| The move is a brilliant one for Sony, for it allows them to streamline their offerings in the US while finally importing the hardware revision Sony is using almost everywhere else. The European PlayStation 3 launch revealed that Sony had removed dedicated hardware aimed at ensuring wide PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility. The new units have software aimed at providing backwards compatibility, which helped Sony cut manufacturing costs. The "downgrade" had been much lamented online, but we heard few reports from gamers who run into compatibility problems, although they are out there.
The upgrade to 80GB of storage offsets some of that potential bitterness, and Sony can pull the switcheroo while still saving plenty of money on manufacturing. According to Reeves, the cost difference stemming from the 60GB to 80GB hard drive upgrade is "just Euro cents" (a.k.a., pennies).
The end result is that it costs less for Sony to make the upgraded 80GB unit than the existing 60GB unit. The Motorstorm bundle might shave a few bucks off those savings, but they're there. Whether or not you see this as brilliant product management or evil trickery will likely depend on how you view Sony, but one thing is clear: if you want dedicated hardware for backwards compatibility support, the 60GB unit is your only option, and supplies are limited.
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