No Sony conference next week

By Robert Purchese Published 3 October, 2007

Rumours are incorrect.

Sony Europe has categorically denied to Eurogamer that it has a press conference scheduled for next week.

Rumours erupted yesterday that the platform holder had a "Big Bang" meeting planned for next Friday, which speculation suggested could be about a new 40GB PS3 model.

However, a spokesperson for Sony told us it has not announced anything and has nothing of the sort planned.

But it follows an increasing volume of Internet whispers about the new PS3 model: last week Sky started rumours by suggesting a "Core" 40GB PS3 was on its way, backed up by Sony filing a new model with the FCC later in the week.

This mysterious SKU, known only as "CECHG01", has also appeared on a list of Blu-ray players alongside recognised 60GB (CECHA01) and 80GB (CECH01) units.

Our news-ears remain open.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Razz #1 4 years ago

    \o/

    Eff Pony! :)

  • DUFFMAN5 #2 4 years ago

    I think Sony should keep a low profile at the moment. The 360 seems to be kicking it's arse, at least in the UK,bringing out brilliant title one after the other. I'm still holding out until MGS 4 and rumble, maybe a pro-mo all in the one box.

  • Wollan #3 4 years ago

    That's because the press conference is this Friday, not next week.
    They're announcing the console a week before release.

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

    Lot of Rumours this week for Sony and Microsoft

  • Steroyd #5 4 years ago

    There's supposed to be a Sony conference... what?

  • menage #6 4 years ago

    Let's all talk about some other people apparently not talking. How about we talk about all the ass kicking games at the moment.

  • lambtron #7 4 years ago

    Yeah I thought it was supposed to be Oct 12 no?

  • Ihya #8 4 years ago

    How do you know that Wollan?


    Interesting news week. Get with the £300 PS3 already Sony and I'm back on your side!

  • RexRunti #9 4 years ago

    If you can't say anything nice...

  • Razz #10 4 years ago

    So Pony are releasing a "cheaper" SKU just before the holiday season?

    Should make a decent enough Chrisitmas present if the person already has a HDTV, as let's face it Pony's Gheystation 3 is more about the grafix and bloogh3y as opposed to the games.

    That is to say, if you've got a PS3 and no HDTV then there really is no point...

    You fool. rYou bought into Pony's hype machine and boughta big fat tardinator! HA! 360 wii ftuw! Unless of course you bought it for Virtua Fighter for which you are forgiven. But you better have a HDTV and a set of Arcade sticks coz otherwise, yes! There rally is no point... I thin you follow now.

    Heed my words you nubslol!

    -Roger Eurogamer, Owner of Eurogamer.

  • Wollan #11 4 years ago

    I have a journalist friend who heard this yesterday. And EuroGamer set themselves up for it asking that particular question as they won't release the pr on the day of console release which is October 12th. They will want to announce it ahead and it's seemingly this Friday. Ergo it was totally easy for Sony denying a press conference set for next week.

    We have multiple reports now from stores in Italy, Australia and more. They have all received the information from Sony. Next week, the PS3 Starter pack will be reduced to €499 in Europe and the 40GB PS3 will be introduced for €399. Even Play.com has the product page up now.

  • zuljin #12 4 years ago

    360 has just had a price cut, and features have been added... So I'd be surprised if another price cut was due, but stranger things have happened...

  • Razz #13 4 years ago

    Even Play.com has the product page up now.

    That's a bare faced lie. I just had a look at the PS3 section of PLAY and found nothing! :(

    Liar... :(
    Edited by 2 at 03/10/07 @ 10:28

  • Xerx3s #14 4 years ago

    I think Sony should keep a low profile at the moment. The 360 seems to be kicking it's arse, at least in the UK,bringing out brilliant title one after the other. I'm still holding out until MGS 4 and rumble, maybe a pro-mo all in the one box.

    Why? This is EXACTLY the moment sony needs to go on the offensive.

  • Wollan #15 4 years ago

    "That's a bare faced lie. I just had a look at the PS3 section of PLAY and found nothing! :("

    I swear, it was up yesterday. Browsed it myself in person. 100% Fact.

    Basically the specs of the console is 2x USB ports, Wifi, 40GB.
    No card reader slots and seemingly no BC (due to GS chip being removed which is the only PS2 part in the refined 60GB/80GB PS3. The US launch consoles had the complete EE chipset).

    Also, take a look at our huge thread over at NeoGAF:
    http://ww w.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.p...
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/07 @ 10:40

  • Aretak #16 4 years ago

    Nice trolling, Razz. :)

  • lennon #17 4 years ago

    Wonder if Sony will reward us early mugs I mean adopters.

