Analyst: Sony Will Push Top PS3 Model

There will not be a lot of PlayStation 3s to go around, but at least gonna-be buyers can expect mostly the big-boy model at retail in the US.

With the PlayStation 3 now launching in low numbers in both the US and Japan (and not until 2007 in Europe), we can expect some massive lines in November. And if you think that most of those early adopters will want the full-featured 60 GB model, you're not alone.

Analyst Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets says that most of the PlayStation 3s hitting later this year will be of the full-bore variety.

The PlayStation 3 comes in two flavours: a €499 model that includes a 20 GB hard drive and leaves out the high-end HDMI connector and WiFi capabilities, and a &europ;599 60 GB model that includes the features Sony has been promising all along.

"The split between premium and core units at US retail stores should be roughly 80/20 [percent]," predicts Sebastian, according to a report at GameSpot.

Though this is specific for the American audience, it's a fair bet that Sony will be taking a similar stance to the launch in Japan in November and in Europe next year.

Sony is still reeling from last week's announcement that it would be scaling back the launch of the PlayStation 3. While the console was set to hit all three major territories this November, it will now launch in Europe in March 2007 and this November in the US (which will get 400,000 units) and Japan (100,000 units).

Though Sony will not hits its target of 2 million consoles ready by November, thanks to a shortage of Blu-ray components, the company says it will have that amount ready by the end of the year and should hits its March target of 6 million units.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games