If you’ve been in the European market for a PS3, now may a good time to pick one up since Sony Computer Entertainment Europe just announced that a 40GB PS3 will head to retail throughout Europe starting on Wednesday. Sounds like excellent news, right?
But according to Gamasutra, the 40GB PS3 won’t feature any backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles. This is a reaction to Sony’s intent on focusing on PS3 titles and a reduced emphasis on PS2 titles.
While this sounds like a fine business approach, Sony has the rare distinction of having a popular past-generation console to juggle around alongside with the PS3. So to cut off PS2 support may axe some extra possible revenue Sony may need to streamline the 40GB PS3 debut.
Don’t worry though, since the 40GB will still feature all the other accessories the current 60GB has, though in less quantities such as all the same upgradeable firmware and hardware but only two USB 2.0 ports and, of course, the smaller HDD.
The 40GB PS3 will retail at €399/£299 ($565 USD) which is, of course, much less than its 60GB counterpart, and Sony is expecting that the 60GB will only be on sale "while stocks last."
David Reeves, SCEE president, said, "The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners. It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners."
