Sony PlayStation 3
Also known as PS3
- Manufacturer
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Type
- Home console
- Generation
- 7th generation
- Released (North America)
- Nov 17, 2006
- Released (Japan)
- Nov 11, 2006
- Released (Europe)
- Mar 23, 2007
- Launch price
- $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB)
- Discontinued
- 2017
- Units sold
- about 87.4 million
About the Sony PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 launched in 2006 at $499 and $599, with a Blu-ray drive and the Cell processor. It sold slowly at first, then caught up to the Xbox 360 by the end of its life after price cuts and the slim (2009) and super slim (2012) redesigns.
Uncharted 2, The Last of Us, Metal Gear Solid 4, Demon's Souls, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance and Persona 5 are among its highlights, and it got Japanese RPGs and fighting games that skipped Xbox. Most games are cheap, but physical releases from small publishers like Limited Run Games, and digital-only games that later got small physical runs, can be expensive.
Early 20 GB and 60 GB models play PS2 games in hardware, which makes them the most sought-after units. Overheating and "yellow light of death" failures are common on fat models, so buy tested.
Sony PlayStation 3 games by the numbers
Loose prices across 1,610 priced games
Most valuable Sony PlayStation 3 games
![Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance [Limited Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/cob5a1.jpg)
![Grand Theft Auto V [Collector's Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2lbd.jpg)
![Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock [Guitar Bundle] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1qhs.jpg)
![Fallout: New Vegas [Collector's Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1u60.jpg)
![Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII [Collector's Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1vn4.jpg)
Most valuable sealed Sony PlayStation 3 games
![Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [Fortune Hunter Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2mcu.jpg)
![The Last of Us [Post Pandemic Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/coa1gl.jpg)
![Final Fantasy XIII [Deluxe Pack] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/ar5jg7.jpg)
![Kingdoms Of Amalur Reckoning [Collector's Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co25rk.jpg)
Top rated Sony PlayStation 3 games
![Grand Theft Auto V [Special Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2nbc.jpg)
![Battlefield 3 [Premium Edition] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/coaoaj.jpg)
![Batman: Arkham City [Game of the Year] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2kia.jpg)
![Ico & Shadow Of The Colossus Collection [Favoritos] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co4ako.jpg)
Most listed on eBay right now
Sony PlayStation 3 games by release year
By each game's original release year, so ports count under the year the game first came out.
Hardware specs
| CPU | 3,2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine |
|---|---|
| Graphics | 550 MHz nVidia/SCEI RSX ''Reality Synthesizer'' |
| Memory | 256 MB system, 256 MB video |
| Sound | Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD |
| Media | Blu-ray, DVD, Compact Disc, Playstation Game disc, Digital distribution |
| Storage | 120 GB, 250 GB |
| Resolutions | 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p |
| Video output | S-Video, RGB Scart, YPAPR, D-Terminal, HDMI |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g. Bluetooth 2,0 and 2x USB 2,0, Ethernet |
| Online | Playstation Network |
Models & revisions
Playstation 3 Original
Launch model released in 2006, commonly known as the PS3 Fat
- CPU
- 3,2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine
- Graphics
- 550 MHz nVidia/SCEI RSX ''Reality Synthesizer''
- Memory
- 256 MB system, 256 MB video
- Sound
- Dolby Digital, DTS
- Media
- Blu-ray, DVD, Compact Disc, Playstation Game disc, Playstation 2 game disc, Super Audio CD, Digital distribution
- Storage
- 20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, 120 GB
- Resolutions
- 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g. Bluetooth 2,0 and 2x USB 2,0, Ethernet
- Online
- Playstation Network
Playstation 3 Super Slim
In September 2012, Sony announced that a new slimmer PS3 redesign (CECH-4000) was due to be released in late 2012 and that it would be available with either a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive. In PAL regions, the 250 GB model is not available; a model with 12 GB of flash memory is available in its place. A standalone 250 GB hard drive is available to upgrade this model. Both are roughly 25% smaller and about 20% lighter than the original PS3 Slim. This version has a sliding disc cover rather than the slot-loading drive found on previous PlayStation 3 consoles. A vertical stand is also available for these models and was launched on the same day as the consoles in their respective regions.
Console family
More Sony consoles
Game values from PriceCharting market data. Hardware specs and revisions from IGDB.