News: In the year PSP-3000...
Sony has announced that a new class of PlayStation 3 and PSP hardware will be on store shelves this Fall, although they won't be much of an upgrade from currently available models.
First up, Sony is bumping up the size of the PS3's hard drive to 160 GB. The new 160 GB model will have all of the same features and functionality of the currently available 80 GB model (this means it will not have PS2 backwards compatibility). The package will retail for $499.99 and include a copy of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a download code for Pain. It will be released in November.
Also available this November will be the PS3 Wireless Keypad. The Wireless Keypad will snap onto the top of a DualShock 3 controller and help with in-game text messaging and PS3 browser navigation. A picture of the unit (both loose and attached to the controller) is available at Kotaku.
Finally, Sony has announced that the third version of the PSP (the PSP-3000) will be released this October. The PSP-3000 will have all of the same features as the PSP-2000 model (including the smaller size), but it will also have an improved screen and a built-in microphone. The PSP-3000 will available in an Entertainment Pack (which will also have Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters or a 4 GB Memory Stick in the box) for $199.99 or a $169.99 Core Pack, which is just a standalone system.