Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Wednesday it will launch a smaller, lighter version of its PlayStation 3 home-use gaming console on Oct. 4 in Japan.
The new version, which comes in black, is less than half the size of the original model introduced in 2006 but has a bigger hard-drive memory at 500 and 250 gigabytes, compared with the current models of 320 and 160 gigabytes.
At 29 cm in width, 6 cm in height and 23 cm in depth, it is about three-fourths the volume of the current models, while its weight of around 2.1 kg is around 20 percent less.
The 500-gigabyte model will be offered at ¥29,980 and the 250-gigabite model at 24,980 yen, unchanged from the prices of their respective predecessors.
A white-colored, 250-gigabyte model will be available from Nov. 22, Sony Corp.'s game unit said.
The 500-gigabyte model will be launched in Europe on Sept. 28 priced at 299 euros, while in North America the 250-gigabyte model will hit the market on Sept. 25 at $269 and the 500-gigabyte model on Oct. 30 at $299, it said.
The announcement comes before the Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's largest gaming events, kicks off Thursday near Tokyo, as well as ahead of the lucrative Christmas season.