Sony Computer Entertainment released the ne PlayStation 3 (PS3) on September 3, and a countdown event was held at Yodobashi Multimedia Akiba.

The new PS3 has been redesigned from the main semiconductors to the power supply and the cooling mechanism. With a new design and manufacturing process, it is two-thirds thinner and lighter than the original model (which has a 60 GB hard drive). It also saves energy by consuming two-thirds less power, and fan noise has been reduced to make it run more quietly.

The official English name of the device has been changed from “PLAYSTATION3” to “PlayStation 3,” and the general term for the family of game consoles has been standardized as “PlayStation.” The logo on the face of the console has also been revamped.

On the day of the release, a giant TV screen at the front of Yodobashi Multimedia Akiba showed a countdown starting at around 9:20 a.m. The screen was also used for trying out game demos.

The new PS3’s hard drive holds 120 GB, and the console is priced at 29,980 yen.

This article has been created in collaboration with
Akiba Keizai Shimbun

PlayStation 3(US)

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