guess were gonna have to buy old gen games on the psn or buy a cheaper than ever ps2

I hope that 120GB version isn't just a rumor, because I'm sure it's going to cost them PS3 sales to only have a non-BC version of the PS3 for sale.

Bye bye BC, we hardly knew 'ya.

I'm just hoping there isn't a firmware update that renders the old ps3 bc useless to 'spur ps3 software sales'

It was a limited edition, so this isn't surprising.

Becuz its hard to plug in a ps2 nowadays.

I just bought a 60gb ps3 on ebay, HA!

What happened to you Sony, you used to be cool.

nooo not another SKU

@Komrade_Kayce: leave SONY ALONE. oh shit did i just chris crocker that?

TOO MANY SKUS AMIRITE?!
jokes aside, theyre getting to a unified format, which theyve desperately needed, and im happy for 'em but again, dropping BC isnt something ive forgotten. ditch the wi-fi, sony, its not gonna be used as much and you couldve just charged for a dongle.

@Wildarmsjecht: It's an extra $120 for people who don't have one already.

*sigh* Whatever, I suppose it's their stupid move to make. Seems like a PR nightmare to me, but I have my BC PS3, so I'm dandy.

I was considering buying a PS3 in the future, for the couple of exclusives and the BC, since my PS2 died. Now it's going to be a better investment to just buy a PS2.

@Maldron: so do i, and i luvs it alot.

yea i got a 60 gig off ebay so im cool. i just need to find a non-bundled wii now, and i'll have my SKUzz of choice.

@TheIrishNinja (PSN), IrishNinja2099 (XBL): I'd rather Wifi than backwards compatability, but really, i'd prefer both.. thus I got a 60GB in the first place

in the end though, I think part of the reason is that they want the PS2 to compete with the Wii

The PS3 is going to have more remakes than the GBA at this rate.

@Actaeus:

Or wait for another SKU to drop which will most likely happen.

@Actaeus: Same. My PS2 died a while ago, seems better just to buy a used PS2.

I think that dropping backwards compatibility sucks, most of the people who who probably haven't bought a PS3 yet probably won't miss it. I haven't bought a PS3 and would like BC but I'm part of a small minority though. It was probably a good business move they should have made from the beginning and just focused on pure software BC. I don't know about a 120 HD but it would be nice to have an answer to the elite 120 but at the same time, a lot of things are attractive about having a single low-cost SKU in retail.

@TheIrishNinja (PSN), IrishNinja2099 (XBL): I don't think this is going to happen, at least probably not at the price everyone would like. The 20 GB model was the most expensive one for them. In fact I suspect that they killed it because they feared it would get too popular and bleed them to death.

Anyways, this is just Best Buy though. An employee told me this last week while I was buying my TV and I wouldn't believe her. I really hope for Sony's sake that that 120 GB is not just rumor. It would make sense that they replace the 80 GB bundle by a 120 GB standalone model at the same pricepoint, just so they don't do the price drop. If not, I guess they read too far into the success of the PS3 after the introduction of the 40 GB.

Well, to be honest, what this really seems to be is that they're phasing out the bundle packs of the 80GB, the ones with the Motorstorm pack-in. Sony never said that the Motorstorm pack-in would be forever, so if anything they're just ditching the bundle and putting out a game-less model now that the holidays are over.

It'd be stupid for them to do anything else, as the 80GB CONSTANTLY oversells the 40GB model. Nobody wants the 40 model, and this won't help them change their minds.

I like this.

ZOMG! Sony's discontinuing a "Limited Edition" bundle!

How the hell else do you expect them to pack in Dual Shock 3 controllers? They have to kill supply of their current SKUs.

.........

I really REALLY turned off at the prospect of owning a ps3 even more.

The Best Buy employee also told me that it seems it's a move to drive the attach rate of the PS3. Indeed, in this drought, I might consider going back to some PS2 titles that I missed last gen in my Xbox world. What that means is even if there will be a 120 GB, don't expect it anytime soon. If you want a 80 GB go snatch it before the deadline. Also, this gives more flesh to the white 40 GB rumor and the February 1st release date for the US DS3.

Such a lot of SKUs for a system. I only know one person with a PS3. Everyone I know has a Wii or 360, or both. I remember when, despite the high price, everyone I knew owned a PS2. Meanwhile I'm patiently awaiting the PlayStation 4.

Its high time Sony has one console and thats it. Japan has the one console and its 40 gig and its time to have one console here. If anyone really likes bc that dam much then get a ps2 period it solves the problem

I smell a 120GB model on its way...

I'm pretty sure I called this a while back ago.

Once the 40GB PS3 was released, it was only a matter of time before the 80GB PS3 would be retired. I'm pretty sure I suggested Q1 would be when we hear about the new PS3 model.

