Sign on Options
Theme: [Light Selected] To Dark»

PS3 Slim rumors rebuffed as price cut rumors swirl

Source: See below.What we heard: Amid the flurry of earnings reports, NPD figures, and preemptive game announcements last week, two rumors about the PlayStation 3 emerged--one credible, the other less so. The latter came in the form of a series of photos on a Chinese hardware blog of what looks...

Source: See below.

What we heard: Amid the flurry of earnings reports, NPD figures, and preemptive game announcements last week, two rumors about the PlayStation 3 emerged--one credible, the other less so. The latter came in the form of a series of photos on a Chinese hardware blog of what looks like a new slimline 120GB PS3.

Though they have since been removed, the shots (pictured) caused quite a stir by showing a drastically slimmer console with an even more minimalist control scheme and matte-black finish. It also featured some convincing-looking internal circuitry and packaging, replete with all the appropriate Sony logos and a new PS3 logo font.

As is their policy, Sony Computer Entertainment America reps declined to comment on the matter. However, their traditionally chattier cousins at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe had no problem telling CVG, "We currently don't have any plans for a redesigned PS3."

If true, the SCEE statement means the device shown by the Chinese blog is the latest in a long line of Chinese game-console knockoffs, such as the now-infamous Vii.

The PS3 scuttlebutt gumbo was also stirred up last week up by CNBC, which was recently ridiculed for perceived deficiencies in its reporting of the global financial crisis. Here, though, the financial news outlet's correspondent and source are both rock-solid. Chris Morris, the well-regarded correspondent behind CNNMoney's now-defunct Game Over column, quotes none other than Sony corporate executive officer Nobuyuki Oneda.

Oneda was speaking to reporters following Sony's earnings report, in which the electronics company posted its first annual loss since 1995. When asked about what method the company would employ to boost yearly PS3 sales 30 percent, the executive said, "Well, I think you have to guess what will be our pricing strategy."

The official story: See above.

Bogus or not bogus?: A 99.99 percent chance of not bogus that a PS3 price cut is coming sometime before March 31, 2010--the end of Sony's fiscal year. As for the slimline PS3, Sony said reduced manufacturing and shipping costs were a major factor for introducing the slimline PlayStation 2 in November 2004.

Were the company to enjoy similar savings with its current console, a cheaper PS3 would be a more palatable proposition for the cash-strapped company. Hopefully Sony's E3 2009 press conference will definitively confirm or dismiss the conjecture on the morning of June 2.

Post comment as twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest
dUbC24 5 pts

that in the picture is just the top section, there is going to be a bottom piece that is roughly the same size and that is going to make the ps3 slim

Reiji-Arisu 5 pts

Doesn't look half bad. Might get it.

Mazinmichael 5 pts

If they made a ps2 slim and a psp slim why would they not make ps3 slim?

bacardi0987 5 pts

The PS3 Slim is gonna look just like the picture above just like the PS3 controllers look just like a boomerang..... Think about it.

bacardi0987 5 pts

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

SuperGamer911 5 pts

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

thesaad 5 pts

kenjlao...you're right, lol, but I guess that shows how angry he might be...I hate buying things early, the newer, cooler version comes out at a cheaper price the next year...If i bought the PS3 for 600 and now it was slimmer, half the size with twice the memory, i'd throw a fit.

kenjlao 5 pts

moe725, is that even English? I recognize the words but it doesn't make any sense.

moe725 5 pts

this is really annoying like why would activison do this every one that owns a ps3 like ps3 has been hated for a littile bit. what will be the different about the new ps3 this is so frustrating will it be better so like even thought this is a rumor.

F-unit2008 5 pts

PS3 slim is the way to go cant wait but this is a japanese version for PS3 the ps3 for US is gonna look way different. 2010 summer release or 2011 summer release. to EARRRLY IN 09.

Dgalmun 5 pts

I find that disappointing, the slim looks like a file document almost empty. They should put some more stuff in the PS3 it's too dang small.

JEANLUCKUGAR 5 pts

doubt it is real, why would they use a slightly altered PS2/PSP font and not stick with the PS3 font?

bhurst74 5 pts

I seriously doubt that the PS3 slim is going to look that rediculous. If, in fact, Sony were planning on releasing a slim version like the PS2, they surely wouldn't release photos way before the production run or release time. Anyone who actually believes this to be an actual PS3 slim needs their heads examined. Come on people. Use common sense.

underDOG306 5 pts

r all of u serious? there's no way dat can b da final model. its obviously a prototype. da finish isent even glossy. i hope da ps3 slim is cheap cause i need a new ps3 since mine got da YLOD TWICE!!!! i fixed it once nd it lasted about 2 weeks lol. nd im not sendin it 2 sony 2 fix it 4 $150 nd just a 3 month warranty. NO F**kin way!!!!

Big_Evil666 5 pts

ugly! i'll stick with my current PS3, 160gb edition!

