60GB PlayStation 3 vanishing in Europe once stock runs out

Just in case you missed the tidbit near the end of Sony's official 40GB PS3 announcement last Friday, the 60GB PlayStation 3 will indeed be no more once European stock runs out. If you'll recall, Sony already pulled the plug on the 60 gigger here in the US, and now it seems that it will face a similar fate across the pond. According to Nick Sharples, director of corporate communications for Sony in Europe, "anyone who wants to buy a 60GB PS3 for Christmas is not going to have a problem," so those desperately needing an extra bit of HDD space (and / or backwards compatibility for PS2 titles) should be alright through the end of the year.

[Via IGN, thanks Alan]

[john @ Oct 8th 2007 5:27PM]

Has Sony sold even one of these?

[James Ollier @ Oct 8th 2007 5:34PM]

I have one, but I won it :o)

Its the perfect model, as it has all the benefits of the 80Gb, but is slightly cheaper, thus saving money on the 250Gb HDD Upgrade.

Ooh, it can play PS2 too.

[Derbeste @ Oct 8th 2007 5:42PM]

BC cost Sony about $27 per machine, so this move cannot truly be a bid to bring the price of the PS3 down. I think the drop in price was merely an attempt to make the loss of BC palpable. I very much doubt they are really trying to please consumers by cutting their game selection from 4,000+ to 65.

Therefore, it seems to me that this move is not meant to appease consumers at all, but to appease developers.

I believe they feel that with the PS3 supporting BC, that many gamers are taking a "wait and see" approach to actual PS3 games choosing instead to use their purchase strictly as a Blu-ray player.

I suspect this move is probably their way of upping PS3 game sales to keep any more developers and/or exclusive titles from jumping ship. With only 65 games on the market to date (only 30 of which being even worth glancing at), I can't say I'd blame them.

[iRobot @ Oct 9th 2007 5:57AM]

I'm "waiting to see" if Sony gets their head out of there ass -- before I buy one.

[shuyin198x @ Oct 8th 2007 5:47PM]

Honestly though, if you have a ps2 who needs bc on a ps3? I still prefere using my ps2 and playing games off the hdd vs running them on my ps3.1 disk 20 games + better loading times, ps2>ps3@playing ps2 games.

[a ham sandwich @ Oct 8th 2007 5:55PM]

but if its so damn easy to include it, why not?! apparantly sony does not agree with my logic.

[Derbeste @ Oct 8th 2007 5:57PM]

Possible reasons someone may care about BC:

1. Skipped a gen in videogame consoles. I know several families that still only have a snes and/or ps1 so don't think this isn't common.

2. Sold your PS2 (but not the games) to finance your PS3.

3. Many gamers have sweet setups that don't call for the clutter of extra consoles and wiring.

4. You just wanna have some trust in the company you're giving $400-600. Sony's Phil Harrison said that BC was a "core value" of the playstation brand and that you could not have a viable format without it. They also SLAMMED MS for not providing their customers with the "value of BC". They blasted them about "confusing multiple SKUs" and the "archaic last gen rumble". Less than 1 year later, Sony is now doing all of them. Now how can Sony customers truly believe them when they promise ANYTHING? Don't discount consumer confident. They count that in the value of their purchases.

5. The PS2 doesn't have a hard drive, so I don't know what you're smoking. But many, I think, would rather play their games off the PS3 HDD (can you even do that though?).

[shuyin198x @ Oct 8th 2007 6:05PM]

All valid points from 1-4
5:[The fat ps2] My ps2 is rocking a 160gb ide drive, loaded with alot of rpgs:D. Loading times are much better which is why ps2>ps3 when it comes to ps2 games.[ps3 cant run ps2 games off the hdd]

[Derbeste @ Oct 8th 2007 6:12PM]

So what you're saying, is that for 99.9% of PS2 owners, your reason for prefering a PS2 over a PS3 with BC is completely irrelivent to them?

