Kotaku
The Federal Communications Commission has let slip news of one more addition to the PlayStation 3 hardware family. At some unspecified date, we'll be welcoming little AK8CBEH1101 into the gaming world, kicking and screaming with a new antennae gain for both the Bluetooth and Wi-fi modules. Hopefully, that means less SIXAXIS wonkiness, the kind that leads to Drake walking off a cliff unintentionally. The rest of the new spec is under a confidentially agreement, due to expire on April 14, so we'll hold tight until then for this potentially underwhelming reveal.
AK8CBEH1101 Report [FCC via NeoGAF - thanks, Elaine!]
Comments
This is getting so ridiculous.
I think we need at least 2 more new models by the end of the year. Maybe 3.
I'm just waiting for one that doesn't look like a rejected design for a skyscraper.
Store update April 15th..The new sku(120/160gb)out April 14th..Coincidence,I think not.
So are we at about PS3.5 at this point?
I'm with liquid_kore on this. I remember when a system only saw all of two SKUs throughout its lifespan.
What are we on now? Something like 4-5 each for the PS3 and 360?
I think it's five and five...
20,40,60,80 and the new one for Sony.
Arcade,Core,Premium,Elite and (yes the Halo is a sku)
I don't think this is necessarily a new SKU so much as it's a replacement of parts. Like how MS put out the 360's with the "new" motherboards, heatsinks, and everything else. They didn't advertise it as such, but it was there.
Well then the Metal Gear Solid PS3 should count as a sku. Sony takes the lead!
can't they concentrate on backwards compatability, rather than more SKU's :(
Hopefully this will be the "be-all-end-all" of PS3 SKU's, this is getting more than a bit ridiculous
Should I wait for this or should I go for the MGS4 bundle? Hopefully by June 12 there might be more news about this SKU.
Will this new model come with even LESS backwards compatability? Like maybe the release titles for the PS3 will slowly stop working as the months go on?
maybe it's the metal gear solid SKU
@Albino:
Maybe this model will have full BC like the good ol' 60GB did. It'd make sense to make that the premium model while the 40GB is without it.
Albino: can't they concentrate on backwards compatability, rather than more SKU's :(
exSKU's me, did I hear someone say 'backward compatibility'?
/This post is just an excuse to throw a little more pun into your day.
I'll third the hope for backwards compatibility.
Same day the Dual Shock 3 is released. Hmmmmm.
@PathRifter:
Oh right, that makes sense
A quick platform suicide.
Comment with substance.
What is this shit, Sony? New SKUs with different HDD specs, fine, but now you are upgrading the goddamn Bluetooth & Wi-Fi hardware? Thanks. Thanks for selling me a system that needs two revisions to run without issues.
I'm having mine replaced once this one launches.
Calm down, from the specs it just looks like a minor revision. Enough to warrant a few changes, not enough to warrant a new SKU (kinda like when they took the link cable port out of the PS2)
@ enewtabie
would you really class the arcade as a new SKU because as far as i know its the same hardware but with bundled in arcade games?
@PathRifter: It'll have as much BC as the 360 did/does.
@PapaBear434: Finally, the only logical voice here. People didn't go "oh, not another 360 Sku" when they announced the Falcon Chipset. That may have been because they were too busy cheering the possible death of RROD, but I mean, still. We have no definitive evidence on anything. How can we pass judgment at this point?
@liquid_kore: How is this "getting ridiculous"?
We currently have one available SKU for the PS3.
Perhaps you dislike the fact that Sony has several SKU models registered, but as long as they don't have more than two out there, it's never "ridiculous".
If anything, it's nice to offer choice to the consumer.
It's amusing watching people jump on this. Minor revisions have always occured, but back then you didn't have the internet reporting it like it does today.
So you'd rather Sony keep knocking out their machines with older less effective technology,I suppose you dont even want the price cut that these new cheaper, smaller parts will likely bring. Deffinatly dont want better relaibilty or a cooler running machine either!
Jesus shut the fuck up and dont moan, buy one or dont Easy...
Geez people calm down LOL! It probably isn't a major overhaul, I have a launch 60 upgraded-to-120 gig and I am not worrying, it isn't like the 360's problems where the upgrade is necessary to prevent the console from performing a Hara-Kiri on itself. Hopefully though they start putting PS3's in all regions that are backwards compatible--I can see why they removed it (had to get the price down for people constantly crying on message boards about price), but man hehe---I am one of the most hardcore PS fans I know and when people in the GameStop I work at ask about PS3 I push them to either
A) Wait for the MGS PS3 in June
B) find a 60 or 80 gig somewhere, which we rarely have
I just don't get why getting a non backwards compatible one is such a deal, but apparently some people out there do.....
