PlayStation 3

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PlayStation 3

Counter-clockwise from the top: Original logo, new logo, original "fat" model, DualShock 3 controller, later "slim" model
Developer	SCEI
Manufacturer	Sony EMCS, Foxconn, ASUSTeK[1]
Product family	PlayStation
Type	Video game console
Generation	Seventh generation
Release date	Original Model: JP: November 11, 2006 NA: November 17, 2006 PAL: March 23, 2007 IND: April 27, 2007 KOR: June 16, 2007 PS3 Slim: NA/EU: September 1, 2009 WW: September 3, 2009 IND: December 1, 2009 PS3 Super Slim: WW: September 25, 2012 JP: October 4, 2012 IND: January 25, 2013 (details)
Lifespan	2006-2017
Discontinued	NZ: September 29, 2015 PAL: March 31, 2016 NA: October 31, 2016 JP: May 29, 2017
Units sold	87.41 million (as of 30 September 2020)[2]
Media	Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3 game disc) DVD Compact Disc PlayStation game disc PlayStation 2 game disc (1st & 2nd generations only[broken anchor]) Super Audio CD (1st & 2nd generations only[broken anchor]) Digital distribution
Operating system	XrossMediaBar System software version 4.31 (October 30, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-10-30))[3]
CPU	3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine with 1 PPE & 6 SPEs
Memory	256 MB system and 256 MB video
Storage	2.5-inch SATA hard drive (20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, or 320 GB included) (upgradeable)
Display	Video output formats Composite video 480i, 576i (PAL) S-Video 480i, 576i (PAL) RGB SCART 480i, 576i (PAL) Component (YPBPR) 480i, 576i (PAL), 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p D-Terminal 480i (D1), 480p (D2), 720p (D4), 1080i (D3), 1080p (D5) HDMI 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Graphics	550 MHz NVIDIA/SCEI RSX 'Reality Synthesizer'
Sound	Audio output formats A/V-Multi Analog stereo TOSLINK LPCM 2ch 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88 kHz, 176.4 kHz Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS 5.1 AAC HDMI LPCM 2ch, 5.1ch, 7.1ch 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz DTS-HD Master Audio Bitstream (slim models only[broken anchor])* Dolby TrueHD Bitstream (slim models only[broken anchor])* Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS 5.1 AAC *All models can decode Dolby TrueHD and as of firmware 2.30 DTS-HD Master Audio, to be output as LPCM. Output of the raw undecoded stream is limited to slim models.[4]
Controller input	Sixaxis, DualShock 3, Logitech Driving Force GT, Logitech Cordless Precision controller, standard USB controllers, GT Force, Rhythm game controllers, PlayStation Move, GunCon 3, PlayStation Portable, Keyboard and Mouse
Connectivity	(details) Flash memory input MemoryStick/PRO/Duo* SD/MMC* CompactFlash/Microdrive* Audio/video output HDMI 1.3a out CEC (BRAVIA sync)** S/PDIF out (TOSLINK) AV Multi out Composite video/stereo audio cable*** S-Video cable SCART cable Component video cable D-Terminal cable Other IEEE 802.11b[broken anchor]/g Wi-Fi**** Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) 4 × USB 2.0 (2 × in 40 GB and all later models) Wired gigabit Ethernet *60 GB and CECHExx 80 GB models **Slim models only ***Included in box ****All except 20 GB model
Online services	PlayStation Network
Backward compatibility	PlayStation (all models) PlayStation 2 (20 GB, 60 GB and some (CECHExx) 80 GB models)
Predecessor	PlayStation 2
Successor	PlayStation 4
Website	playstation.com/ps3/

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is the third video game console made by Sony. It was released in Japan on November 11, 2006.^[5] It came out on November 17, 2006 in North America,^[6] and was released in Australia and Europe on 23 March 2007.^[7][source?] It competed against the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii consoles.^[source?]

The PlayStation 3 was the first console to be able to play Blu-ray discs.^[8] The PS3 was, according to Sony, the most powerful console at the time. However, many people that create computer games have recently stated that both the PS3 and Xbox 360 are about equal. An upside is that to access the online mode to play and interact with other people is free unlike the Xbox in which must be paid for.

When the PlayStation 3 was released, there were two different models. One had a 20 gigabyte (GB) hard drive and cost $399. The other had a 60 gigabyte hard drive and cost $599. Sony stopped making the 20 gigabyte console in North America after the 60 gigabyte version "sold ten times as many"^[9] as the 20 gigabyte version.

In July 2007, Sony announced that they would cut the price of the PS3 to $500 in the United States, though still more expensive than its competitors. Sony also released a version of the console with an 80 gigabyte hard drive around this time.^[10]

In October, a version of the PlayStation 3 with a 40 gigabyte hard drive was introduced. This model could not play PlayStation 2 games, but games made for the original PlayStation could still be played. The price of the 60 gigabyte model was also further reduced. A white version of the 40 gigabyte model was released in Japan in November.^[source?]

Since 2009, the PS3 was sold in a new, slimmer, and more efficient model with a 160 GB or 320 GB of hard drive memory.

In 2012, a slimmer model released to replace the last model. This was the final model released and the Playstation 3 was discontinued October 31, 2016.

1. ↑ Shilov, Anton (2006-07-18). "Asustek Computer Ships PlayStation 3 Consoles". X-bit labs. Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
2. ↑ "SIE Business Data & Sales | Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc".
3. ↑ "PlayStation Support". support.us.playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
4. ↑ ""PS3 Slim gains ability to bitstream Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA"". Joystiq. 2009-08-21. Archived from the original on 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
5. ↑ "PlayStation 3 sells out at launch". 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
6. ↑ "Sony's PS3 makes U.S. debut to long lines, short supplies - USATODAY.com". USA Today. 2008-03-08. Archived from the original on 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
7. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces Hardware Specification of PLAYSTATION®3 for Europe | PRESS RELEASES ｜ Sony Computer Entertainment Inc". SIE.COM. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
8. ↑ "PlayStation 3 Features: Blu-ray - PlayStation.com". 2010-03-07. Archived from the original on 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
9. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (16 April 2007). "20GB PS3 officially discontinued in North America".
10. ↑ "Sony cuts Playstation price in US". 9 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.