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Evidently Sony Computer Entertainment’s repeated denials of an imminent PlayStation 3 Slim and hardware price drop are falling on deaf ears, because this is one videogame rumour that simply does not know when it’s time to pack up and go home.
Is THIS newly redesigned packaging for the PS3 Slim? Image: Levelup.
Moreover, with the Gamescom trade fair in Germany only a few weeks away on the gaming calendar, industry watchers left disappointed by failed E3 predictions are now adamant that Sony will roll out the new Slim model and hack down the PlayStation 3’s price point on August 18 – which just so happens to be the day of its keynote address in Cologne.
According to DigiTimes, Sony is in the process of ramping up production on a new smaller version of its powerhouse console with a view to shipping one million units in the third quarter of 2008, which equates to twice the amount it shipped during the year’s second quarter.
This apparently indicates that Sony is preparing for a sudden surge in demand, which, in turn, would suggest that the Japanese titan is on the verge of uncovering a more streamlined 40GB and 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 that will carry a reduced price thanks to its cheaper manufacturing costs.
The persistent rumours surrounding Sony’s plans for the PlayStation 3 hardware resurfaced a few days ago after a product listing for a “PlayStation 3 Konsole Slim” was inexplicably posted on the pages of Amazon Germany over the weekend. The console listing was quickly pulled by the online retailer.
Other related speculation concerning the Slim and a possible PlayStation 3 price cut has been doing the rounds this week after Sony announced its decision to drop support for the existing 80GB model in Japan and boasted that it has reduced PS3 manufacturing costs by some 70 percent since the console first launched three years ago.
So, what should you believe? The constant stream of unsubstantiated rumour? The distinctly homemade Amazon product page? The grainy photos of dodgy-looking devices and shoddy packaging?
Or perhaps Sony... which has repeatedly said it's happy with PS3 value, recently stated that "we currently don't have any plans for a redesigned PS3," and seems suitably thrilled with the product's performance as it approaches a global install base of 24 million units?
The Tech Herald: Still no PS3 price cut despite 70% drop in manufacturing cost
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