Sony Reveals PlayStation 3 Launch Details

As the much-anticipated North American launch of its PlayStation 3 gaming console nears, Sony Corporation has detailed the availability and pricing of key PS3 peripherals, the initial title line-up for the new console, and details of the PlayStation 3 online service.

Although pricing for PS3 consoles has been public knowledge for a while—$499 for a 20 GB unit and $599 for a 60 GB PS3 with Wi-Fi—Sony outlined pricing for key PlayStation 3 peripherals. An extra SIXAXIS wireless controller will go for $49.99, a HD remote control for managing movies and media will be priced at $24.99, and a memory card adapter for transferring game information from PlayStation 2 memory cards will go for $14.99.

Sony also detailed network and online services to be available through the PlayStation 3. Perhaps the key feature is that, unlike Microsoft’s subscription-based Xbox Live service, Sony currently plans to make its online offerings available for free. Users will access network services via the Xross Media Bar—which Sony dubs XMB—which provides navigation across areas of gaming, network and Internet connectivity, and entertainment content like movies and music. If the XMB interface seems familiar, that’s because Sony has already rolled it out on it’s PlayStation Portable handheld gaming devices to support multiplayer games, access internet services, and download new content. Sony will also be offering an online PlayStation Store—after all, Sony said the service would be free, not that all the items on the service would be free—where users will be able to find game demos and downloadable casual games from both Sony and third-party developers; Sony games will cost $15 at launch, and Sony plans to offer new content regularly. Users will also be able to create a PlayStation profile which enables them to communicate with other PlayStation users, but also to set up an electronic wallet for purchases through the PlayStation Store. Industry speculation has Sony offering music, video, and movie offerings through the PlayStation Store in addition to gaming content.

Finally, Sony has announced the initial lineup of games which will be available at launch from both Sony and third party developers; the list is appended below. Sony games are expected to be priced at $59.99; third party titles may start as low as $14.99.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Titles:

• Resistance: Fall of Man™
• NBA 07
• Genji: Days of the Blade™

Third-party Playstation 3 Titles: