196w ago - Following analyst Michael Pachter's prediction from earlier today comes another PS3 price cut ad leak... this time from Hastings, a Texas-based retailer.

According to the ad, the current stock of 160GB PS3s will be cut to $400, a $100 savings over the original.

In related news, CAG is reporting FYE is now selling 80GB PS3 consoles for $299, with the Uncharted bundle for $400.

To quote: Of potential importance is the phrasing: the ad mentions the PS3 is experiencing a "price cut" versus a temporary "sale." The cut begins September 8th, weeks after Sony's press conference at Gamescom.

The reduced price could be exclusive to Hastings, and isn't necessarily indicative of a nationwide price drop. However, a price drop on current PS3 models can clear inventory and make way for a possibly upgraded one.

196w ago - To confirm earlier reports of discontinued models and old stock drying up, today Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated in a Podcast that we're about to see a PS3 price cut and the introduction of a new hardware SKU.

To quote: "The retail commentary I've seen has come out of the UK. I have not seen at US retail. We heard Japanese retail a few weeks ago say they weren't going to be getting any more PS3s after August 8, and now we're starting to hear UK retail say they cannot re-order PS3s until month-end. And that suggests there'll be a model change."

He added: "If Sony's practice is the same as it was in the past, and the Slim is more of a redesign of the components to drive down cost, then I think we will get a price cut."

Only a few days to go until Sony's GamesCom keynote address in Cologne next Tuesday... then we'll all know for certain.

196w ago - Microsoft's XBox Exec Chris Lewis has said that a PS3 Slim announcement or possible PS3 price drop from Sony at Gamescom next week won't affect its plans, which are now widely expected to include a price drop of their own.

He goes on to say the XBox 360 is in a good place as industry braces for a double price cut.

To quote: "We are in a good place in terms of the value we offer," the Xbox EMEA VP told MCV.

"We have a plan and a rhythm we are marching to - and we won't be knocked off that cadence in terms of what the opposition might do."

Sony is believed to be preparing to unveil its brand new PS3 Slim next Tuesday at the Gamescom show in Germany.

In addition, MCV has been led to believe that Microsoft will be countering Sony's move with a price cut of its own - most likely scrapping the Pro Xbox 360 SKU and dropping the Elite 360 by £60 to £169.99.

196w ago - We've heard numerous PS3 price drop and PS3 backwards compatibility rumors several times over the last few months, but today SCRAWL is reporting the following (albeit unofficial) confirmation from their local Sony Rep, to quote:

"Over at my local GameStop (where I work), our Sony rep stopped in earlier today to update the PlayStation 3 kiosks and check in with us.

I decided to ask him about all the rumors going around on the PlayStation 3 slim. When I asked him about whether or not is coming he told me this:

"All I'm going to say is this: both a price drop and a firmware update with backwards compatibility are coming soon."

Directly from the mouth of a Sony rep. GamesCom is next week, folks. Don't be surprised if you hear the announcement."

196w ago - We did say today was alleged PS3 Slim ad day earlier, right?

Another has now surfaced from alexval78 at French site PS3Gen (linked above) which purportedly shows an ad for a 'new PS3 console at a new price' slated for September 1, 2009 and allegedly costing €299 Euros.

To quote, roughly translated: "Carrefour catalog contains active bids on Thursday 27 August to Tuesday September 8. Through its pages, our member was surprised to see an announcement regarding "a new console and a new award, announced on our beloved PS3!

As you can see, the layout is still that of the current PS3, but the offer is clear: Carrefour will offer for sale a new PS3, with a reduced price of €100, beginning the first of September next. This is certainly the improved version of the monolith as we know it as the Slim PS3."