Sony Debuts New PS2 in Japan
Sony is about to release a new version of its aging PlayStation 2 console in Japan ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
The new version is lighter than the previous model, and includes a built-in AC adaptor. An older version with an external AC adaptor weighed some 30 ounces: the new model only weighs 25.
Sony said it will sell the new PS2 at a price of 16,000 yen ($140 USD), which is the same as the previous version. There was no immediate announcement of plans to sell the new console overseas.
Keeping the PS2 alive and well is a crucial part of keeping the overall gaming division afloat. As the company is still losing a good deal of money on every PS3 it sells, the new PS2 should help it to make a larger profit on a proven platform, which has already sold some 120 million consoles worldwide.
In fact, Sony's estimates through the year to March still show its PS2 outselling the PS3 slightly -- 12 million to 11 million consoles.