Hi everyone…as you read this, our counterparts at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe are wrapping up a press conference at the GC – Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, which is the European version of E3. Some new PlayStation hardware was announced, and I wanted to let you know the details of how these products will be making their way to North America.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune PS3 Bundle with 160GB PS3 System
The 160GB PS3 system announced at the GC will be available here as part of a new limited-edition bundle that includes the hardware, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune game, a PLAYSTATION Network voucher for PAIN, and a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller. We’re hearing from a lot of you that more PS3 storage space is important, particularly since the launch of our video delivery service, and this new model delivers more memory and a whole lot of content packed-in. The 160GB PS3 has all of the same functionality as the new 80GB PS3 that’s popping up on retailer shelves now, but obviously has twice the HDD space, so you can build levels to your heart’s content in LittleBigPlanet, download a ton of videos, and still have room for your entire music collection. The Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune 160GB PS3 bundle launches in November for $499.99 (MSRP).
New PSP Entertainment Packs with updated PSP (PSP-3000)
We also unveiled at Leipzig an updated PSP system (PSP-3000), which we’ll be offering here initially through the previously announced Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack and a new PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack. I’m personally excited about the 4GB Memory bundle because we’re including a – you guessed it – 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, which is the biggest Memory Stick we’ve ever bundled with a PSP. Similar to the new PS3 model, this PSP bundle is the result of the current consumer usage model – where more and more of you are finding that extra memory space is crucial. Check out the press release here for more details on what’s included in the bundles.
The new PSP retains the size and features of the current, slimmed-down PSP (PSP-2000), while incorporating some hardware updates:
- The LCD screen will have a wider color gamut and higher contrast ratio to deliver deeper, more vibrant colors, as well as anti-reflection technology so you can see the screen more clearly when playing outdoors. As you all know, the PSP’s screen is a key strength of the hardware, and this update adds an absolutely dazzling LCD screen to the handheld.
- A built-in microphone allows for Skype calls and multi-player gaming communication directly from the hardware – eliminating the need for attaching a separate headset.
Similar to our firmware updates, the new PSP is simply an opportunity to evolve the platform with the newest technology without adding to the cost of the system. The PSP Entertainment Packs will continue to be $199.99 (MSRP), and later this year we’ll release a standalone, updated PSP in a PSP Core Pack, which remains at $169.99 (MSRP).
PS3 Wireless Keypad
Lastly, we’ve announced a new Wireless Keypad for PS3 that will make text communications and Web browsing much easier. The Wireless Keypad snaps onto the top of a SIXAXIS or DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller and comes with some cool features, including a mode that turns the main key area into a touch pad (similar to a touch pad on a Laptop computer). Once in this mode, you can slide your finger on this area to move the cursor on the screen and tap to enter. There will be two short cut buttons on the Keypad that will enable users to jump directly to the XMB’s “Friends” icon and the “Message Box” during gameplay. The Wireless Keypad will launch in late November.
Last but not least, the Wireless Keypad is a Bluetooth device that can not only be used with the PS3 system but with any other Bluetooth enabled device that has Keyboard functionality. You will be able to use it with your smart phones and other portable devices that are equipped with Bluetooth. With the PS3 system, it can be paired and charged seamlessly just by connecting them with a USB cable.
That’s all for now on the hardware front. You’ll see much more on the games shown at GC in Leipzig in the coming days.
how about some media controls/shortcuts? At least play/pause, next track, previous track and a shortcut to the music section of the xmb. And add the miniplayer controls to the menu that pops up when you hold the ps button down longer. Maybe a port for microphone headsets?
I’m referring to the keyboard
Why have you abandoned backwards compatibility? My original 60GB PS3 plays my PS1 games better than my PS2 ever did. B.C. is very important to me – with over 100 games from the previous PlayStations – please consider making at least one version of the PS3 that retains that feature. I, for one, am willing to pay extra for it. I’m glad I got my PS3 when I did, but I’m concerned about the future when I need to replace it.
SWEET…
@krae_man: How on earth can you expect Sony to pay for your bandwidth? Theyd have to become your ISP. You can’t complain Sony doesn’t do it when no one else does. No MS doesn’t pay your ISP either
I would not buy a Playstation system without backwards compatibility. To not have it available period is disappointing.
I hope Sony is working on full software emulation (let us know please). This would also allow them to sell PS2 games on PSN, which is a foregone conclusion.
BTW, Leipzig is now officially a more exciting event than E3 was :P
to those complaining about the lack of games, you’re in the wrong post, it’s coming. This is just the hardware
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That keypad needs to be standalone. Edged off at the bottom and not attachable to the ps3 controller. That thing has to be a pain to use.
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I have both a psp/ps3 already but still the 3000/160GB are both AMAZING deals!!!! niceness!
“where more and more of you are finding that extra memory space is crucial.”
No! More games are crucial. Space is only crucial for some. And we can buy sticks all day long. Games are what we need.
I really hope SingStar Disney comes stateside. I’m REALLY excited about it. :D
To take a quote from young Revolver Ocelot in MGS3…”I’ve been waiting for this!!!”
