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PlayStation 3

Sony Computer Entertainment console · Generation 7

PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3, Sony's seventh-generation console from 2006: Cell processor, Blu-ray drive, original, Slim and Super Slim models, and its history.

History of the PlayStation 3

Development began on March 9, 2001, when Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi announced a partnership with Toshiba and IBM to build the Cell processor. In 2004 Sony confirmed Blu-ray as the main format and picked Nvidia for the graphics chip. The team had first believed the Cell could handle graphics on its own, but developers showed that without a dedicated GPU the console would fall behind the Xbox 360. The PS3 was unveiled at E3 on May 16, 2005, with a boomerang-shaped controller prototype.

It launched on November 11, 2006, in Japan, on November 17 in North America and on March 23, 2007, in Europe and Australia, delayed there by a shortage of Blu-ray drive parts. It cost $499 with 20 GB and $599 with 60 GB, and Sony still lost money on each unit. Reviewers pointed to the price, the thin launch line-up and how hard it was to program, but praised the hardware and Blu-ray playback, a format that went on to beat HD DVD.

Resistance: Fall of Man led the North American launch and MotorStorm stood out in Europe. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gran Turismo 5 followed, and the best-selling titles include Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us. In 2010 the console gained stereoscopic 3D through firmware and the PlayStation Move controller. In April 2011 an intrusion forced the PlayStation Network offline for an extended period, and Sony warned that personal data from 77 million users might have been taken.

The Slim model of 2009 and the Super Slim of 2012 cut manufacturing costs and, together with price drops, improved the console's standing; it ended up narrowly outselling the Xbox 360. After the PS4 arrived in November 2013, Sony phased it out: production ended in Europe in March 2016, in North America in October 2016 and in Japan on May 29, 2017. Sony planned to close the PS3 PlayStation Store in 2021 but reversed course; in July 2026 it announced the closure again.

Milestones

  1. 2001

    Sony, Toshiba and IBM partner to develop the Cell processor (March 9).

  2. 2005

    The console is unveiled at E3 (May 16).

  3. 2006

    Launch in Japan on November 11 and in North America on November 17.

  4. 2007

    Released in Europe and Australia on March 23.

  5. 2009

    The PS3 Slim launches on September 1 and Sony adopts the "PS3" logo.

  6. 2010

    Firmware 3.21 removes OtherOS (April 1); stereoscopic 3D and PlayStation Move arrive.

  7. 2011

    The PlayStation Network is shut down on April 20 after an external intrusion.

  8. 2012

    The Super Slim model is released, with a sliding disc cover.

  9. 2017

    Production in Japan ends on May 29.

Models and revisions

The hardware variants of the PlayStation 3 and their model numbers.

  • PlayStation 3 20 GB · 2006

    Basic NTSC launch model with four USB ports, hardware PS2 compatibility and SACD, but no Wi-Fi or card readers.

    Models: CECHBxx

  • PlayStation 3 60 GB · 2006

    Higher-end NTSC launch model adding Wi-Fi, flash card readers and chrome trim, with hardware PS2 compatibility.

    Models: CECHAxx

  • PlayStation 3 60 GB (PAL) · 2007

    European launch model that drops the Emotion Engine chip and emulates the PS2 partly in software, keeping the Graphics Synthesizer.

    Models: CECHCxx

  • PlayStation 3 80 GB (CECHE) · 2007

    NTSC 80 GB version matching the PAL 60 GB model; its Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle was the last model with PS2 compatibility.

    Models: CECHExx

  • PlayStation 3 40 GB · 2007

    2007 model without PS2 compatibility, card readers or SACD, with two USB ports and matte silver trim.

    Models: CECHGxx, CECHHxx, CECHJxx

  • PlayStation 3 80 GB · 2008

    2008 revision with the same features as the 40 GB model, a larger drive and a DualShock 3 in the box.

    Models: CECHKxx, CECHLxx, CECHMxx

  • PlayStation 3 160 GB · 2008

    The last original-style model, from late 2008, with a 160 GB drive, two USB ports and no PS2 compatibility.

    Models: CECHPxx, CECHQxx

  • PlayStation 3 Slim · 2009

    2009 redesign that is 33% smaller and 36% lighter, with lower power use, HDMI-CEC and 120 to 320 GB drives.

    Models: CECH-20xx, CECH-21xx, CECH-25xx, CECH-30xx

    Model history

  • PlayStation 3 Super Slim · 2012

    The final PS3 redesign (2012), smaller and lighter than the Slim, with a sliding disc cover and 12 GB flash, 250 GB and 500 GB versions.

    Models: CECH-40xx, CECH-43xx

    Model history

  • PlayStation 3 Super Slim CECH-4200 · 2013

    2013 revision nearly identical to the CECH-4000, made to meet the AACS rule blocking Blu-ray over analog outputs.

    Models: CECH-42xx

Special editions

Limited editions, colours and commemorative bundles.

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    PS3 Metal Gear Solid 4 Gun-Metal Grey

    Gun-Metal Grey 40 GB PS3 sold only in the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots bundle with a DualShock 3 controller.

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    PS3 Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Cloud Black) · Japón

    Japanese limited edition 160 GB console in dark grey "Cloud Black" with a custom white design, bundled with the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Blu-ray.

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    PS3 Resident Evil 5 · Japón

    Black 80 GB PS3 with a matte Tricell logo, sold in Japan with Resident Evil 5 and an extra DualShock 3.

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    PS3 Yakuza 3 · Japón

    Ceramic White 80 GB PS3 with grey dragon designs on the case, limited to 10,000 units and sold with Yakuza 3.

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    PS3 Slim Gran Turismo 5 Titanium Blue · Japón

    Titanium Blue 160 GB PS3 Slim, available only in the Japanese Gran Turismo 5 bundle.

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    PS3 Slim Ni no Kuni Magical Gold · Japón

    Magical Gold 160 GB PS3 Slim, sold only in the Japanese Ni no Kuni bundle.

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    PS3 Slim Tales of Xillia · Japón

    Charcoal Black 160 GB PS3 Slim with a red and gold design, sold in Japan with Tales of Xillia.

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    PS3 Slim Final Fantasy XIII-2 (negra y rosa) · Japón

    Black 320 GB PS3 Slim with a pink design of Lightning, available only in the Japanese Final Fantasy XIII-2 bundle.

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    PS3 Slim One Piece: Pirate Warriors Gold · Japón

    Gold 320 GB PS3 Slim, sold only in the Japanese One Piece: Pirate Warriors Gold bundle.

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    PS3 Super Slim Yakuza 5 (negra y dorada) · Japón

    Black 250 GB PS3 Super Slim with a gold emblem, sold with Yakuza 5, an 8 GB USB drive and a beach towel.

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    PS3 Super Slim Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 (negra y blanca) · Japón

    Black 250 GB PS3 Super Slim with a white emblem, available only in the Japanese Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 bundle.

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    PS3 Super Slim Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (negra y azul) · Japón

    Black and blue 250 GB PS3 Super Slim, available only in the Japanese Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance bundle.

  • 2009

    PS3 Slim Final Fantasy XIII (blanca y rosa) · Japón

    White 250 GB PS3 Slim with a pink design of Lightning, announced at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show for the Final Fantasy XIII bundle.