Yes, make it even more expensive. That will make people want your console

It's a Photoshop. I can tell because I study pixels my entire life and I can tell these things.

*beating half the comments to the punch* ;)

lol "The 80gb PS3 will retail for $699 US dollars."

:)

My prediction: 80GB model for the same $599. They took out the PS2 hardware to cut costs so they put a slightly larger HD in there instead.

I hope this is a photoshop because i bought a 60G about a month ago, and i will be thoroughly pissed if a better model comes out so soon. Especially if the 60Gig drops price and the 80 takes the $600 position.

Well, that would be an easy Photochop job, seeing as the background is all black. However, I see absolutely no evidence of tampering.

I guess this would be as good a time as any to start up a debate on the necessity of this model. I say it's completely unnecessary, since you can upgrade the HDD on your own anyway.

You gotta do what? I gotta believe!

Why would they bother to put in an extra 20gb? That's hardly worth a whole new model, I call shenanigans.

@DaveKap: It's definitely been through Photoshop. I resized it, used a Sharpen filter AND used the Stamp tool. Basically, you're right.

i like how the one above the one pictured has a smushed in corner. 'sure are taking care of the merchandise...

@DaveKap: I'm not disagreeing with you, but is there something specific thats giving it away to you? I'm generally pretty good a spotting a PS job, and I'm not really seeing anything.

@McWhertor:
@BlindEagle:

I think he was joking. You know, preemptively picking on the people that would say something like that.

why not make a 61 gig version?

i seriously doubt they'd release another model with under 100 gigs. They'd make it more than the 360 elite for sure.

Sony/Microsoft: "No, I'm bigger!"

Lol that's what they did with the wasted 20 gb models.

Very well could be a fake, but if not oh well.

Honestly I bought the 60 gig about 3 months ago. If this is gonna release I would say it's probably still a couple months off.

I would think this would take the 599 price over and the old version would drop to 449-549 maybe (more than likely 499).

Sure I already have one but I wouldn't feel jipped by this as it's only 20 GB difference, and that 20 GB isn't gonna make or break it to me. With HDDs being relatively cheap for the PS3 when I find I start having space issues I'd rather drop a 100-200 gig in.

The larger harddrive was hardly even my reason for my purchase of high end model (for the affore mentioned reason) but rather for the built in Wi-Fi. The card readers (which are actually pretty useful, and larger drive) were just kinda cake.

This would literally take less than 10 min. to Photoshop. Who the hell believe this garbage? I could do the exact same thing with the Wii, or Xbox 360.

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7808/ps31milxv8.jpg
OMG THIS JUST IN!! A one MILLION GB PS3! Your MOVE, Xbox!

Yep, not alienating the hardcore PS3 owners who waited 3 hours in the snow
AT ALL.

I want Jack Thompson!

NO! I'm the biggest!!!

I'd buy the $600 version and just replace the 60gb HDD with a 500gb one. If it does retail for $700, that means it's $100 for an extra 20gb. Not worth it. You'd be better off buying some other HDD and getting more bang for your buck.

Most likely fake, but time will tell, I suppose.

The 80 GB/80 GO text is too damn obvious. Like its far more red and vibrant than it should be.

Just my unnecessary 2 pennies.

Here's a theory:

Their HD supplier was able to supply larger HDs at the same cost...or it's even possible even that it's a cost savings.

1.) If any current 60GB owners complain about Sony forcing you to buy a new model, I officially give you my foot to place squarely up your ass.

2.) I think the most awesomely awesome thing possible would be if this resulted in Sony releasing a series of incrementally different PS3s to continually justify the $600 price until they start making money on the hardware. I personally can't wait for the 80GB version with PS2 memory card adapter and remote for Christmas.

@Dejital: ROFL! Exactly!

I thought the whole point of removing the Emotion chip was to reduce cost? What would be the point of adding the cost right back with an extra 20 GB of HDD space? What's the point of incremental upgrades? Sony needs to worry about adding games, not adding more HDD space.

If the 80 GB HDD version costs $599, then the cost savings are lost. If it costs more than $599, then ....yeah.

Maybe Sony is trying to take over the world while they're baffling people with their odd marketing and PR campaign, along with their model changing?

20Gig, 60Gig, 80Gig, 120Gig, Nuclear device... wait.

Boom.

i think they are going to lower 60 gb to 550 and 80gb to 600

@Danj3ris: Wouldn't they want it damn obvious? That way, people would know they've got a new model on their hands.

It is probably cheaper for Sony to source 80GB harddrives than 60GB, which explains why they are 'upgrading' (as you guys like to put it) the PS3 to 80GB. Especially when factories move production lines to higher spec components, this makes it more expensive to actually get lower spec components (20GB, 60GB).

