Rumor: 80GB PS3 models to be phased out at Best Buy

With the discontinuation of the first generation of PS3 models already implemented, it looks like Sony‘s 80GB PS3 model will soon be following suite. This is according to a letter sent by an anonymous Best Buy employee detailing the store’s plan to phase out any future releases of the more expensive of the two current PS3 models.

Check out the rest of the story in the full article!

Following the holiday rush of gaming console sales, it looks like Sony‘s 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 won’t be making a comeback according to an internal letter from an anonymous Best Buy employee reporting the discontinuation of the PS3 model.

The letter was sent to the PS3 Fanboy website and noted that the 80GB version “will come off the planogram on Jan. 28”. It also mentioned that only the 40GB version of the console will be available on shelves at Best Buy at this time and no further announcements from Sony have been made about any new products.

The lower cost 40GB PS3 model priced at US$ 399 sports fewer features compared to the 80GB model. Among these are fewer USB ports, lack of memory card readers, and no backwards compatibility. Gamers will be severely limited with their gaming options if this plan pushes through.

Putting in a little speculation, all of this may have something to do with the FCC filing of the new white-colored PS3 model that was recently released in Japan. Everything’s still up in the air, though, so there’s no final word why the possible phasing out of the 80GB PS3 may occur. We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out in the near future.