According to a press release issued today, SCEI is set to discontinue the 20G/60G SKU’s of the PS3 after the final shipment sees completion within the month.

I wouldn’t be in too much of a rush to purchase one if you’re one of our Japanese brethren. I’m fairly certain that there are probably still plenty in the channel, along with the final shipment that should be on its way now.

Further in the press release SCEI goes on to mention that they will continue to “vigorously promote the expansion of the PS3 platform by further concentrating on the 40GB HDD model.”

Great, they’re boning consumers with a complete lack of backwards compatibility, smooth move SCEI. Though this move has worked in Europe, it still feels like a step backwards.

One would think that going forward Sony might want to provide the most feature full product for their consumers, to maximize their chances in the market. Especially when the Nintendo Wii is kicking the living be-jesus out of the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Japan.

Ironically enough, the press release ends with “SCEI will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment.”

Sure, this must mean more and “better” SKU’s in the future.

Source: SCEI

Tags: backwards_compatibility, jp, press_release, PS3, scei, Sony

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