40GB PlayStation 3 Model Materializes in Europe, Lacks Backward Compatibility
As predicted, the 40GB model will feature two USB ports rather than four, have no flash card memory slots, and lack any kind of backward compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles. Regarding this last point, the announcement reads: "The new model is no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles (a total of 65 titles across all genres by Christmas)."
Since later PS3 models used software rather than hardware emulation to support the PS2's game library, it's unusual that this new model would exclude that capability entirely.
Sony coupled the announcement with a 100 Euro price drop for the formerly 599 Euro 60GB Starter Pack bundle in European territories, except for the U.K. and Ireland, where the Starter Pack will be replaced by a 349 Pound Value Pack. The now 499 Euro Starter Pack bundle will still contain an extra Sixaxis and two first-party titles and be sold until stocks run out, while the newly introduced Value Pack model for the U.K. and Ireland will only include one Sixaxis in addition to two first-party titles.
Though the different global branches of Sony make their own decisions regarding introductions of new SKUs, it's highly unlikely an entirely new model like the 40GB PS3 would remain exclusive to the region. The 80GB SKU debuted earlier this year in Korea, but made its way to North America and other territories shortly thereafter.
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Completely not interested at all if I can't play my PS2 games. Way to kill my excitement for an impending price drop. :(
Hopefully they will decide to have emulation later on.-
Yeah, same here. There seems to be this attitude of "no one cares about b/c...who wants to play old games" and that pisses me off to no end. *I* care about old games and if I buy a game I want to be able to play it until the sun burns the fuck out dammit! Some games...yeah I'll never go back an play, but some games I can't get enough of...hell there's a reason I still have my Dreamcast hooked up...that I still have my good old SNES and Sega Genesis. Then again I'm the exception I guess...the minority...but I hate getting shit on for being the exception/niche/whatever.
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