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 Since the conception of the PS3 Sony has been on one crazy rollercoaster ride trying to keep up with the Xbox 360. So far we've seen 20GB models replaced with 40GB models that have in turn been replaced by the 60GB systems. The dust has now settled and Sony Japan has finally announced that the 20GB and 60GB models will be discontinued after this January's final shipment is out. The cheaper 40GB unit is more cost effective for Sony to produce and will save Sony a ton of money. Does being cost effective come at a price? Yes, it most certainly does, and you as the consumer will be effected the most by this recent announcement. How about this one, No backwards compatibility. Wasn't this one of the selling points for Sony? Being able to pop in and play your old PS2 favorites and play away without a care in the world. Well I guess Sony is getting some advice from Microsoft this time around. Microsoft's advice: make the consumer buy the game two or three times, that's were the money's at. Though that statement is not an official one. I can just imagine it on a plaque hanging in their main offices. Below is the article in its entirety. Get some tissues ready.

Sony Japan has announced that it is to discontinue the 20GB and 60GB PlayStation 3 SKUs after a final shipment in January, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The company said that it now intends to concentrate on the 40GB model in the region as it "vigorously promotes" the home console during 2008.

Both 20GB and 60GB models were launched in Japan in November 2006, with the 40GB model launching in November last year. Tom bought one of the 60GB models - he's currently nursing it through the ordeal.

Sony has changed prices and introduced new models of the PlayStation 3 across Europe, the US and Japan several times since launching the console in each region.

Last October Sony Europe dropped the price of the 60GB console and introduced a 40GB model, before revealing it would phase out the 60GB SKU all together.

In North America Sony launched a 80GB PlayStation 3 last August, and slashed the price of the 60GB model.

The 40GB PS3 has a few less features than the higher-spec models, most notably the loss of backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles.

The 40GB model is known to be cheaper to produce for Sony. Kaz Hirai noted earlier this week that he hopes the company's PlayStation business will become profitable in the next fiscal year, now that costs are being reduced at a manufacturing level.

 Source: Eurogamer.net 

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