ps3

Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 to the public on May 16, 2005, during the E3 2005 conference.[18] A functional version of the system was not present there,[19] nor at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005,[20] although demonstrations (such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[19]) were held at both events on devkits and comparable PC hardware.[19][20] Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (notably a Final Fantasy VII tech demo).[21]
The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports;[22] however, when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs.[15][23] Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console: a 20 GB model and a 60 GB model, priced at $499 (€499) and $599 (€599), respectively.[15] The 60 GB model would be the only configuration to feature an HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers and a chrome trim with the logo in silver.[15] Both models were announced for a simultaneous worldwide release: November 11 for Japan, and November 17 for North America and Europe.[24]
On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that the PAL region (Europe and Oceania) PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007, due to a shortage of materials used in the Blu-ray Disc drive.[25]
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would include an HDMI port on the 20 GB system, but a chrome trim, flash card readers, silver logo, and Wi-Fi would not be included.[26] Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%,[27] and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan.[27] During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 games running on final hardware.[28]

Launch
Main article: PlayStation 3 launch
The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006 at 07:00.[11] According to Media Create, 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan.[29]
Soon after its release in Japan, the PS3 was released in North America on November 17, 2006.[12] Reports of violence surrounding the release of the PS3 include a customer shot,[30] campers robbed at gunpoint,[31] customers shot in a drive-by shooting with BB guns,[32] and 60 campers fighting over 10 systems.[33]
On January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.[13][14] The system sold about 600,000 units in its first two days.[34] On March 7, 2007, the 60 GB PlayStation 3 launched in Singapore with a price of S$799.[35] The console was launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007 in a single version equipped with an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV.[36]

In addition to all of the features of the 20 GB model, the 60 GB model has internal IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, multiple flash card readers (SD/MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Type I/Type II, Microdrive,[58] Memory Stick/PRO/Duo), and a chrome colored trim.[47] In terms of hardware, the 80 GB model released in South Korea is identical to the 60 GB model released in the PAL regions, except for the difference in hard drive size.[59]
Like the South Korean and European models, the North American 80 GB model also excludes the PlayStation 2 "Emotion Engine" CPU chip.[44] However, it still keeps the "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU.[60] Due to the elimination of the "Emotion Engine", the level of compatibility was reduced[44] The 40 GB, 80 GB (2008), and 160 GB models have two USB ports instead of the four USB ports on other models, and do not include multiple flash card readers, SACD support, or any backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 games.[17][44] This was due to the removal of "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU, which stripped the units of all PlayStation 2 based hardware.[49][53]
No official Wi-Fi or flash memory card readers have yet been released by Sony for the 20 GB system, although plans for such add-ons are in place.[61] Nevertheless, as the model features four USB 2.0 ports, wireless networking and flash memory card support can already be obtained through the use of widely available external USB adapters.[44]
It was rumored that the Cell processors in the third-generation PS3s (40 GB) would move from a 90 nm process to the newer 65 nm process,[62] which SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai later confirmed,[63] and later to 45 nm. This change lowers the power consumption of the console and makes it less expensive to produce.[64]