No joke i am going to wait for PSP2. Why i say this is because after purchasing my iPhone 3G i fell in love with her. The simplicity to just go online to a dedicated store and download applications and games and they automatically install with no hassle is truly amazing. I remember me and other GAP members and others literally wrote countless blogs on what the PSP2 or even PSP1/2 should have and you know what most of it is in the iPhone 3G. Sony is the only other hardware designer and manufacturer i believe can go head to head with Apple hardware. But for some reason they are stuck with this PSP and just jam packing it with stuff that most gamers won’t really use.
I would love to know how may people actually use the online store.
Sick stuff I think it’s time for me to get my own psp with this new anouncement. And I already got a keyboard but that pad looks pretty rad too.
Can’t wait for the next few days.
Will there ever be a day when people will stop complaining about BC.
nice keyboard and new PSP. I’ve been thinking of getting a PSP for a while, and I’m really digging the new bundle with the 4GB memory stick. (that way I don’t have to go buy one myself….) The 160 GB PS3 is nice (ownage over the so-called “Elite” model of the “other console”), but you guys really should bring back the BC. I picked up a 60GB in January 2007 so it doesn’t bother me, but a lot of people are getting shafted out there…
WOW this is SUPER, cant wait but………
What happened with Life with Playstation…aslo any news one the Home Beta?
This kinda sucks for the people who just bought a 40GB version for $400! (Like Me) and could have of had 4 times that much memory for just 100 bucks more!
These are great news!!!
I’d been waiting to trade my old PSP for a slim, but now I’ll be purchasing the 3000 model!!
I love the keyboard idea, hope Sony improves their internet browsers so we can play flash games and usea internet just as we do on our pc’s.
This is off-topic but does anybody knows if I change my PS3 hard drive for a bigger one, could I redownload the games I’ve purchased like PixelJunk Monsters and Bionic Commando Rearmed?
Wow the uncharted pack seems awesome.
Nice hardware additions here, though I think I’ll stick with what I’ve got.
First of all, I’m disappointed about the lack of BC for all those incoming buyers that are going to want to replay earlier installments of Sony’s great series. Some people will be buying into this gen without a ps2, and will miss out on this, and even for those that already have one, it is a real pain in the neck to swap between consoles. Especially since the PS3 is supposed to be the hub of entertainment. Furthermore, only having 2 USB ports will be a real let down, especially for music games or when you have extra peripherals like the PlayStation Eye.
Even if you absolutely refuse to add BC later on, which would be shooting yourself in the foot seeing as it doesn’t even cost that much, you should at least keep the rest of the hardware up to par in the higher end model.
Will this one be compatible with old PS2 games that support keyboards? More specifically, FFXI.
Hmm that keyboard sounds interesting. Hopefully it’s 20 bucks or cheaper.
Niceeeeee ill be getting the keypad!
i should’ve just w8 4 this men!!!
its just $499 and d 80gb has d same price!!!
o well im gonna trade it 4 ebgames 4 $450 and some 2 buy it!
Nice keyboard. Might also have to buy another PSP when it gets released.
As far as the 160GB PS3, I really think that’s a good idea and is a great strategy against MS’s new 60GB 360 but I think you people at Sony are forgetting the one hardware feature that we want you to put back in..Yes BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!!!!!. The PS3 is the only product that I can think of that has REMOVED a feature and discontinued a previous model in favour of a newer model with LESS features. Those of us that bought the BC 60GB and 80GB models now run the risk of losing them should they become faulty etc and are forced to replace them with a model that has less features than the one we PAYED for. Whatever happened to Sony’s DNA of giving value to it’s consumers? What DNA? This one:
“Kaz Hirai – Sony Computer Entertainment, America:
It’s always been an important strategy of Sony Computer Entertainment that we provide value to the consumers; and one of the values that we’re providing is the backwards compatibility of the PlayStation 3, to play PlayStation 2 games that the gamers and consumers have bought over the years, as well as the original PlayStation titles that have been available in the market since 1995.
And I think that when we ask the consumers, or the gamers to make an investment in software, that it’s our responsibility to make sure that the future consoles that we bring to market, including a PlayStation 3, is able to actually play all these titles that the consumers have really spent a lot of money in, and invested a lot of money into really a master library.
And I think you’re doing the consumers and the gamers a huge disservice, when you come out with a new console only to say, it only plays PlayStation 3 games; and that’s really counter-intuitive to our strategy, but also, really to the Sony DNA who’re always trying to provide compelling consumer value in any of the products that we launch.
Omg 2 week ask good post ever made !! But i want too talk the responsable about the PSN cards?
I like all of the added features to the chat keypad. But I don’t know why in all heck it was made to snap on top of the controller. I was praying that when this thing came out that it would be on the bottom like the XBOX 360’s chatpad it just feels better since your thumbs are on the bottom of the controller not on the top. I love the 360 chatpad it is vary functional and easy to type with. I have had a similar keypad for many months and everytime I try to use it I have to stop and go to the top of the controller..Here is a link to the pad I have now it works but it sucks since it makes the controller top heavy I hope the PS3 keypad will be extra extra light.
http://www.myps3.com.au/AccessoryDetail.aspx?id=50
Man, this really annoys me. I paid $600+ for my 80gb PS3, $60 for Uncharted and $10 for PAIN. And I still haven’t gotten around to buying a dual shock controller. Sony, where’s the love for everyone who bought the earlier systems????
