Here we are, the last of a generation comes to an end. Sony’s decade-long plan with the PS3 draws to a very slim, and very cheap close with the launch of this, the 12GB US$199 PS3. There were rumours which have materialised into truth and those who are keen to get their last-gen buzz on, the 12GB PS3 can be purchased right here from Sony’s online store.
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The cheaper PS3 sold first in Canada and has now made its way to the US. According to CNET, there’s a 6.35cm flash-drive, one wireless DualShock controller and built-in Wi-Fi. All very similar offerings to most PS3 bundles then, minus a game or second controller.
Is the US$199 PS3 a blatant rip-off of the now-ancient Xbox 360 Arcade edition? This cut down console had one controller, no HDMI cable and a mere 4GB on-board memory. It wasn’t the most popular Xbox 360 model ever released, but it was at least produced during the start of the consoles life-cycle. Can the PS3 take advantage of the current stellar crop of games and sell itself as a viable console option?
There’s still a lot of life left in the PS3 though, with games like the Last of Us, Diablo III, Grand Theft Auto V and Gran Turismo 6 keeping the old dear alive. These games are some of the pinnacle of our generation and at this price the PS3 would be a tasty alternative to the Xbox 360.
For reference, the first PS3 launched 2006 at the price of US$600 (60GB model). Today’s PS3 is US$199, far less bulkier and has 12GB of on-board storage. With the US$400 PS4 coming at the end of the year, is it really worth it to invest half of that in a console that’s almost ten years old? With some luck, Sony’s gamble will pay off.