    /Dont bother answering I already know the answer. :)

  • DUFFMAN5 #18 4 years ago

    Hi Xerx3s

    "Why? This is EXACTLY the moment sony needs to go on the offensive".

    I think this because it would seem to me Sony have nothing to bring to the table at the moment, so I'm not too sure what the can do, other than the blu-ray of course. If they had a killer game/rumble put back ( I thought they said rumble/motion couldn't be in the same pad) in maybe we would listen. I think they are going to really strugle to catch up MS.......but that's not for here.

  • Wollan #19 4 years ago

    Okay, Sony Italy confirmed for this website that the announcement will indeed happen this Friday:
    http://ww w.gamestar.it/showPage.php?temp...

  • DonnieDarko333 #20 4 years ago

    The new 40GB is happening, Sony are trying to trick us into thinking it's not, but theres too much evidence backing it now.

    I think it's a good move to release a cheaper model, to be honest, i reckon sales will increase alot when it happens.

  • Bumhug360 #21 4 years ago

    Register has more info

    [link url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/03/sony_40gb_ ps3_console/
    ]http://ww w.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/03/...[/link]

    Looking like a october 28th release in US

  • Wollan #22 4 years ago

    Okay, german store magazine with the new price infront, Saturn is Germany's biggest Multimedia store:
    http://xs 220.xs.to/xs220/07403/saturn_we...

  • miiiguel #23 4 years ago

    I think a game is way more necessary than a price cut.

  • pinhead #24 4 years ago

    Expect a new sku that is cheaper. Yep that absoloutely needs to happen for Sony. However they also need to start releasing a lot more quality software than they have to date. There is just nothing available on there at the moment that I want and a mass of semi exclusive (PC fans) releases on the 360 that are scoring consistently high marks in reviews, with more to come down the track with the likes of mass effect.

    Oh and I really do not care about blu-ray. Please make a note of this Sony, it will not change my life.

  • zuljin #25 4 years ago

    @Razz
    Look on Play. 60gig PS3 is "Currently unavailable, please check again soon."

    If it was out of stock, it usually says on order with manufacturer. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out something is going on. I'm guessing were going to have to wait for details though.


    EDIT: In fact, Warhawk underneath has "Temporarily out of stock. This item will be dispatched as soon as it arrives."
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/07 @ 11:13

  • Steroyd #26 4 years ago

    Good,

    This means the 360 is gonna go down to 249 euros. after that even with the price cut sony is fucked.

    What the... Microsoft JUST had a price in August, and that took a year and a half close enough to 2 years to do, what makes you think they'll price cut again after just 2 months?

  • Gurgeh #27 4 years ago

    "I think it's a good move to release a cheaper model, to be honest, i reckon sales will increase alot when it happens. "

    They better...

    "Based on the first 10 months of availability, the troubled PlayStation 3 sold 22 percent less than the Nintendo GameCube for the same period"

    [link url=htt p://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=137448
    ]http://ww w.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_...[/link]

  • Razz #28 4 years ago

    The whole world has lost confidence in Sony and the Playstation.

    Heh.

  • zuljin #29 4 years ago

    Credit goes to betahoven ofcourse for posting this in first place:

    [link url=http: //www.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/4-/3497508/Sony-Playstatio n-3-PS3-Console-With-40GB-HDD/Product.html
    ]http://ww w.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/4...[/link]

    Theres nothing new on there, so it really means very little, but for Play to have already made a 40gig ps3 page, well, the clues are building up...

    Would be funny if someone already reviewed it...

  • mkreku #30 4 years ago

    Hmm.. I'm a bit tempted to get one in a distant future. But a model without PS2 emulation? No thanks. I have way too many great old PS2 games lying around for me to miss out on that feature.

    Will the fully equipped PS3 ever reach a level where it's worth a purchase?

  • M83J01P97 #31 4 years ago

    Why have rumours become the new 'news'.

    Can people just not announce things normally anymore?

  • drxym #32 4 years ago

    I think the new PS3 will have a smaller form factor. I sure hope it does, and all the signs so far (lower power consumption, lack of or modified BC, less USB) suggest it does. If so I think the thing will sell like hotcakes.

  • Steroyd #33 4 years ago

    The lack of B/C and a few less USB ports knocking off £100 I call bulls**t on that.

  • Bigglesworth #34 4 years ago

    "The 360 seems to be kicking it's arse, at least in the UK,bringing out brilliant title one after the other."
    --Duffman5 (and other people who trot out similar lines)

    Just out of interest I took the average of the PS3's and 360's EG game review scores.
    The PS3 averages 6.7 over 28 scores; the 360 averages 6.5 over 185 scores.

  • HiddenAway #35 4 years ago

    Lack of BC shouldn't mean lower form factor. The PS3's have been doing software emulation for a while...

