E3 2008: 40GB PS3 phased out, new 80GB BC-less

"Most of our user base that's worried about backwards compatibility has a PlayStation 2," he said. ...if they're worried about backwards compatibility... wouldn't they NOT have a PS2...?

That's odd, almost every site/store I've seen or been to has the PS3 without backwards compatibility. Was this a sudden change of heart or people making wrong assumptions?

Nocturnal Speed, it has nothing to do with cost. It doesn't cost Sony a dime to implement software-based PS2 compatibility with the current 80GB PS3. They are only cutting it out because they don't want people buying the system just for Blu-Ray movies and PS2 games. It sucks for consumers, and even though I'm lucky enough to have a 20GB PS3 already, I do worry about what might happen if something on it breaks, and there are no PS2 compatible ones left to replace it with.

..... Compared to older days.. where game console main purpose is to have standard configuration/solo purpose so that developers can easily work on it to its hardware's fullest, same for gamers.. now Sonio* and MicoSofto* have an assembly line of consoles....how different from a DELLTO PCs? =.= *(you know who i m refering) I was once given a gamespot red card(Abuse) for giving a honest comment on some vital issue...must be some fanboy../Grr!

Every person out there that is whining about the new upcoming models not having BC, need to make up there mind about what they want. Cheaper price or BC?? You had your chance at launch and the whole 07 year to purchase a BC Ps3 Model, but now that the prices drop your all hoping on the bandwagon, but complaining about not having BC?? wow let Sony move on already and start focusing all there work on Ps3 video games and let the Ps2 die out already... or like they said... buy a Ps2 on ebay for $50.

that is better for those people the have low income earners

so I guess Sony wants us to get 2 console basically: our ps2 are all aging and will need replacement soon, and those that didn't get a 60Gb or 80Gb now.... Sony is sucking every penny out of my pocket

August 27 is the release date. Well at least that's what I heard on the GamespotAU podcast.

does any one know when this will take place

The 40gb didn't have BC either, still I'm pretty dissapointed. I want something that can replace my DRE-infected ps2.

sony has ended the ps 2 compatibility from 80gb system thats not fair

what? no backwards compatability? that sucks

"they will do anything to make money" So will just about every other corporation in the world. What do you expect?

I really could care less. My PS2 works fine, and my 80G MGS4 bundle is on its way. Im perfectly happy. You guys just freakin complane too much.

no, this is sony putting out a quality product for cheaper by cutting a nice feature. the backwards compatibility exists in other versions of the counsel which are still for sell. This is sony trying to cut back on some features to make their system more reasonably priced, because we are in an economic resession, a smart move by sony to offer up next gen awesomeness with 80 gb's of memory for 400 bones. i still have my 60gb fully bc system and am very happy with it, bc or not. i use the bc all the time though. I say good planning by sony to try and match the spending ability of a country, while still producing a quality product.

Way to go Sony...i guess

Sony wants everyone that does not own a PS2 yet to buy one as well as a PS3. (most people own a PS2 but need to replace it by now) PS2 still makes them $ and the PS3 has lost them 3.3 billion. Makes sense. But the problem is Sony opened their big cocky mouths years ago making fun of the spotty BC for the 360 and saying that their system will be fully BC and the only true next gen system. They forgot to mention that they were going to take that out as well as some other features and change the sku's 5 times and require all games to install because of the 2x Blu-ray crappy drive. But hey, online is free. Thank you Sony.

"....would not comment on whether these SKU changes would be reflected in the UK and in the rest of Europe now or at any point in the future." A 80GB ps3 at the same price is very beneficial for Sony .It will surely boost ps3 sales. So why don't they bring it here ? I don't believe it....

At least put in playstation classics in the new PS3 like the MGS essential collection or Final Fanstasy or etc and the price will be higher little bit more I would buy it and i would buy mgs4 seprately...I want a PS3 that can play MGS essential collection I think i wont be able to buy the MGS4 bundle in time sux for me

PS3 I too would love to buy one. but like most of you guys without b/c for all my ps2 games 65 of them ps3 is not worth it.

Pretty sad though that it would not have backward capability. I got a 60GB one, really pleased.

cool move sony

they will do anything to make money

sony probably has a plan where you can DL old PS2 games through psn. that will work on the BC less PS3 sku's. i dont see why they wouldn't it would be a pretty smart move. when they do it who knows. but they will do this with both PS1games and ps2 games. considering they have PS1 game for download on psn in japan.

OK, this is not good whether you agree with the extra 40GB or not. I understand they wanna reduce cost and offer more of what they can at a reasonable price, but realistically they need to keep the software based BC on the 80GB versions. If you're telling people to move on to PS3 games only and just purchase a PS2 for backwards compatibility I think that's a lil excessive. They should just leave the 80GB backwards compatibility standard with the 80gb version. Anyways, I already got a 40GB one without the BC so I guess this wont necessarily effect me.

I don't know why they wouldn't do BC

We knew this was coming even though they flat out denied it a week ago, when Xbox 360 cut prices. Sony knows what they are doing. This is the same plan they used last year and it was so successful why not do it again this year.

Sony is on the right path here. If they continue they could have their head out of their A$$ within the next 6-9 years.

i finally got my MGS4 80gb bundle today, and a 3 year warranty, so hopefully if it brakes 2, 3 years from now it wont be replaced with a BCless 80gb ps3, or some 200gb bc less ps3, well actually i wouldnt mind a 200gb+ PS3 3 years from now, cuz by then i prob wont play any of my PS2 games anymore, not to mention that by then there wont be any new ps2 games comming out

Bigger Hard Drive is cool. Sucks they took out BC though.

@Yuck_Too: There are two pieces of hardware that were ultimately removed. Old 80 had the GPU still, only the EE was removed. EE emulated in software. New 40 and 80 have the old GPU also removed. Therefore, no emulation in software is possible anymore. I wish you people would stop thinking that software emu is STILL POSSIBLE on the new 40 and 80 units. IT IS NOT. They would have to write new software to emulate the old GPU as well. Is that even possible, who knows.

I want to buy a PS3, but I won't for a few reasons. The biggest reason I want one is to play the great games it has, and also be able to play my old PS2 games. My PS2 is starting to fail. But wait, what's that? No BC? You got to be kidding me. My collection of 150+ PS2 games should not be denied the honor being played in a PS3.

If their customers already have a PS2, whats the point of it being able to play original Playstation games?

No BC? Are you serious, Sony? I think someone in the company needs to start putting 'smart' pills in their breakfast. This is likely to irritate a *lot* of gamers all around.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

It seems Sony is "Tooling around with PS3" Hardware revisions just for the hell of it. I'm sure that in another 6 months we will have another PS3 will an 100 gig Hard Drive and something else taken out. Sony should have just stuck with The original 60gig Playstation 3 offering. In the first place. Eventually Playstation 3 will make it's money back. Just make great games, Sony and you will be fine.

It's the games and not these actions that will make me get a PS3... sometime.

this sucks i was planing to buy a PS3 and this news really spoilt my mood for buying one. I was going to go to PS3 from 360 cause 360 has not have any games that i like..this sux

i don't get it; does this mean it doesn't have the BC chip or that thee firmware updates don't let it run the emulation required to run PS2 games, I got the 60Gb PS3 when it came out and it emulates the PS2 environment and that was released in the firmware updates...?

Sony, here's the deal. I'll buy a PS3 when you give us one with decent features at a decent price. I'm not paying 300GBP ($600) for a 40GB, BC-less, console that doesn't even come with the DualShock 3, which is what they're offering in the UK. Sony are arrogant idiots.

Too funny. The PS3 grave keeps getting deeper this E3 it seems. FFXIII on 360. No BC on further PS3 production models. All I need is a 360 version of MGS4 and I will never, ever buy a PS3.

People only bought the 4ogb because of the lack of 80gb systems, they've been impossible to find for a while. People settled for the non-BC 4ogb.

The only reason they removed backwards compatability is so that they can sell the ps2 still, That is still a cash cow now and especially after they announced another 130 titles by the end of this year for ps2. They realize that the ps2 is still selling a lot because not everyone can afford the ps3. Luckily my ps3 is backwards compatable but what about after it breaks. I dont want to have to buy a used one off of ebay. I want mine brand new and i dont want to have to buy another ps2 since I got rid of mine.

I was happy to see the price drop announcement yesterday. Now that I see they will be removing PS2 backward compatibility for this model as well, I'm annoyed with Sony's antics again. Well, hopefully they'll make a "budget-priced" model with PS2 compatibility eventually. Seriously. The fact that most consumers have PS2 consoles is NOT a good excuse for excluding backward compatibility (in my opinion). Without backward compatibility, you have to keep old consoles around if you want to play old games, and I find that the cords for those systems get tangled constantly.

i got my 60GBPS3 for 300 buxx w00t too bad all i do is play shin megami tensei: nocturne on it sometimes i get a hankerin' for some no one can stop mr. dominoe LORD COSMOS: "it takes me 5 times as long to finish a game than it takes you" that is all.

wow gamespot thats a BIG error on your part. anti sony pro xbox web site SAD

I'm glad to have bought the MGS4 bundle when it came out. I never owned a Sony console... NOT A ONE. Now, I'm spending more time getting caught up on the MGS essential collection than I am playing MGO or Warhawk. What Sony did is a slap in the face to those who missed out on its previous offerings, and Sony will have a lot to lose for it.

This is coming from a casual video gamer, a very small percentage of the population. IMO the 80gb non-bc PS3 is a slap in the face to me and other casual gamers who haven't bought the now current generation systems, who don't play online, buy maybe no more than 5 or 6 new games a year, and want to hang on to their ps1 and ps2 titles that still have tons of playability (Game Shows see profile). I have been patiently waiting for a significant price drop on every backwards compatable ps3 only to find them discontinued and hard to find used without being raped in the wallet. Other than the annual sports titles and the new Buzz there really seems to be nothing special to make me drop $400 on a ps3. And with no more backwards compatability I guess I'll be sticking with the PS2 and SD graphics until they stop producing NCAA Football for PS2. It's looking pretty likely that I will have to eventually own two systems and investing in a component selector for my living room HDTV.

Ok simple buy a PS2 instead of a PS3 XD

Hey everybody! Send Sony emails asking for BC. I did. It probably wont make a difference but its worth a try. Takes only a min. Or somebody make an online petition and advertise it well. I was going to get a ps3 this November but now I?m hesitating.