160GB PS3, wireless keypad unveiled

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 August, 2008

Latter "could be used" for game controls.

Sony plans to release a 160GB PlayStation 3 on 31st October.

The 80GB model is due out on 22nd August in Europe, European boss David Reeves confirmed during Sony's Games Convention conference this afternoon, but those of you after more space might want to hang on.

The 160GB PS3 will cost EUR 449, and boasts the same feature-set as the 80GB model, but also comes with EUR 70 of additional downloadable content "to be announced closer to the release date".

Reeves also announced plans for a wireless keypad for PlayStation 3, which apparently looks a bit like a Blackberry keyboard and "could be used for game development in the future".

Sony subsequently said it would be released in North America in November and in Europe by the end of the year.

"It's very compact, easy to use and detachable to Sixaxis and Dual Shock controllers," Reeves told the audience, demonstrating this by almost flinging it into the audience as he attached and removed it.

The keypad will also include a touch-pad to handle mouse input. It's about making easier to use the web-browser, among other things.

On top of that, there are shortcut buttons for Communication and Message Box, allowing you to hop to things like your friends list on the XMB without delay.

There will be eight versions in PAL territories to support various language requirements (Sony loves multi-language releases, as those of us still waiting for PSN releases from the Dark Ages can attest).

Check out more from the Sony GC Conference in our live report, still ongoing at the time of frantically typing.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • danathjo #1 4 years ago

    way to go..let's confuse as many consumers as possble!!

  • BOFH_UK #2 4 years ago

    Can someone please explain where the sense is in announcing yet ANOTHER new PS3 pack with no functional differences over the 80Gb version other than more space with the 80Gb model set for launch this Friday? Surely this is just going to result in a lot of confused potential customers wondering whether to wait or not (especially as they haven't announced ALL the details yet re: downloadable content) and a lot of angry customers who won't know this is coming until it starts getting advertised in stores about a month after they bought their 'brand new model'?

    Just seems an odd decision with no real benefit to Sony.

  • Triggerhappytel #3 4 years ago

    EG, what's going on; your site is fucked at the moment. Is it all these new EA adverts your displaying? And it must be here because I'm getting no problems elsewhere.

    Erm, anyway, a new PS3 SKU, huh? Great.

  • asphaltcowboy #4 4 years ago

    Will the 160GB come with DS3s, I think THAT is the most important question!

  • Apologie #5 4 years ago

    sounds intresting... and no, it's not consufing at all, you said it, it's just more disk space... it doesen't seem that sonfusing to me.
    that keypad is very tempting hummmmmmmmm :p

  • Apologie #6 4 years ago

    sounds intresting... and no, it's not consufing at all, you said it, it's just more disk space... it doesen't seem that sonfusing to me.
    that keypad is very tempting hummmmmmmmm :p

  • Apologie #7 4 years ago

    sounds intresting... and no, it's not consufing at all, you said it, it's just more disk space... it doesen't seem that sonfusing to me.
    that keypad is very tempting hummmmmmmmm :p

  • optimusprym8 #8 4 years ago

    I distinctly remember Sony bashed MS for having too many hardware options to confuse customers with...

  • optimusprym8 #9 4 years ago

    I distinctly remember Sony bashed MS for having too many hardware options to confuse customers with...

  • BartonFink #10 4 years ago

    Fantastic yet another PS3 SKU.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #11 4 years ago

    I think the most important diffece is it comes with games preinstalled on its HDD as well

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #12 4 years ago

    I think the most important diffece is it comes with games preinstalled on its HDD as well

  • Xerx3s #13 4 years ago

    Any pics of that keyboard thingy?

    PS: what's confusing? It's a ps3 with a bigger HDD, how confusing can that be?

  • Peew971 #14 4 years ago

    I guess most people don't know they can put their own HDD in the PS3. Otherwise, what's the point in releasing 40, 60, 80 then 160GB consoles?

  • johnnybrn #15 4 years ago

    GamesProgrammer,

    What games will come with pre-installed?

    Is this like a console bundle except the games are already on the hard-drive?

  • johnnybrn #16 4 years ago

    Doesnt putting in your own HDD invalidate the warranty though?