If its canadian, it would make no sense. In canada, the price of the PS3 went up 50 bucks 2 months ago, now a 80gig model? Doubtful they would do that shit twice in a row..

Maybe they thought that Canadian Gb are 8:5 bigger than American Gb...lol

its obviously fake. why? because no company in their right mind would EVER give canada the first release of anything

Odd, if its real it could mean that they are replacing 60gb models with 80's?

For everyone saying that they would drop the price of the 60 gig, I say that's a croc. They're already losing a shit ton of money on it, why in God's name would they drop the price? So they can lose even more?

@Dejital:

You forgot to change the model number. And if you'll notice, the model number is the same on the second box and it follows the damage crease perfectly. Also, if you zoom in on the photo in Photoshop, you'll notice that the red ink isn't completely opaque. Also, the perspective is way off on your attempt, but not on the picture in question.

But I guess you're the pro. /sarcasm

The orange line on both side looks identical

that would be the stupies thing ever.

So, Msoft released a new HDD? ok, lets compete by releasing a HDD that is SMALLER in size!!!!

brilliant!!

yes, I said stupies

It could be possible. Hard drives have platters in them, usually the bigger the drive, the more platters, which also costs more. What could have happened is that the original drive had 3 platters, 20GB each, and Sony was able to get a 2 platter model, but only in 80GB. it would be cheaper, so they figured why not.

The only reason they haven't announced it is because stores probably don't want to be stuck with excess stock of 60GB versions.

Also, being from Canada, I can tell you PS3's aren't nearly as prevalent here as they appear to be everywhere else. So Canada may get them first because they don't have stock hanging around.

Wow, did I just pull all of that out of my ass? I'd make a good ANALyst.

@Fuzz:

Logic? No wayz

Why would it matter to anyone who owns a PS3 already, like myself?

I've already upgraded my HDD to 120GB, and it only cost $75. You could upgrade to 80GB easily.

@Dejital:

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7808/ps31milxv8.jpg
OMG THIS JUST IN!! A one MILLION GB PS3! Your MOVE, Xbox!

HAHA sweetness

Couldnt they throw HD cables in that?

If they have this at 600 and drop 60 gigs to 500.. then cool, a lot of people will be picking up the 60 gig version thanks to the drop.

if this is higher than 600.. then just.. shoot yourself Sony, this is surely just a way of doing the same thing.

@cringer8: Thanks, I was. Though, I think McWhertor was also joking. ;)

Damn you Kotaku. I had just convinced myself that I should spend my tax refund on a PS3 and had several lined up on eBay to watch, and now you bust out this picture. Now I've gotta wait for the 80GB version to hit and reevaluate the prices then.

Damn you.

@sc00t420:

I highly doubt the 60GB version would drop to $499 just yet. It's far too early for a $100 price drop ($50 sounds far more reasonable and far less desperate) and $100 difference for 20GB of HDD space is definitely pushing it. Sure, Microsoft got away with it for some reason, but there's no way Sony could considering they don't force you to use proprietary overpriced hard drives.

@Kyle81:

Didn't realize I had to be logical to be an analyst. :P

Not sure about this being a Canadian Model, my PS3 that I bought last month here in Canada does not have the capacity in French, just English. I don't think there is really even a "Canadian" model, as the ones we get here have English, French, and Spanish on them. Also check out the translations, the one above does not match mine, check it out, here is a pic of my package:

http://www.nakedchameleon.com/images/PS3.jpg

Jojo

-_- We are not amused.

@jojowasher:

True, but it's possible they're changing that with the new packaging.

Guess we'll see. If this picture is true and we're seeing packaged 80GB PS3s out there somewhere, it won't be long until they show up in stores.

Real or not, here is my theory, since cancelling the 20 GB model Sony has been left over with an abundent amount of 20 GB HDs. So to make more storage space in a newer PS3 an 80 GB model, they just made a 2 HD model, a 60 GB with a 20 GB. This way Sony CEC/A can screw us over even more. I feel sorry for every PS3 owner no matter what system you purchased the 20 GB or the 60 GB models, and even this "New" 80 GB model. What is next is when this system is released Sony could have an abundent amount of 60 GB HDs and make a "newer" 120 Gb HD, using two 60 Gb HDs? Oooh one more thing how has Blue-Ray DVD out sold HD DVD??? It is not because of the PS3, anybody who talks to people who work at any video game store will tell you hands down that the PS3 is the biggest waste of time and money the US has ever seen. This is more of a waste of money than