[shuyin198x @ Oct 8th 2007 6:31PM]

Im pretty sure what I've explained is an advantage of the ps2 as oppose the ps3.If you look carefully, I wrote :[If] you have a ps2,who needs... if you've misunderstood that as ''theres the ps2, why would you need bc on the ps3'' then I hope this time I've portayed the correct meaning.
A non bc ps3 is an Optional Choice, fork out extra bucks if you want it.Those who need it will buy the higher tier one.Whilst people like me would tend to get the 40gb one.

[Niz @ Oct 8th 2007 8:55PM]

BC is important because it takes some time before you truly go next gen. When i got my PS2 (my PS1 got nicked coincidently before buying it) so backward compatibility made me happy, but even so i still played PS1 games for sometime and given about a year i stopped playing PS1 games and fully went towards PS2 games, (PS2 games were like £45-50 and PS1 games were well cheap, just like PS3 games are expensive now and PS2 games are cheap)

Well ok not entirely true about not using PS1 mode i use the Memory card exploit using a PS1 disc, to play movies etc from my PS2 HDD or USB storage on my TV, using SMS.elf if you've read about it or done this you will know what i mean :)

[NovaLand @ Oct 9th 2007 1:12AM]

@Derbeste: Reason #1 is not valid, I think. If someone have never played PS2, they probably aren't looking for those games. Sure, BC can be fun, but not a big reason to get a PS3.

And #5 like shuyin198x mentioned, Several PS2 out there have harddrives and are able to play games from the drive instead of the disc player. I do, for one. I save my laser for yet another 5 years of use (me think).

[Derbeste @ Oct 9th 2007 11:02AM]

People...

Notice the title of my post is POSSIBLE reasons someone would want BC.

1 and 5 are valid because they are POSSIBILITIES. Just because .01% of PS2 owners modded their consoles with HDDs doesn't mean that all have or want to. Therefore, 5 is valid.

1 is extremely valid as many families had systems that satisfied their littler kids that are now teenagers and want a more up-to-date gaming experience. Do you think they would want a system with 65 games or 4,000+? For example, I never owned a GC. Now that I have a Wii, I have purchased about 3 GC games already.

And if even ONE person does the same for the PS2, it becomes a POSSIBILITY.

Now....is 1 or 5 really enough to criticize Sony by themselves? Probably not. But when you take 1 THROUGH 5 as a whole....absofuckinglutely.

[shuyin198x @ Oct 9th 2007 2:24PM]

1:Skipped 8 years worth of software, its not very likely they're going to buy ps2 games now.

2:To sell your ps2 to finance your ps3 is not an excuse.They have listed NOT BC compatible so you should consider Before selling it away. Second hand ps2 will get $50 if you're lucky.

3:ps3 Downstairs,ps2 bedroom ,office hooked to pc monitor? Im sure you alot of choice where to play the damn thing.

4:500 for BC,400 for a cheap option. Its not like they're throwing away BC on all models. Theres a choice.

I love the fact you assumed 99.9% people don't use a hdd to play games.Point is ps2 HACKED ps3 NOT.

[NovaLand @ Oct 9th 2007 4:03PM]

Derbeste: I must inform you that my PS2 is completley unmodded. It's all standard sony components. The warranty is in perfect order. Now, it's true that it's the older "thick" version of the PS2, but still. There are many big PS2 out there that are all able to chuck in a harddrive into and get your games up running.

[hn333 @ Oct 8th 2007 6:25PM]

I'm I the only one that's still happy with my PS2?

[hn333 @ Oct 8th 2007 6:26PM]

The PS2 has a hard drive bay. Well the fat one did.

[good PR @ Oct 8th 2007 6:29PM]

lol, there are still like 15 60GB PS3's at my wal*mart

[Ben @ Oct 8th 2007 6:33PM]

When stocks run out... So the UK is okay till Xmas '09 then...

