Best Buy and Fry's drop 80GB PS3 from online stores

What began as an allegedly leaked internal memo from Best Buy, announcing that the 80GB PlayStation 3 was to be removed from store shelves on January 28, appears to be coming true without official word from either Best Buy or Sony.

Both companies were difficult to reach today, in the wake of the Tuesday news leak to PS3 Fanboy concerning Best Buy's discontinuation of the 80GB PlayStation 3.

However, as of this evening on Best Buy's site, the only PS3 available is item #8588584, the 40GB unit, which lacks PS2 compatibility.

Popular electronics retailer Fry's has also apparently discontinued sales of the 80GB model. (UPDATE: The 80GB Playstation 3 has returned to Fry's site as of Saturday 1/26.)

Other retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Circuit City, and Target are currently still carrying the 80GB version, but it's unclear if they will receive new inventory.

Sony has thus far refused to comment about the memo, only stating that it is currently working with two SKUs in North America, but with the 80GB PS3 disappearing from online stores, it's only a matter of time before something must be said publicly.