E3 2008: Sony Australia confirm 80GB PS3 SKU and Platinum titles for Oz

  • By James Kozanecki, GameSpot AU
  • Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:11 pm AEST

Local details for some of the big announcements from this morning's press conference.

Earlier this morning it was announced at the E3 Business & Media Summit in Los Angeles that Sony would be phasing out the current lower-end 40GB PlayStation 3 SKU and replacing it with an 80GB SKU in the US.

A representative for Sony Computer Entertainment Australia confirmed to GameSpot AU that the new SKU is planned for Australia, but "We're awaiting on timing and pricing." While no date was given for the announcement, we were told to expect it soon. The spokesperson also informed us that Sony will be launching a PlayStation 3 Platinum range for best-selling titles. The Platinum catalogue is equivalent to the Greatest Hits lineup in the US. No details were given on when the games would be rereleased under the Platinum banner, or at the cheaper price, but Sony expects to outline its plans for it alongside the 80GB PS3 SKU announcement.

The other offshoot from Sony's press conference concerned the PlayStation Video Store coming down under. Although Sony couldn't commit to a date, the spokesperson did confirm that the store will eventually make it to Australia, but "probably not this year, due to legal wrangling."

Later this month, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia will be hosting its next PlayStation Australia Update & Software Event (PAUSE) event, so it's possible that they will announce further details there. Stay tuned!

[UPDATE]: A SCE UK representative declined to comment on the bundle's possible British release, as well as if the Platinum catalogue and PlayStation Video Store would be making it to the Isles.

34 Comments

  • TehFuneral

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:37 pm PT

    Good news for Aussies

  • Macgyver40

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    that stinks that australians have to play catch up

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    @Grambyte.

  • grambyte

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 6:08 am PT

    I sometimes feel sorry for the Aussies, getting the latest release dates being set back like that never is fun. At least they get a little break now.

  • langrisser2005

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:42 pm PT

    I guess thats a half yey for us Aussies.

  • Silicon_Noob

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    Lol remember when Sony did't want to know the PAL territories?.....Now we're their bread and butter.

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    But I live in Europe >___>

  • al-128

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:58 pm PT

    Yay for SCE's treatment of Europe, keep up the good job guys, let's roll out it out in the US priority so they can have all the fun...

    ...oh wait. They had better get their priorities straight, I know there are plenty of legal issues to deal with, some of which they could have been dealing with instead of spouting this BS.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:24 am PT

    I need backwards compatibility.

  • ctg867

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:15 am PT

    For those wondering, they stopped production on the Sixaxis back in late March, early April, so chances are the new 80GB Core model will have a Dualshock 3 in the packaging. Which means that other then doubling the hard drive space, you'll also get a Dualshock in this new $400 console. Though I'm sure it'll be an arm and a leg in AU. Sorry guys

  • Cube_of_MooN

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:06 am PT

    Oh, well I'm not from Australia. I guess this update is meaningless for me!

  • Eagles5

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 9:57 am PT

    good news for you Australians, too bad you guys get raped on price though...

  • jaredrichards3

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:40 am PT

    how about confirming a better psn to match xbl? and bringing out some better (and more) games. get your act together sony

  • monkeyd_93

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:54 am PT

    i asked some guy at sony about this like 2 months ago if we were getting another model, and he said nope, guess he didnt know very much, but lets pray the price tag isnt ridiculous

  • thisisasignin

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:51 am PT

    @Sammojo:
    That is how its done here in the Philippines as well.

  • halomonkey1_3_5

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:40 am PT

    So what if you already have a 40gig and they bring out the 80gig in a few months time.

    Just upgrade your harddrive and dont really care if ps3 plays ps2 games or not cause still have a fatboy ps2 still going strong.

    Least the hardware regardless of what version ps3 you may have purchased at least it's already proving to be a reliable rock solid machine.

    Took 4 failures of the other console to come to my senses.


    yeah but what about people who buy a PS3 and didn't have a PS2?

    their actually paying $520 just to play PS/PS2/PS3 games and that seems a little unfair

  • summer2004

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:29 am PT

    So what if you already have a 40gig and they bring out the 80gig in a few months time.

    Just upgrade your harddrive and dont really care if ps3 plays ps2 games or not cause still have a fatboy ps2 still going strong.

    Least the hardware regardless of what version ps3 you may have purchased at least it's already proving to be a reliable rock solid machine.

    Took 4 failures of the other console to come to my senses.

  • Sammojo

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:18 am PT

    You can't take the US price and convert the currency. The way to figure out the price in Aus is to take the US price, then double it and change the $US to $AU. Prices here are, and will continue to be, outrageous.

  • DarkDamo

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:55 am PT

    420AUD, you have got to be kidding me? When has anyone been reasonable on the price of Software, Hardware or games in this country?
    Although if its true it would rock

  • Princecake

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:46 am PT

    399USD ~= 420AUD? and they're both shipped from China? I wonder why we have to pay nearly double that price?

  • sazwolf

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 2:38 am PT

    Why take away the 80gig then bring it back? I just bought a 40gig and love it but I will be pissed if this one plays ps2 games.

  • mysteriousminds

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:23 am PT

    I'm probably not alone in thinking i wouldn't really care how much the consoles cost if the actual games were a proper price. like $59 in-store.

    Until then i say to hell with them. I'm sick of everything we buy here costing at least twice as much as in northern America when the currency is practically the same. 97 cents to their dollar as of yesterday, yet we are lucky to find a good new game still on the shelf for $99

  • Foolz3h

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:15 am PT

    Yay, the $1,000 PS3 will be back!

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:06 am PT

    good news for them i guess

  • sammysalsa

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:58 am PT

    just looked at the myer catolgue, the 360 arcade is going for $300!!!
    thats cheapers than a wii, and i remember seeing brand new ps2's still around the $200 region
    well it would be awesome if there was an AU video store though

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:53 am PT

    The PS3 badly needs a price drop here since the 360 Pro is much cheaper now. Taking account our currency is almost the same as the US then the PS3 should drop to $550.

  • eddy96_1

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:55 pm PT

    I doubt theyll make the the price reasonable. im dissapointed about not having backwards compatibility and the extra ports on the 80GB

  • ratcliffe25

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:47 pm PT

    What a surprise Australia sux again. Wait forever to get product and get ripped off for them. Why anyone would buy games and products in Australia to support this crap is beyond me. How can anyone justify the difference in price from US. They even strip down the versions of games we get, eg. NBA 2K8 has crappier manual and no sports ticker function. The best thing about PS3 is games region free so I can continue to buy US and not be forced to support the rip off merchants here.

  • me1000001

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:39 pm PT

    jasopan The new 80GB's are just the 40GB with a bigger hard drive so no.

  • istylee

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:37 pm PT

    its gonna cost us around $50 bucks! i would love to pay only 30$ for a ps3 game..

  • jasopan

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:29 pm PT

    So would you be able to play PS2 games? As much as 60GB version, old 80GB version?

  • jumpnjackflash0

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 11:27 pm PT

    Poor australians, Im sure there still gonna pay an arm and a leg compared to most other countries. Only $30 in US for the new hits titles, and even though there isn't a big difference in currency they'll probably charge $15 dollars more down under.

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