Sony launches 12GB PS3 in the US, drops PS Vita to $199

Sony launches 12GB PS3 in the US, drops PS Vita to $199

Today at Gamescom in Cologne, Sony officially announced exciting news for all three of its current PlayStation-branded devices. The PS4 received a firm release date of November 15 in the United States, but the most substantial news surrounds the PS Vita and PS3. At long last, the Vita is finally getting a huge price drop, and North America will finally see the release of the cheap 12GB flash-only PS3 model.

Late last year, Sony introduced the “Super Slim” model of the PS3. In the US, consumers could choose between SKUs with 250GB or 500GB internal hard drives. In Europe, Sony dropped the 250GB model, and offered a 12GB flash-only SKU instead. Today, Sony has finally decided to introduce that same 12GB model in the US at a price that’s hard to argue with. For $199, consumers can now buy a 12GB Super Slim PS3, and take advantage of the entire back catalog of one of the longest-running console generations in history.

While the PlayStation Vita has struggled to gain mainstream traction, Sony’s focus on bringing smaller indie developers into the fold has made the Vita compelling to many core gamers. To help get more Vitas into consumer hands, Sony has decided to cut the price tag of the WiFi-only Vita to $199 — within striking distance of the Nintendo 3DS. As more must-have indie titles roll out on the Vita, this device is going to become harder to ignore, and this substantial price cut will surely bolster sales.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t any announcement involving a PS Vita and PS4 hardware bundle, but it certainly remains on the table for a post-launch release. With the built-in remote play feature for all PS4 games, and the proliferation of Cross-Buy with the PS3, the Vita is on track to become an impressive piece of hardware. If Sony can actually deliver on its promises, the PS4-Vita combo could make the Wii U’s lackluster gamepad look like a bad joke.

To make the whole Vita experience more palatable, Sony also decided to cut the price on memory cards. The basic 4GB card will now retail at $14.99, the 8GB card at $19.99, the 16GB card for $39.99, and a whopping $79.99 for the 32GB card. Sony is still charging an exorbitant amount for proprietary flash cards, but it’s finally moving in the right direction.

While none of this news is completely earthshaking, these changes make Sony look outstandingly pro-consumer as the PS4 nears its November launch. With all of the trouble Microsoft has had marketing the Xbox One, Sony’s laid-back public persona seems to be helping the Tokyo company take an early lead in the upcoming generational shift.