The new version of the PS3 will come with a 160GB hard drive, which is twice as large as the 80GB drive being offered with current top-end PS3 consoles. According to a report on the official PlayStation blog, the new PS3 will hit US retail shelves in November as part of the newly announcedUncharted: Drake’s Fortune 160GB PS3 bundle; this bundle will come with the console, a copy of Uncharted, a PlayStation network voucher for Pain, and a Dual Shock 3 controller and will retail for $499.99.
The console will also come to Europe on October 31st for €449. According to a statement from Sony Europe, the console will be bundled with “additional PlayStation Network content”.
The PSP will also receive a hardware refresh for the holiday. The new PSP-3000 model will, according to the official PlayStation blog, feature an LCD screen with a wider color gamut and higher contrast ratio compared to previous PSP models, as well as anti-glare technology to help players see the screen while playing outdoors. It will also have a built-in microphone and Skype telephony software. While the model will have some additional cosmetic changes, such as the replacement of the Home button with the PlayStation button, it will be largely identical in form to the previous PSP.
The PSP-3000 will retail for the same price as current PSP models in the US, replacing the PSP-2000 in both the $169.99 Core Pack and the previously announced PSP Entertainment Pack bundles. In Europe the new model will be made available in a series of bundle packs that will retail for €199. Each bundle will include a game, such as Buzz!, Harry Potter, or FIFA 09.
Announced for the US was one new PSP bundle. The PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack will ship with the PSP-3000 and a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.
Finally, Sony International revealed the worldwide release of the PS3 Wireless Keypad. The Bluetooth-powered Wireless Keypad, once paired with the console via a USB connection, will attach to SixAxis and Dual Shock 3 controllers to allow for smoother text communication. It will also have a Touch Pad button that will turn the entire keypad surface into a touch pad, allowing for more intuitive use of the web browser. It will launch in late November in the US, and ship in multiple language configurations in the EU.
Pictures: PlayStation.Blog