Kutaragi: PS3 won't be a router

When Sony introduced the PlayStation 3 at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the company touted the unit as being a multimedia device that was designed to be at the heart of household entertainment centers. The PS3 was to be an all-in-one unit, capable of entertaining gamers, appeasing audiophiles, and replacing outdated equipment with its multiple functions.

One piece of equipment that was destined to be binned by the PS3's versatility was the home Internet router. Three Ethernet ports on the PS3 were originally designed to help the PS3 function as a broadband router, letting other devices hook up to the PS3 as though it were a hub.

However, according to multiple reports across the Internet, it's the router functionality of the PS3 that's in the trash. With speculation that the PS3 could be one of the most expensive home consoles ever, in addition to stiff competition from the cheaper Xbox 360 from Microsoft, Ken Kutaragi reportedly told the publication Nikkei Electronics that all router capabilities for the PS3 have been nixed to make the unit more cost-friendly.

It's unclear at the time whether the actual architecture of the console will change at all. Conceivably, the number of Ethernet ports could be reduced now that the console won't be used as a router. But in the past, Sony has implied that there may be plans for the spare Ethernet ports.