Sony confirms 80GB PS3 heading down under

Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 09:37

Opinion and Analysis

In light of the Sony E3 keynote address announcing the retiring of the 40GB PlayStation 3, it was worth wondering how far out of the U.S this change would migrate.


Being located in the sometimes forgotten backwater that is Australia, there are many times that we search the horizon looking for the good tech to come our way.

And so it was, that many Aussies sat in a pool of their own saliva as the big names in electronic entertainment announced their upcoming projects.

Many, like the Microsoft Xbox 360 Netflix video on demand deal, or Sony’s partnership with movie and TV studios for a similar streaming service to the PS3 are a long way from the sunburnt southern shores.

However, one Sony announcement was easy to confirm.  In Australia, the only model PS3 available is the 40GB option.  (There are still just under 20,000 left in the BRAVIA give away promotion ).

With the Sony Keynote announcing the replacement of the 40GB with an 80GB for the same price, the question was asked wether this process would usurp the 40GB model down under.

The answer was a solid ‘Yes!’.  A Sony spokesperson told iTWire “the 80GB PS3 will be introduced here in Australia, but we’re still waiting on an announcement from SCEE in regards to local pricing and release date. We’re expecting this in the near future, but for now, I can confirm that we’ll be getting the 80GB PS3 here.”

The essential point here, especially around price is that Sony Australia are awaiting direction from the European arm of the company.  So, don’t go putting US$399.99 into your currency converters just yet, chances are the PS3 will remain at AU$699.99 in Australia.