, based on current consumer demand.

Hit the jump for the full press release, with a remind of all of the cool games coming to the PS3 in the near future including Heavenly Sword, Folklore and Uncharted. Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Availability of New 80GB PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM))

Million-Selling Online Racing Game MotorStorm(TM) Packed In With New System; Sales of Existing 60GB PS3 Continue to Surge

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) today announced the availability of a new 80GB PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) at online and brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States and Canada. The system, available immediately for a suggested retailer price of $599US / $659CND, comes with the hit online-enabled off-road racing game MotorStorm(TM) packed in the box.
Featuring an expanded hard disk drive, the new 80GB PS3 is designed to appeal to the online gaming and entertainment enthusiast, providing ample storage space to download more games and other entertainment content from PLAYSTATION(R)Network. There are currently more than 60 playable games and game-related downloads available through PLAYSTATION(R)Store, with expanded entertainment content coming soon. The new model features the million-selling
game MotorStorm in the box, allowing up to 12 players to play online at one time, hitting the dirt in this visually-arresting, fast-paced racing title.
“The 80GB PS3 offers expanded options in the PS3 family of products for those who want to enjoy more downloadable content,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, SCEA. “The new model will provide ample storage space to meet the appetites of those who wish to download content today, and for many more years to come. With the expanded disk capacity and dynamic system upgrades, we have effectively created a system that is ‘future-proof’,
providing consumers an exceptional entertainment value that will stand the test of time.”
The 80GB model joins the existing 60GB PS3 that has been available at retail since launch last November. The 60GB PS3 is currently enjoying a surge in sales following a price reduction in the US and Canada on July 9 of $100 to $499/$549CND. Since that date, unit sales at the company’s top five retailers have jumped 113% when compared to the average sales of four weeks prior to the price drop. SCEA will continue to sell the 60GB in the US and Canada at the new, reduced price until current inventory is depleted, which is predicted to be this fall based on current consumer demand.
Throughout the holidays and this fiscal year, more than 120 new first and third-party software titles will be available for North American PS3 users to enjoy, in addition to the more than 40 software titles currently available.
Key upcoming first-party titles include Folklore(TM), Heavenly Sword(TM), LAIR, NBA ‘08, Ratchet & Clank(R) Future: Tools of Destruction(TM), SingStar(TM), SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, THE EYE OF JUDGMENT(TM), Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, PAIN, and Warhawk(TM).
Both the 80GB and 60GB PS3 models come standard with Cell Broadband Engine(TM) (Cell/B.E.), built-in hard disk drive, 1080p high-definition output, Wi-Fi connectivity, SIXAXIS(TM) wireless controller and Blu-ray Disc(TM) player. According to Nielsen VideoScan, there are currently more than 270 high-definition Blu-ray Disc(TM) movies available at retail, including the recently released “300,” “Shooter,” and “Ghost Rider.”