  • spookyzombie #17 4 years ago

    Odds for a 250gb to be released before Christmas? 6/1

  • mkreku #18 4 years ago

    It's weird that when Microsoft releases an Xbox 360 Arcade, an Xbox 360 Premium and an Xbox 360 Elite it's called choice. When Sony releases different SKU's it's called confusing.

    Even weirder it becomes when you realize that the Xbox 360 Arcade actually lacks functions compared to its bigger siblings, something which does not apply to any of the Sony SKU's. They are all the same, except for different sized hard drives.

  • spookyzombie #19 4 years ago

    @johnnybrn - Apparently not. Plus you don't break any seal or anything when you replace the HDD, so nobody would know you've tinkered to be honest.

  • BartonFink #20 4 years ago

    @mkreku
    Even weirder it becomes when you realize that the Xbox 360 Arcade actually lacks functions compared to its bigger siblings, something which does not apply to any of the Sony SKU's.

    Err lack of BC, memory card readers?

    That's a huge difference.
    Edited by 1 at 20/08/08 @ 17:31

  • Steroyd #21 4 years ago

    This is interesting because it's bundled with 70 Euro worth of PSN games.

  • thegamesthething #22 4 years ago

    mkreku, i think when Sony release various SKUs, they call it choice and MS call it confusing. When MS release various SKUs, they call it choice and Sony call it confusing.
    The market loudly describes it as both, so if you understand the difference it's choice, and if not it's confusing.

  • Anthony_UK #23 4 years ago

    Without sounding like a fanboy (I actually own a PS3) i don't really see the point? the only thing that seems to be filling up my 40gb at an alarming rate is these stupid installs every time a play a game, other than that who/what would you actually put on the thing?

  • PSPlover #24 4 years ago

    ok one question: why the hell is there no backwords compatilibility?!

  • Kenshin001 #25 4 years ago

    @AnthonyUK

    I guess Warhawk, Siren, GT5P, a bunch of PSN games plus music, photos, videos and demos would fill it quick. Seems a bit pointless to have the HDD and not utilise it but I guess some people don't use it for downloadable games or as a media hub.

    Anyway, did they demo that keyboard? I like the idea but stuck on top it seemed completely counter-intuitive and impractical. EG, please get a hands on while you are there.

  • Tweakmonkey #26 4 years ago

    BC is gone. Get over it.

  • Kyledanutmeg #27 4 years ago

    ok its not confusing its dumb if anything wot is the point of releasing a 80gb from 60gb and now a 160gb y not just release a friking hard drive seperately.

  • Widge #28 4 years ago

    do you live in a hole? go to any component site and there are hard drives a gogo to purchase.

  • betahoven #29 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • Phily50 #30 4 years ago

    Heres america's version of the offer, they were quick to respond to ours eh.



    [link url=http://kotaku.com/503 9485/uncharted-drakes-fortune-160gb-ps3-priced-dated-for-nor th-america
    ]http://ko taku.com/5039485/uncharted-drak...[/link]



    The console (160GB) with uncharted, a voucher for pain and a dualshock controller. For $500.

  • coojam #31 4 years ago

    funny echo in here

  • Kill_Crazy #32 4 years ago

    I reckon Burnout Paradise will be on the hdd too.

  • MaskedDave #33 4 years ago

    "If it had BC I'd buy it the day it comes out. Instead, I've got to get an older 60GB one from eBay or preowned in store. I thought console companies made their machines BETTER as their life span went on. Silly me."

    I'm in exactly the same shoes as this guy.

    It's slightly uncomfortable but it does mean I only do half the walking.

  • makeamazing #34 4 years ago

    I dont understand the comments of "Great another SKU"... its not very difficult is it, there will be ...wait for it.... 2. Yep thats right, I know its alot to remember.... seriously some people must have very poor brains if they cant handle 2 SKUS... one has a smaller hard disk and the other is larger... really its not difficult.

    On another note, why is there the odd comment of "I will get one if it comes with a DS"... perhaps Ive missed something somewhere, has the PS3/PS2 etc ever come with a free DS stuck with the console?

