Sony Ships 80 GB PlayStation 3 for $599

Sony has announced 80 GB PlayStation 3 gaming consoles are now available at North American retailers for $599 in the U.S., $659 in Canada.

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced the immediate availability of an 80 GB edition of its PlayStation 3 gaming console in North America, priced at $599 in the United States and at $659 in Canada. In addition to the console itself—and bundled Sixaxis controller—buyers also get a copy of the online-capable off-road racing game MotorStorm.

“The 80 GB PS3 offers expanded options in the PS3 family of products for those who want to enjoy more downloadable content,” said Peter Dille, SCEA’s senior VP of marketing, in a release. “The new model will provide ample storage space to meet the appetites of those who wish to download content today, and for many more years to come.”

The 80 GB edition of the PlayStation 3 was first launched in the South Korean market back in May, although speculation quickly had the new edition heading for the U.S., especially since Sony had just recently discontinued the low-end 20 GB edition of the game console.

At the same time Sony is introducing the 80 GB model to North America, the company is continuing its $100-off pricing promotion for the 60 Gb model, which currently has the units priced at $499 in the U.S. and $549 in Canada. Sony says it will continue to offer the 60 GB edition at those reduced prices until it runs out of inventory, which the company expects to happen “this fall.”

Sony’s PlayStation 3 is the most expensive of the so-called “next generation” video game consoles, and with sales lagging behind Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (which had a one-year head start on the PS3) and the much less-expensive Nintendo Wii, which has been outselling the PS3 even in both consoles’ home turf of Japan. Sony is banking on forthcoming PS3-exclusive games to shift market momentum toward the PS3, and touts the console’s included Blu-ray player as a gateway to high-definition movie content.