New PS3 Due Out in Japan This Month

By Ryan Fleming July 6, 2010

Apparently the adage “everything old is new again” is especially apt when it comes to Microsoft and Sony’s “newest” consoles. Hot on the heels of the freshly re-launched Xbox 360 that features a new design and a 250GB hard drive (which was itself a response to the release of the PlayStation 3 Slim), Sony will introduce a new 320GB hard drive, a new PS3 bundle with a video recorder and a “classic white” console. Sony has announced that three new PS3 Slim bundles on the way for Japanese gamers on July 29.

The first is the standard 160GB PS3, but this one features a “classic white” shell. It will retail for roughly $340 including tax.

The second bundle will be the 160GB charcoal black PS3 Slim, but it will include the “PlayStation3 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Recorder Pack,” also known as the “torne”, a DVR peripheral that is only available in Japan, for around $420.

The third bundle will feature a PS3 Slim with a charcoal case and a 320GB hard drive for $400. All three bundles are currently only planned for a Japanese release, but the larger hard drive and white PS3 are almost certainly headed Stateside.

This is also good news for budget hunters waiting to get their hands on a PS3. The current generation of PS3 Slims currently on store shelves will become “open price”, meaning retailers can sell them at whatever cost they see fit. Again, this is currently only in Japan, but when it hits the States, expect some interesting sales.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Gaming

PlayStation 5 is getting a slimmer (but not cheaper) redesign next month

The new, smaller PS5 models launching in November 2023.

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In the U.S., the new PS5 will retail for $500, while the new PS5 Digital Edition will cost $450. PS5 Digital Edition owners can then swap out one of the bottom cover panels for the $80 Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive for PS5, which will allow them to play physical copies of games or watch movies on what is sold as a digital-only console. Both of these new PS5 models come with a horizontal stand, although a new Vertical Stand priced at $30 is also in the works.
Despite the slimmer design, the new PS5 models aren't coming with a price cut. The model including a disc drive is still the same price as a current PS5 model. The digital edition is actually getting a $50 price increase from the current digital version's $400 price tag. Those who want to upgrade and add an $80 disc drive after the fact will end up paying more than the non-digital version in the long run.
The PlayStation Blog post confirms that the launch versions of both PS5 consoles will be phased out as these new models hit store shelves in the U.S. sometime in November. If you were planning to get a PS5 console soon, it may be worth considering holding off until these new models launch.

Gaming

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Astro's Playroom booting up on the PlayStation Portal.

Sony has unveiled the price for its upcoming cloud gaming handheld, as well as an official name for the device: PlayStation Portal. However, one significant caveat to its functionality might sour people's interest in the handheld: It only supports PS4 and PS5 native games that the owner purchased.
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Gaming

Hear me out, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the hottest new couple’s game

Astrion holds his chin in Baldur's Gate 3.

Search for the “best video games for couples” and you’ll find a solid list of options, ranging from It Takes Two to Stardew Valley. Usually, lists like that tend to be filled with co-op games that require lots of communication or cozy games like Animal Crossing that anyone can enjoy. Those are all ideal choices, but allow me to throw a curveball at you: Baldur’s Gate 3 is the hottest new couples game.

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