Tokyo, September 19, 2012 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that a new PlayStation®3(PS3®) computer entertainment system (body color: charcoal black / classic white*1), featuring a new design and a downsized form factor, will become available worldwide this holiday season. The new PS3 will come in 3 models including extended built in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) capacity of 500GB model and 250GB model, and a newly added 12GB flash memory model initially for Europe only. Availability of models, prices and launch dates of the new PS3 system in each region are as follows.

  Storage size Recommended Retail Price Launch Date
North America HDD 500GB US$299 October 30th
HDD 250GB US$269 (bundle only) *2 September 25th
Europe/
PAL territories
HDD 500GB €299*3 September 28th
Flash Memory 12GB*4 €229*3 October 12th
Japan HDD 500GB 29,980 Yen (including tax) October 4th
HDD 250GB 24,980 Yen (including tax) October 4th

Thanks to a complete redesign of the internal architecture, the volume and weight of the new PS3 has been reduced by more than half compared to the very first PS3 model with a 60GB HDD, and by 25% and 20% respectively compared to the current PS3. By adopting a sliding disk cover, the new PS3 continues with the characteristic sleek curved body design, which fits various places in the home and enables users to enjoy an array of entertainment content.

With the extra HDD capacity which has been extended from 320GB and 160GB, users can store and enjoy more and more entertainment content including games, music, photos, and video on the new PS3. In addition, the new PS3 with 12GB flash memory offers opportunities to experience the world of PlayStation® at an affordable price point. Users can also expand the storage capacity of the 12GB flash memory PS3 by connecting a dedicated HDD (250GB) to be released concurrently with the new model*5. In addition, a variety of accessories will be introduced by SCE to meet various kinds of needs from users including a vertical stand that offers more flexibility in how the new PS3 can be displayed*6.

Since the launch of PS3 in November 2006, the number of BD-based titles has reached more than 3,300 titles and more than 4,100*7 downloadable PS3 games are available worldwide, thanks to support from a broad range of third party developers and publishers. In addition to this extensive software title line-up, exciting and attractive new titles are to be released from third party developers and publishers as well as SCE Worldwide Studios, including BIOHAZARD 6 (CAPCOM CO., LTD). Tales of Xillia 2(NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.), Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 (TECMO KOEI GAMES CO.,LTD), RYU-GA-GOTOKU 5(SEGA Corporation),PlayStation® All-Stars Battle Royale, LittleBigPlanet Karting, God of War: Ascension (Sony Computer Entertainment), and more.

SCE will further accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform which is in the 7th year of its lifecycle, by continually releasing a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles and offering users a choice from a variety of hardware models.

  • *1The new PS3 in classic white will become available in Japan from November. Other regions and countries will follow this
  • *2Only PS3 system bundled with software title will become available.
  • *3Prices will vary by country across Europe.
  • *4PS3 with flash memory 12GB will be sold in Europe and Hong Kong
  • *5When using dedicated HDD, flash memory cannot be used as inner storage
  • *6Users will need to use the separately sold “Vertical Stand” to set the new PS3 in vertical position.
  • *7Includes PS one® classics and free of charge content (downloadable demos).

Product Outline

PlayStation®3 (CECH-4000 series)

Product name PlayStation®3
Release date
North America: September 25th, 2012(HDD 250GB)
October 30th, 2012(HDD 500GB)
Europe: September 28th, 2012 (HDD 500GB)
October 12th , 2012 (Flash Memory 12GB)
Japan: October 4th , 2012
Recommended Retail Price HDD 500GB model: $299/ €299/ 29980 yen (including tax)
HDD 250GB model: $269 (bundle only)*1 /24980 yen (including tax)
Flash memory 12GB model: €229
Product code CECH-4000series  (Charcoal Black / Classic White)
CPU Cell Broadband Engine™
GPU RSX®
Audio output LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AAC.
Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
Storage size CECH-4000A   :  Flash Memory 12GB
CECH-4000B   :  HDD 250 GB
CECH-4000B   :  HDD 500GB*2
Inputs/
Outputs*3
Hi-Speed USB
(USB 2.0)
2
Networking Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) × 1
IEEE 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth® 2.0 (EDR)
Controller Wireless Controller (Bluetooth®
AV output Resolution 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i (for PAL 576p, 576i)
HDMI OUT connector*4 1
AV MULTI OUT connector 1
Digital out (optical) connector 1
BD/DVD/CD
drive (read only)
Maximum read rate BD × 2 (BD-ROM)
DVD × 8 (DVD-ROM)
CD × 24 (CD-ROM)
Power AC 220 – 240, 50/60Hz*5
Power consumption Approx. 190W
External dimensions
(excluding maximum projecting part )
Approx. 290 × 60 × 230 mm (width × height × length)
Mass Approx. 2.1kg *6
Included *7 PlayStation®3 system × 1
Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK®3) × 1
AC power cord × 1
AV cable × 1
USB cable × 1
  • *1Only PS3 system bundled with software title will become available.
  • *2Hard disk capacity calculated using base 10 mathematics (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes). System software versions 1.10 and later calculate capacity using binary mathematics (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes), which will display lower capacity and free space. A portion of hard disk capacity is reserved for system administration, which varies depending upon system software version, and is not available for use.
  • *3Usability of all connected devices is not guaranteed.
  • *4Deep Colour” and “x.v.Colour (xvYCC)” defined by HDMI ver.1.3a are supported.
  • *5Power changes depending on countries or regions.
  • *6PS3 with flash memory 12GB weights approximately 2.0kg
  • *7For certain regions, Euro-AV cable will be included.

    Note: This product is not compatible with PlayStation®2 games.

Vertical Stand (CECH-ZST1J)

Product name Vertical Stand
Release Date
North America: September  25th, 2012
Europe: September  28th, 2012
Japan: October 4th , 2012
Recommended Retail Price
North America: $14.99
Europe: €14.99
Japan: 1,800yen (including tax)
Product code CECH-ZST1
Included Vertical Stand (CECH-ZST1) × 1
External dimension Approx. 120 mm x 17.5 mm  (diameter × height (thickest part)
Mass Approx. 200g
Supports CECH-4000 series
  • *The “Vertical Stand” is for the new PS3 system (CECH-4000 series) and cannot be used on the current model.

Dedicated HDD(250GB) for PlayStation®3 (with attachment) (CECH-ZHD1)

Product name Vertical Stand
Release Date October 12th, 2012
Recommended Retail Price €89.99
Product code CECH-ZHD1
Included

HDD 250GB (CECH-ZS1) × 1

Mounting Bracket

External dimension Approx. 75 mm x 27 mm x 103 mm (width × height × length)
Mass Approx. 136g
Supports CECH-4000A
  • *The “Dedicated HDD(250GB) for PlayStation®3 ” is for the new PS3 system (CECH-4000A) and cannot be used on the other models.


About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develop and markets the PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since they launched PlayStation in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division companies, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide.

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Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
HDMI, HDMI logo and High Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Blu-ray Disc is a trademark.
The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is under license.
PlayStation, PS3, RSX, DUALSHOCK are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Cell Broadband Engine is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Readers are advised that the press releases and other information posted on this site are current only on their original publication date. Please note that such press releases and other information may now be outdated or rendered inaccurate due to passage of time or subsequent material changes in facts and circumstance.