The sad thing is, you people act like new SKU's are a new thing. It's just that with blogs like this we're privy to it.
Look how many original Playstation revisions and SKU models were released: [en.wikipedia.org]
The fact is, the US only has one SKU on the market right now, and another coming in June. I highly doubt there's a world of confusion here....
@thebettertwin:
I think according to the sku setup it was changed.Let me go check it out though.
@1981suede:
EXACTLY. Grow up people, or get some intelligence
This is so frustrating. Every time you purchase a console there's a new version out 6 mo's later.
I buy a DS, then BAM there's DS lite. I buy a 360, then they come out with the HDMI model. I've recently picked up a PS3...this new model better not be a huge improvement or I'll be angry, and you won't like me when I'm angry.
@sascha23: "Choice" is having people choose from different colours, in the same time period. This is as you put it, there are at the most two models out there at a time, so "choice" probably isn't the best word. Updating the PS3 without so much as a glance back at the previous models strong point is a bit rash. I mean, every time a new SKU comes out, it single handedly breaks me for not getting the previous one, since it was obviously better (I'm not an online gamer, so the extra storage wouldn't be so much as a problem for me in the near future). I'll be happy when I finally go on the eBay's and CraigsList's for a previous SKU at a partially or fair price .
If the antenna will really keep my Bluetooth from biting the tit in the middle of my games, I'll take one of those please! I'm seriously hoping that there will be an add-on for us early adopters. And if not...well, I'm an early-adopter. I made my bed. I made it early, too!
@enewtabie: Actually for the 360 you have to also include the HDMI and non-HDMI models of both the Tardpack and the Premium/Pro.
Cue Sony haters 1..2...3....
Well, as a late purchaser I welcome these changes, just get it out of your system before Christmas Sony.
@argh: Actually w/the PS3 thus far, the best model was the original 60GB in NA. Each model after has been more and more gimped. So you did well if you bought an early model PS3.
The PS3 is a wireless capable device that has to register as a new model anytime the wireless components are changed or updated. Thus the FCC listing and new model number. The rest of the machine is probably exactly the same as the outgoing 80GB, so calm down.
And a word to those whining about yet another PS3 version, you should be glad! Instead of having updates to fix known hardware issues or new models that improve storage capacity, you could have a machine that has the same faults over and over or a machine that has not enough storage.
Oh, I forgot. Those consoles already exist.
Hopefully this one will keep backwards compat. Still a very over looked feature this generation in my opinion.
@Tiberian: I second that opinion.
@Spaceboy: MinnaGolu 5, Gundam Musou, Dynasty Warriors 5, Devil May Cry 4 =3
Seriously...this has got to be a record.
ADDITIONAL GENERIC TOO MANY SKU'S COMMENT
@Tiberian: Over? Looked? Feature? EVERYBODY talks about BC these days. No joke. How can that be overlooked?
It's only Sony that decided to kill off PS2 BC, not any of the users. BC, for reasons I don't know, is still as high in demand as new PS3 games. Crazy shit.
I mean, the only game I'd go back for would actually be Metal Gear Solid 1/2/3. Nothing else warrants it imho.
@Candlejack:
The main reason so many people bitch about PS2 BC is because it was taken away. If it was never there to begin with, we wouldn't see this outcry. Most people who own a PS3 rarely ever play PS2 games, since they pretty much look like crap on an HDTV and there's plenty of PS3 games to play.
Most people who want PS2 BC (including myself) already own a PS2. It's not like Sony has completely gotten rid of it anyway. If you want a premium feature, pay the premium price. The 80GB model plays most major PS2 titles.
@TRT-X:
Again, I strongly encourage everyone to check out how many Playstation One revisions there has been: [en.wikipedia.org]
Get back to me if you still consider the amount of new PS3 models a "record".
As long as it's backwards compatible, then I think Sony will have some happy customers.
@LittleBigPlaneteer: I believe you are right. I did hear from a couple of people that they wanted PS2 BC because they didn't have enough space for their PS2 next to their PS3.
To me, however, it's not as important as, say, an improved Bluetooth antenna. :/
@LittleBigPlaneteer: I'm counting seven US consumer models. While I agree ranting about the number of SKUs is rather silly it appears that there are six PS3 US consumer SKUs so while this isn't a record if they make two more US consumer revisions in the console's lifetime technically it would be a record.
meh I'm still holding out on getting a ps3, won't get one till price is within my budget.
expect a $300 (or $350) 100GB PS3 with full BC.
Come to think of it, most consoles have more than one model. But I don't think any had this many. Nintendo has a good track record. 1 SKU per generation since the SNES.