Sony has unveiled a redesigned model of its existing Playstation 3 console at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan. The new PlayStation 3 sports a slimmer streamlined design which makes it 20 percent smaller and about 25 percent lighter than the existing PlayStation 3 console. Also, for the first time, the new PlayStation 3 uses a sliding door panel to top load discs as opposed to the slot-loading disc drive. A noticeable change comes in the overall power consumption, which drops from 200W to 190W.
Sony has bumped up the internals of the new version while the prices remain the same. The new PlayStation 3 console will be available in two different models with 250GB and 500GB HDDs. They will come in two colours, black and white. The black model will be released on October 4, while the white model will be released on November 22.
The company announced that the 250GB model will cost 24,980 Yen. Sony did not reveal pricing for the 500GB model. It also announced an Everybody's Golf 6 PS3 pack, which will launch on November 22 with a white PlayStation 3 250GB model for 25,980 Yen.
Sony also revealed that the 250GB model will be available on September 25 in North America for $269.99 as part of a limited edition bundle featuring Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Game of the Year edition and a voucher for more than US$30 worth of bonus digital content for the title Dust 514.
On the other hand, the new 500GB model will be available in a limited edition Assassin's Creed III bundle on October 30 in North America. Sony did not reveal pricing for this model.
A worldwide release for the new console is scheduled for October including India. Australia and Europe can buy the new console on September 27 and October 12 AU$300 and 229 Euros respectively. These regions will have an additional option for a 12GB flash drive for the 250GB model. Users who buy this model will be able to upgrade to an HDD, but will lose the 12GB as internal storage upon upgrading.
Other announcements from Sony at the event included PlayStation Plus subscription service arriving on the PlayStation Vita this November. PlayStation Plus members will be able to enjoy all its features on the Vita at no additional cost. Sony's subscription service on the vita will include instant game collection, discounts, online game storage, automatic updates and automatic trophy sync.
The company also announced that it will be opening up PlayStation mobile stores all around the world (Japan, North America, EU, and Australia) later this year. Speaking of the Vita, Sony revealed two new colours for the portable handheld, red and blue set to launch on November 15.
Coming to games, Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Vita will be launching in December, while Soul Sacrifice will have cross-platform functionality but has been delayed to 2013.
Sony also unveiled a new Vita title Valhalla Knights 3, scheduled for 2013 and Oboro Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a remake of Muramasa: Demon Blade. Tecmo Koei also announced a new title, Toukiden, featuring a female protagonist. Toukiden will be made by Omega Force, the studio behind Dynasty Warriors and will have a joint release for the PlayStation Portable and the Vita with cross-platform play.