Now if I ever get a PS3, all I need to do is buy a slim PS2 to replace my large one and I'm all set.

Another reason not to buy the PS3. Although I don't like the PS3, I still have a lot of games for the PS2.

Guys, soon as I get an email concerning the ps3 80 gbs I'm sure someone else from gs will have already leaked the emails to kotaku.

I'm pretty sure they're just doing away with the bundles and not taking it away entirely

@adinnieken:

You predicted the discontinuation of a limited edition product?

I hope they don't make a 120GB, since I just got a damn 80GB. I hate crap like that, sony just punks us ps3 owners any chance they get (white ps3, dual shock3). No respect...

@Pai Pai Master: wow i completely forgot about that. this DOES give them an opportunity to add in the DS3.

This kind of sucks. I'm yet to buy a PS3 (waiting for next Ico), but there are some games for PS2 that I didn't get to play because I sold it when the Xbox came out. Boo, Sony.

I dont get it.

If its all about hard drive size at this point (generally), why not just release all PS3's with no hard drive and let people buy their own size?

Oh yeah, cause that would sound too familiar like some other console manufacturers decision, and we wouldn't want to be accused of attempting to steal ideas, would we. *coughcough*the brand new innovative motion sensing coming to you from sony*coughcough*

Seriously. This is one time Im going to tell Sony to copycat. The 360 is simple choices. The only thing they've done to their models/skus is add things in (core became arcade for example). This constant numbers game and switcharoo that sony is playing...

doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the consumer. Even if Sony is trying to fix things with good prices and games, this constant reboxing and renaming is driving people away.

A 120GB model would be ok. Maybe they used up their stock of 80GB hard drives and 120GB hard drives are actually cheaper for them than 80GB hard drives. Also, with the things like portable copy coming and such, a bigger hard drive wouldn't be a bad idea. Now, if they could only work it out so there is backwards compatibility in the 40GB model...

@Pai Pai Master: They don't need to kill the 80 GB altogether to introduce the DS3. They could just change the bundle, or add it to the choices. The release of the DS3 is imminent but (unfortunately for late adopters) I don't think we'll see a BC PS3 SKU soon. The games are out but the sales are lakluster for AAA titles (R&C, Uncharted, UT3, Warhawk, Heavenly, Motorstorm, etc). This is a move to help sell PS3 games.

Dude this is so very wrong if they discontinue BC I was thinking this would happen which is why i got the 60G. But then again if they discontinue the 80G and make a 120G with BC at the same price as the 80G they might discontinue the 40G too. WAIT if they do make a 120G will it come with SixAxis or DS3?

i bought a 60gb in the summer, and i'm glad i did. i play a ton of fighting games on it, mostly 2d, which means ps2 releases of course. i picked up a fighting stick 3, and i'm waiting for my hrap3 to come in the mail. i was worried about my purchase back in july or whenever, but it looks like i made the right choice.

Man, I am so glad that I bought that 20gb PS3 with full BC when it was clearanced online at EBGames for $379. I've actually played more PS2 games on it than PS3 ... and I can always upgrade the drive.

Man, that really stinks ... I like having BC on my systems. I bought a bunch of old Xbox games as they were added to the BC list.

Check out Best Buy's website - only the 40 gb version is available for sale.

@JUBEI21: well that happens all the time. you can't get to concerned with always having the latest.

@Komrade_Kayce: Some of the games require the hard drive. They don't want to have any PS3 not be able to play any PS3 games. It's one thing for your PS3 to not play PS2 games, but they don't want to have it not play PS3 games as well.

@Komrade_Kayce: Because, it makes things more difficult for developers. And PS3 is not that dev friendly already is it? By the way to all those getting upset, be real. You were never going to buy a PS3 in the first place. It's more affordable now, it has more features than any console out right now and yes, it has games. If the reason you will back off is BC (and there ARE models with BC out still) then it was never really a choice for you in the first place.

@slomo788:

So they can just beam DS3 controllers into already shipped and already shipping MotorStorm 80GB SKUs? They have to stop production, stop shipping, clear out their inventory, and clear out the store shelves. It doesn't happen overnight. We're hearing about this now from BestBuy because once stocks are low, Sony will only then announce their next DS3-packed SKU, so people won't just wait for that.

They could just be taking Motorstorm out of the box. Maybe they'll put a new game in with it?

I have a 40GB, and no backwards compatibility.

Screw my life. :/

@Archaotic: that's not true. I just bought a 40GB model for two reasons:

1) it was cheaper and i don't play PS2 games.
2) I wanted it mainly for a Blu-Ray player, and games second.

that and i don't want Motorstorm.