Sony Japan has announced that its ultra-slim, “charcoal black” PlayStation 3 console will become that little bit cheaper at the end of this month, following the arrival of a new SKU.
Currently retailing for 30,837 yen (US$300), the price of the 500GB slim PlayStation 3 will be dropped to 28,058 yen, or $273, as of August 28.
The console will look the same as ever on the outside, but has likely had a couple of cost-cutting tweaks under the hood since it now sports the new model number of CECH-4300C and Sony has announced that older models will be discontinued. This new price point will position the PS3 slim in between the basic and premium models of Nintendo’s competing Wii U console and make it roughly $135 cheaper than the newer PlayStation 4.
The discount will no doubt come as good news to gamers on a budget or those who were waiting until now to pick up a PlayStation 3 to experience any exclusive titles that they missed last generation, but I can’t help feeling that Sony could afford to be a little more generous with its pricing here. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my PS3 and had some of the best moments of my gaming career on it (Journey, Uncharted, The Last of Us anyone?), but for a console whose basic hardware set is now eight years old and could now be outperformed by even low-end gaming laptops, $273 for a last-gen console seems a bit steep.
There again, with PlayStation 4 sales currently so sluggish in Japan, it’s perhaps no wonder Sony isn’t slashing the PS3’s price too much…
Source: Sony Japan via Siliconera
Sony gives PlayStation 3 game cases a facelift, netizens complain they can’t tell games apart
PlayStation 4 impressions: An Xbox fan and a Sony lover go head to head
End of an era – Sony announces end of online, PlayStation Store support for PS3 and Vita
Sony’s new Xperia Z3 compact tablet boasts PlayStation 4 remote play, controller mount
Sony officially announces pricing for PlayStation VR add-on for PlayStation 4
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Starbucks Japan puts a bow on peach season with new limited-edition Peach Creamy Tea Latte
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Studio Ghibli theme park’s new dessert is a drinkable version of Hayao Miyazaki’s pilot daydream
Potato-Chip-Flavored Dressing coming to stores in Japan
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Final PlayStation 4 design revealed! Priced at $399! 【Update: Photo gallery】
So long, PlayStation 4 – Sony announces it’s ending repair service for early PS4 models
Sony Unveils its Vision for the Future of Video Games with PlayStation 4
Despite success abroad, even Sony’s PlayStation 4 can’t inject life into Japan’s console market
【Updated!】Sony’s Japan-only portable gizmo “PocketStation” returns as a PlayStation Vita application
The new PlayStation VR comes with an adorable miniature PlayStation 4
Newsflash: Silver “Dragon Quest Metal Slime Edition” PlayStation 4 unveiled by Sony 【Updated】
Sony announces PlayStation 4 release date at Gamescom 2013 *UPDATED*
Portable PlayStation 4 created by genius in Japan【Videos/Photos】
Put some old-school in your new-gen with this 20th Anniversary special edition PlayStation 4
Countdown to PlayStation 4 in Japan – Mr. Sato heads to the Sony Building to join the fun
New model PlayStation 4 is lighter and more energy efficient, hits stores this month
Sony is raising the price of the PlayStation5
PouchStation — Cool multi-pouches look just like the first-gen PlayStation【Photos】