  • Salvia #36 4 years ago

    "The PS3's have been doing software emulation for a while..."

    how many times must I write this...The PAL machines have had the EE taken out but they still contain the GS from the PS2. They are doing some software emulation but not 100%. Presumably if they sort out the emulation to be totally software-driven these models may well get the ability back.

  • lambtron #37 4 years ago

    "Just out of interest I took the average of the PS3's and 360's EG game review scores.
    The PS3 averages 6.7 over 28 scores; the 360 averages 6.5 over 185 scores. "

    What does this even mean! This is the most flawed logic I have ever seen. You do understand how averages work right? :)

  • drxym #38 4 years ago

    HiddenAway, no PS3 has PS2 software emulation. Some have software assisted emulation but there is still a GS chip on the board. If they chopped that out or somehow integrated it with another chip then practically the entire left hand side of the main board is empty. There is a real chance they could shrink the format factor in that case. Whether they do or not remains to be seen.

  • Bigglesworth #39 4 years ago

    "What does this even mean! This is the most flawed logic I have ever seen. You do understand how averages work right? :)"

    It just means that, on average, EG has scored PS3 games fractionally higher than 360 games. Why, what do *you* think it means? =)

  • lambtron #40 4 years ago

    No - it means the average for 28 games is higher than the average for 185. With a bigger number of games you're far more likely to have pap weighting the average down (and six times bigger is a fair difference). Moreover I think people were referring to the fact there have been some great games on 360 recently (Halo, PGR4, Eternal Sonata, Skate etc) rather than the idea that the bulk of all games on 360 are better than those on PS3 ;).

  • zuljin #41 4 years ago

    @Salvia
    "The PS3's have been doing software emulation for a while...
    how many times must I write this..."

    Probably a few more times. Especially since we are commenting on pretty much rumours and speculation. For all we know the "removal of backwards compatibility" part is suggesting removal of EE (since in old US ones it was still in there).

    We know nothing. Lets wait till they announce it shall we?

  • Bigglesworth #42 4 years ago

    "No - it means the average for 28 games is higher than the average for 185."

    I don't follow you. The average of a sample of 28 isn't automatically higher than a sample of 185.

    "With a bigger number of games you're far more likely to have pap weighting the average down [...]".

    You're probably right here, but the fact remains that, on average, the 28 PS3 games EG have reviewed have scored marginally higher than the 185 X360 games.

    "Moreover I think people were referring to the fact there have been some great games on 360 recently (Halo, PGR4, Eternal Sonata, Skate etc) rather than the idea that the bulk of all games on 360 are better than those on PS3 ;)."

    Almost certainly they were, and there's no denying the quality of some of the 360's recent releases, as you said. I was just taking issue with the kind of comment I originally responded to.

  • RexRunti #43 4 years ago

    Also you conviently left off all the PS3 games that are also available on the 360. Also people were refering to the quanity of quality games the average is meaningless in this situation.

  • Bigglesworth #44 4 years ago

    Also, I included every score that appears in the EG games database. Also, cocks.

  • TriggerHippie #45 4 years ago

    Just....wow. They say you can make statistics say anything you want. But to not even bother with the statistical part....genius!

  • Lov3 #46 4 years ago

    "Get with the £300 PS3 already Sony and I'm back on your side!"

    Quoted for truth. When they are £300, Sony will get the sales figures they desire.

  • 2099net #47 4 years ago

    I think its pretty obvious why the B/C is missing (if it is).

    [a] Make the more expensive SKU (which is still sitting in shops in it's thousands) still an attractive buy

    encourage PS3 game sales, which have been somewhat lacking

    Both are plus points for Sony (and retailers)

  • AOFanboi #48 4 years ago

    Dropping BC in a new PS3 model would be product suicide, since that would be dropping 99% of the available games - including system sellers like the GH series, GoW and existing Singstar titles. So that part of the rumour is so unlikely that Elvis sightings have more credibility. (Basically it would make the new PS3s collect dust while consumers bought the remainging PS2s instead).

    It would be an error of Amiga 500+ proportions.

  • cyber_nicco #49 4 years ago

    Somebody please check what the average of the 28 highest scoring (by EG) 360 games is. As has been pointed out already, the 28 highest scoring PS3 games average a score of 6.7.

    That seems like a fair comparison. Fuck it, score the top 10 (better for the PS3, presumably). Or score the top 50 (giving the PS3 22 zeros, of course).

    Really, nobody can argue rationally that at this time the 360's game lineup doesn't have a substantial advantage over the Wii and PS3 lineups. One just can't. They can wish it were true, but it doesn't make so.

    Of course, if you have a Wii or PS3 and have enough games to keep you happy then it really doesn't matter, does it?
    Edited by 1 at 04/10/07 @ 02:10