[Dragod @ Oct 8th 2007 6:36PM]

Sad thing is, if Sony kept producing the 60GB, I was going to get one. Not that this has anything to do with Europe. But honestly, at $500 the 60GB was the best value. I was just waiting for the games I want.

[Vizion @ Oct 8th 2007 6:57PM]

How about you get the system now. You know the types of games that will no doubt come out in the future. Buy it at 499 (which is what it costs right now, not 599) on amazon and hold onto it. I know I'm likely going to do the same because I want PS2 BC built in

[Dragod @ Oct 8th 2007 7:01PM]

Well, right now I don't have the money. I'm only 15, and at my job I only make about ~$80 a weekend and I'm planning on buying my own HDTV for about $600. But after that, I was probably going to get one.

And now, after the 60gbs are gone, I won't be getting a PS3. That is, unless they make the 80gb Fully backwards compatible and at $500.

[MangaMan @ Oct 8th 2007 6:48PM]

Don't forget about the thousands of "first-time" console buyers, like the 13 year old who has never had a game system in his life. Maybe he still wants to play Kingdom Hearts (PS2) or Devil May Cry 1 & 2, but he doesn't have a PS2.

[Actaeon @ Oct 8th 2007 8:05PM]

I consider BC a huge feature. One of the big reasons for my purchase of a PS3 was to play some of the great PS2 games I haven't touched before. Not having owned a PS2, it was a great opportunity to play classics for $20, as they've been out for a while now. My collection of PS2 games far outweigh the PS3 games I have.

On the flip side, paying $20 a game sure beats paying $60 for a game. The $20 game is still just as good a year or so later at 1/3 the price, than when it first came out for full price!

[Slvrgun @ Oct 8th 2007 9:19PM]

Hearing about the things PS3 owners have to go through each day with the piss-poor lineup of games, the constant sku changes, the lack of BC, etc is so depressing but somewhere deep inside I am laughing to death--just quietly.

[Mike @ Oct 8th 2007 10:16PM]

Heh, there's still tons of 60GB PS3s in my area. At our store, we keep getting them in stock. I'm wondering if Sony really did pull the plug on them.

[h0mi @ Oct 8th 2007 10:25PM]

So much for the idea of buying the more expensive ps3s to get BC.

[ssuk @ Oct 9th 2007 10:09AM]

WohohoHO! How damaging was that report? Seriously... Saying people'll have no problems getting 60GB PS3s for Christmas... Ouch, what terrible wording. Making it seem like Sony aren't selling many of their consoles.
They're also fucking over Europe even further. We were the first to taste the bitter, mushy crap called software emulation on the PS3 while America and Japan were chomping on their juicy rump hardware BC stakes and now we're just being left to go hungry.

For Sony's "Biggest consumer market for the playstation brand" I sure as hell don't feel that special right now... Fuck you Sony.

[aReFeS @ Oct 9th 2007 3:30PM]

Like me when their PS2's laser is busted BC is a big plus.
I'm very happy I got the 60 GB version, although it has sofware emulation which isn't the best solution. Especially with no further upgrades of the emulation software from Sony's side.

[Brandon Hatfield @ Oct 9th 2007 9:20PM]

I have a PS2 Slim, but I'll be honest.

I HATE IT.

I dunno why. The games are cool. I just don't like getting up and opening that annoying disc loader from the side.

I just wish that there was a way to play import PS2 titles on 60GB PS3s.

*sigh*

[bhoy shugg @ Dec 10th 2007 6:05PM]

i have tried to get a 60gb ps3 today a went to 3 diffrent towns in scotland and could'nt get one. only on ebay fur £499 everywhere sold out, can anyone help

[Steve Butler @ Dec 28th 2007 6:49AM]

I know this is old news now but I for one am truly pissed off that Sony has stopped making the 60GB one here in the UK the 40GB one has so fewer features and I really had my heart set on the 60GB :(