Ayato_Kamina_1 5 pts

Why not get some weight sensors in it and rip off the wii balance board at the same time! ;)

JohnSamy 5 pts

The image shown on the would be package shows a panel with touch buttons for power and disc eject, similar to the PS3 buttons. This panel is not found in any of the 2 other images that contain the actual model. In fact both display models don't have a power and eject button.

Spat262 5 pts

if they change the look of it a little it could look cool and if its cheap thats great cause i want my girlfriend to get a ps3 cause it would be ill playing videogames wit your girlfriend... but im fine wit my original 60GB i havent had one prob yet and it still looks great

jin-ro 5 pts

ys no nothing, i think it looks brilliant!!!!!

93jam 5 pts

That thing looks too cheap to be a new model of PS3.

Nihonomaru 5 pts

Any of you design dislikers have your own ideas to bring forward :? Jeez..

carlopret 5 pts

Hope these pics are not the final design. It really looks nasty

Shadows-Flame 5 pts

LOL I sorta see a resemblance of this to a psp battery (design wise look at the photo with the green background)

kong_sevixnine 5 pts

Dang Nintendo for not cutting back. Microsoft and Sony have done it a lot. Any way terrible design.

ebgamesnake112 5 pts

I just want to know now, so I can save up!

dentui 5 pts

Great news for PS3, Hope the 120 GIG for the 360 goes down in price as well.

FIGHTCLUBB 5 pts

It doesn't matter about the font. Have you seen the PSone font when they came out with the mini console? I hope it drops, as my 360 broke and am ready to stick it to Microsoft for not offering e74 under warranty when mine broke. I only had it for a year, just over the warranty!

art_milonakis 5 pts

The photographs looks fake, but we need a ps3 slim, I mean, the ps3 is tot big and too expensive, they need a cut on the price if they want to keep their part on the market!

athenian29 5 pts

I also say again, this is fake - look at the font for the big "PS3" on the front - it's completely wrong.

athenian29 5 pts

I say again, this thing is fugly.

Juniorl27 5 pts

Looks like Sony's designers are out of good ideas.

gstealer 5 pts

F*cking awful looking... Hope they do better if they really wanna launch this product. Otherwise it'll will be a waste of their time.

Amster_G 5 pts

If those pictures represent what the Slim will actually look like on release, I am definitely going to stick with my good ol', shiny babe.

BioAssassin 5 pts

It looks like crap, I'd rather stick to the regular PS3. The slim PS2 looked really good and it was a nice upgrade, the slim PS3 looks like a friggin mat.

fjjb 5 pts

is this a wii balance board?

moe725 5 pts

so what are they going to make a new ps3 and would it be better some one please answer

madmurdock911 5 pts

seriously, with the YLOD messing up things now... how would they cool it..?

HalfBak3dM0nkey 5 pts

I think someone could bend it over their knee, if you know what i mean.

slainta 7 pts

It looks like an (ugly) pizza box. Not a chance.

NAWAF005 5 pts

the REAL and normal virgin look better

deepen03 5 pts

i think its real. the second two pictures above look legit to me. Just watch, this will be release in the near future, probably before 2010. mark my words.

SkinnZero 5 pts

the original looks way better! assuming this one to be real, what I really doubt

W3En 5 pts

So they plan to take the most powerful system on the market (PC's excluded of course since they dominate any home system) and make it about like 1/5 of the size of the origional....If Microsoft supposedly has problems because the Xbox 360's chassi is too small how is Sony planning on doing that?

Conversation powered by Livefyre

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

  • Tomb Raider delayed to 2013

    Tomb Raider delayed to 2013 Thumbnail

    Lara Croft origin story pushed back to allow Crystal Dynamics to "fully deliver the very highest quality game"; new screenshot teasing upcoming E3 content. Full Story

    • Posted May 14, 2012 3:47 pm AEST
  • Blizzard undecided on Diablo III for consoles

    Blizzard undecided on Diablo III for consoles Thumbnail

    Blizzard project director says developer not working on dungeon crawler for consoles; PC game has been in "polish mode" for two years. Full Story

    • Posted May 15, 2012 5:36 am AEST
  • The Witcher dev hiring for two new RPGs

    The Witcher dev hiring for two new RPGs Thumbnail

    Polish studio CD Projekt Red seeking staffers for a brand-new intellectual property that may include guns, and a separate project in "mature dark-fantasy world." Full Story

    • Posted May 15, 2012 1:53 am AEST
  • Resident Evil 6 to sell 7 million

    Resident Evil 6 to sell 7 million Thumbnail

    Capcom projecting next survival horror game to become the best seller in company history, topping the Super Nintendo version of Street Fighter II; DMC to sell 2 million. Full Story

    • Posted May 12, 2012 1:55 am AEST
  • Sony shares tank to 31-year low

    Sony shares tank to 31-year low Thumbnail

    Following record annual loss, company's shares tumbled on Tokyo Stock Exchange; firm facing "a lot of difficulties" in time ahead, says analyst. Full Story

    • Posted May 12, 2012 1:05 am AEST

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

PlayStation Home

PlayStation Home Boxshot
Not Following

Follow for the latest news, videos, & tips from experts & insiders

GameSpot Fuse

    Recent News