PS3 Slim Inbound? All Signs Point To Yes.

[Peza]

Now mind you we didn’t just grab a Magic 8-Ball and ask it if there was a new iteration of the PLAYSTATION 3 on the horizon, but what we did do is put the clues together and come to the conclusion that a new, remodeled, and most importantly, cheaper PS3 could be on the way very soon.

Without further ado, let’s have a look at the signs that led to this conclusion.

First up are those leaked images that were revealed back in the middle of May via a Chinese message board and then quickly asked to be removed off all major gaming news sites by the attorney Li Mo & Associates from Taiwan, ordering a cease and desist. There’s also the fact that if you remember back when the rumors for the PSP 3000 first showed up, along with them came some leaked photos also from Chinese message boards and also in what appeared to be in a factory setting – similar to those of the PS3 slim’s– which we then later found out to be true and real.

Next up is the very close similarity of the unconfirmed PS3 slim’s retail box and that of the PSP GO’s retail box. I mean just look at the two, they certainly look very similar and share some of the same details. As PSL has already said:

The box has a strikingly similar layout as the PSP Go box. The logo on the bottom left hand side, along with the PSN logo, and memory capacity on the bottom right hand side. Also the Sony, and PlayStation logos in each respective upper corners. Lastly the colored XMB wave “stripe” across the middle of the box with the PS3/PSP layered over it is the same on each box, just using a different color for each box.

Now let’s move all the way towards the end of June when Ars Technica revealed information that according to their mole, we’d be seeing less of the 80GB PS3’s at retailers somewhere in July or August. Also a few days later it’s revealed by Taiwanese site UDN that Sony has made agreements with Foxconn and Pegatron to work on revised model of the PS3.

We’re now in August and what do you know, a notice in Japan reveals that Sony wishes pre-orders for the 80GB model to be pulled off Sunday, August 9 at 10am. So it appears that Sony is planning to discontinue that model of the PLAYSTATION 3 in order to replace it with… well we’re not sure either, seeing as how there is no plans for a 160GB model in Japan yet, we’d have to guess the PS3 slim.

Then there’s this video, which basically shows a man holding what appears to be a PS3 slim, similar to the one in the leaked photos, at an underground market in the Philippines. The footage is quite sketchy, considering how shaky and low quality the video is, but regardless of that, watching the video leaves us with a feeling that the thing might be real. Have a look for yourself.

Another addition to the evidence is this short-lived listing on the German Amazon website for a "PlayStation 3 Konsole slim". An image was added later to the listing that as well looked closely to that of the original leaked photos, but unfortunately was actually a fan-made image. As already mentioned, the listing has since been removed, however a cached version of the site can still be found here.

Our last rumor comes from a Telegraph report that states that Sony could announce the new model at this year’s GamesCon convention in Cologne, Germany and arrive in stores for the holiday season. They believe the system will come in 40GB & 80GB renditions, and cost about £260. Also noted is that “Sony has ordered enough parts to make one million consoles in the third quarter of this year, twice as many as in the last three months,” according to a recent DigiTimes report.

With GamesCon only a couple weeks away and Sony having a keynote there, it seems we might get a final word from Sony on whether all of this has any truth behind it. So stay tuned for coverage on that when more info comes out.

Based on the boxing image it appears the PS3 slim may be 120 GB. Damn.. I may need to trade up. I've even heard there's a possible second slim but with a larger HDD(250GB).

Slim PS3 with cheaper components : 120GB $299.99

Slim PS3 with cheaper components : 250GB $399.99

[Anonymous Blah]

looking forward to it's release!

[psYko]

I hope this means a price drop for the PS3 phat. What's next? PS3 3000? PS3 Go?

[bigasian3695]

lmfao, this is all very old. i saw these exact same pictures a few months ago (except for the video)

Source:Rumored PSP Go box bares striking resemblance to rumored slim PS3 art

[psYko]

Originally Posted by bigasian3695

lmfao, this is all very old. i saw these exact same pictures a few months ago (except for the video)

Source:Rumored PSP Go box bares striking resemblance to rumored slim PS3 art

That's a 10 row short article. Peza's article here is professional, long and well detailed. Huge difference you know.

Plus, that article you linked to just states that the boxes look alike.

[.:SILENT.NIGHTMARE:.]

i think this is mega real... why no pirate brand will go that far to copy a great console and also they would change the name

[psYko]

Originally Posted by .:SILENT.NIGHTMARE:.

i think this is mega real... why no pirate brand will go that far to copy a great console and also they would change the name

The doubts about this being real is because it might just be rumors. Although I think it's real since all of the current Sony consoles got a slim version. With the PSP, even a third and fourth.
Ps3 Slim is most likely coming. Sony is just terrible at keeping it a secret. PSP 3000 images leaked, PSP go images leaked before E3.. and now this.

[smithees]

to be honest, the only thing that keeps me from believing this, (the box and the video) is the PS3 Font.
you could see it in the bottom left part of the box.
it looks like fake, cheap, and unprofessional... well in my opinion.

[psphkkr4u15]

cant wait till it comes out PS3