Yup, I want the keyboard….oh what about home.
I forgot to mention something about the 160GB PS3…I don’t know but for some reason the PS3 keeps creaping back to the 499.99 price point..lol Everytime the price seems to be lowering a bundle comes out and it goes back to 500 bucks.???
I am upgrading to 250GB in the morning when my new HDD arrives from Amazon…I have the original 60GB, 4 USB, FULL backwards compat system. I have already traded in the old sixaxis controllers for 4 DualShock3 and I have the PS Eye plus an 8GB MemoryPro in my PSP and PS3 and a 4GB SD card in the other slot since my PS3 has the multi memory card slots..I have my PS3 in a dust free room no smoking fiber cloth to dust off and keep it shiny and ports aired out every few days…I pray it never dies..! PS: I do love Sony so this is not a hate message I just don’t understand what is going on @ Sony’s office.
This is all great news
+10 points for Sony…
Me wants keyboard and psp 3000 and well..jealous of 160gb system…
Will buy big HDD :P
320GB!! Take that uncharted bundle…
is there a PSP keypad in the works?
Improved screen eh, wonder if it will have a faster refresh rate which would reduce ghosting since that would be a clincher for me to go buy one.
Still, since I’ve held off this long and I think I will get a Pandora (http://openpandora.org) and then get back into my PSP a bit sometime this spring.
Hope to hear news on the keyboard accessory soon, especially since you canned the idea of bringing the camera to NA.
P.S.
I wonder if we will ever see a PSP with a camera in it, unlikely for this generation but it would be a pretty sweet feature (especially if it could be rotated from front to back but didn’t stick out like the current one accessory).
P.P.S.
I kind of agree with KazeEternal, we really should be seeing another price drop of the PSP and not another redesign. Though as far as I’ve read the word is rather strong that this is because the new system is based on a hardware design from the Slim that hasn’t been able to be software moddified yet.
PSP 4 GB Memory Card…Still not enough Memory!
Are you kidding me..are you kidding me? The 4GB is a joke!! The new movie section of the PSN store Chews up PSP memory cards and spits them out like a squirrel who hasn’t eaten in months.
Why for the love of tiny zebra hearts everywhere, do you guys develop this great and awesome technology but keep consumers from using it because of limitations on memory. Even the 8GB memory card is not enough.
I’ve got tons of cash to throw your way, but I refuse to carry 30 memory cards that I have to keep switching. I guess you don’t want me really downloading anything fromm the PSN to my psp anyway, right?
I hope the keypad will be reasonable in price. I was thinking about getting the logitech bluetooth keyboard but couldn’t bring myself to pay the steep price for something I’d only really use with my ps3. The fact that this is bluetooth makes it a great improvement to that 3rd party keypad that requires a usb wireless receiver. However, I’m most impressed with the built-in touch pad. That’s neat! But is it really necessary when you can move the mouse with the analog stick that’s only an inch away?
It would have been a good idea to release this type of information at E3. Seriously, why wait a month? Leipzig is nice and all, but E3 desperately needs attention.
A $500 ps3 with no bc, chrome, etc. big time fail. and why not include LBP? did you guys forget you can upgrade your own hdd? I upgraded mine to 160gb in about 3 minutes. My ps3 is my fav system of all time, but come on guys you can do better than this.
Any word as to what the PS3 Keyboard will retail for?
@219
Hey, you can buy a 320GB or $99 online and that is 280GB more than your 40GB.
qwerty…jackpot!!
cant wait for the keypad… im going to definelty buy that… and im also buying the new psp.. cant wait…. but why november? why not now?
That’s an impressive looking keyboard!! I had been shopping for one for a while I’m gonna hold out till that one is released! Just when I was about to dish out for the GoW red psp, you introduce the 3000 very nice! I’ll wait out for that too!
For the record. All PS3 sku’s CAN play Playstation games. We’re talking about PS2 BC here not PS BC. My 40GB PS3 for instance can play PS games as well.
I miss the PS2 BC as well!!
Ow question, will the 160GB have the 45nm Cell?
Hmm the 160GB comes with the keypad?
http://www.gameshout.com/sony/unveils_wireless_keyboard_for_ps3/article2595.html
The background for the PSP-3000 looks different, has it been changed? And if it has, will it be a software feature exclusive to 3000? Because it looks pretty cool, but I have a 2000 (Brought it just a few months ago. I feel cheated.)
This is not on topic but had to put it somewhere. That Pet Eye game I didn’t know what to think of when I heard about the concept but as soon as I saw the trailer “wow”! Now we’re talking about Sony again and their brilliant original ideas! You really need to check out the trailer guys its awesome.
Just go to youtube and type in eyepet trailer, your eyeballs will pop out!
It was about freaking time an exclusive Eye game would be released. Promote it well, this is will be a system seller :-)