  • BOFH_UK #35 4 years ago

    @makeamazing: 2? No, try 7 ignoring various colour options:

    20Gb (NTSC) - 4 USB ports, no wifi, no card reader, SACD, Hardware BC
    40Gb - 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi, no card reader, no SACD, no BC
    60Gb (NTSC) - 4 USB ports, Wi-Fi, Card Reader, SACD, Hardware BC
    60Gb (PAL) - 4 USB ports, Wi-Fi, Card Reader, SACD, Software BC
    80Gb (NTSC) - 4 USB ports, Wi-Fi, Card Reader, SACD, Software BC
    80Gb (PAL) - 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi, no card reader, no SACD, no BC
    160Gb - 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi, no card reader, no SACD, no BC

    I THINK that's right anyway. With this particular pack I just don't get why Sony are introducing it. The extra hard drive space is nice but it's hardly going to be a system seller surely? And with it adding another chunk on to the cost of what is already the most expensive system by a fairly long way then how much demand is there really going to be for this?

    Oh, and DS stands for Dual Shock, as in Dual Shock controller. Not the Nintendo DS.

  • Nabokov #36 4 years ago

    I bet there will PlayTV + 160GB bundle, Media Edition. 80GB is little small for PVR.

  • Widge #37 4 years ago

    To be confusing to the consumer, wouldn't all of those have to be available on sale, and not getting phased out? Or are they going to have signs in store saying "well you could have had a 60GB version on initial release" plus a picture of Belgium, you know, for the confusion factor.

    Plus the easily confused aren't going to be the types to walk into a shop and announce "OMG! WHERE ARE ALL THE NTSC CONSOLES?!", and if they are... perhaps homicide as a viable solution to that problem.

  • Mongoose #38 4 years ago

    Yeah there will only be 2 on sale (after 40 and 60 stocks run out) won't there? I can't see that being too confusing for most people interested in a Blu-Ray player/PS3...

  • GitSomE_UK #39 4 years ago

    BC will never return - FACT

  • Stuz359 #40 4 years ago

    It already explains in the manual how to change the hard drive. Why spend so much more?

  • SeesThroughAll #41 4 years ago

    OK.... 450 euro for a PS3 that brings a HDD twice as big then?
    Hmmm... Is it bundled with PlayTV or something? No?

    More importantly... Is BC back?

    F*** it then.

  • Ryze #42 4 years ago

    @GitSomE UK - Gutted for Sony and their lost sales then.

    /plans second hand PS2 purchase...

  • makeamazing #43 4 years ago

    @BOFH_UK but they are not all on sale right now. If a customer goes into a shop and says Im interested in a PS3, the shop owner wont go, well 2 years ago there was this version and then this.. oh in america there is a NTSC version...... Its a case of there are two machines available one with this size disk and the other with a larger disk, Customer - why do i need a larger disk... its pretty simple really, especially as the machines are effectively the same.

    Ah thanks for clearing up the DS thing.. DUH stupid me. This is what happens when you work too many hours.... not only that now that Ive had a sleep, why would they ship a nintendo product with a sony product... I really must try and get more than 6 hours sleep a day.

  • Zomoniac #44 4 years ago

    ok its not confusing its dumb if anything wot is the point of releasing a 80gb from 60gb and now a 160gb y not just release a friking hard drive seperately.

    Because the HDD is internal. And most people who buy a PS3 think the primary use of a screwdriver is for stabbing people.

  • Darren #45 4 years ago

    CVG report that the 160 GB HDD PS3 will cost £355 in the UK, some £55 more than the 80 GB HDD model. Now that strikes me as being slightly overpriced given that you can buy a PS3 for £299 and purchase a 160 GB HDD separately for less than £40 these days. Since there are no other features added to the 160 GB HDD PS3 it seems poor value really.

  • KayJay #46 4 years ago

    @ Darren - Are they not bundling a load of games with it?


    "but also comes with EUR 70 of additional downloadable content "to be announced closer to the release date"
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/08 @ 10:16

  • jonchoo #47 4 years ago

    What is so confusing?

    All allows the user to play the majority of PS3 games out of the box without additional hardware purchases.

    I am happy that Sony is refining the PS3 model like what they did with the PS2 (which went through no less than 15 revisions that we know of).

  • assache #48 4 years ago

    BOFH_UK

    You are spot on. I was about to buy the 80gb. Why bother now, when I know the 160gb us just around the corner.

    Come on Sony, will you just settle on an SKU for 12 months at least.