Sony plan 160GB PS3?

Following the news last week that Sony are to offer a 60GB PS3 value pack at a price of £349 and a new 40GB entry level PS3 model at £299, QJ.net believe that a 160GB unit is being developed for the Japanese market. The news has apparently been leaked from Sony Computer Entertainment International's Japan offices, where a spec list has appeared online revealing new model: CECHG06. "The PS3 160gb will have a slightly upgraded Wi-Fi and Bluetooth receiver. Also the PS3 will be available in both Black and Silver, come with an unamed Blu-Ray movie, demos and trailers packed onto the HDD and a voucher for 2 PSN titles for the first number of customers," said an anonymous source. "At the moment the unit is only confirmed for release in Japan. A date has not been fully specified but is expected after November".

Rumoured specs

* Code: CECHG06 (SPECIFICATION)

*Sony PlayStation 3

* 160GB 2.5 SATA 5400rpm HDD

* CELL Broadband Engine (65nm process) @ 3.2ghz

* PPU x1, SPE x8* RSX GPU (65nm process) @ 550mhz

* Blu-ray Optical Disc Drive @ 2x

* Memory Card Reader- Memory Stick Duo, Compact Flash, Secure Digital

* 6x USB 2.0 ports* 2x HDMI 1.3 ports

* 3x Gigabit ethernet ports

* DUALSHOCK 3 controller

The announcement of two new PS3 packs so soon after the launch of Sony's console has annoyed some of the early PS3 adopters.But, in an interview with Games Industry.biz, UK managing director Ray Maguire shrugged off any user complaints. "As products evolve the offerings change because they have to adapt to the needs of the consumers but I don't think it's been particularly confusing in six months to go from stand alone, to a bundled proposition into a low price entry level model."