PS3 Slim confirmed, PS3 price cut now

Update:
According to a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment the new PlayStation 3 system will be available in stores beginning September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and other regions at a retail price of US$299 and €299, respectively. The system will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax).

The old PS3 system will have its price reduced to USD $299. That price is for the 80GB unit and won’t kick in until August 18 (starting today) in North America and August 19 in Europe. Also in North America, the price of PS3 with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 starting August 18.

Original Story:
Today at its press conference at the GamesCom event in Cologne, Germany Sony Computer Entertainment Europe finally admitted two things: the PS3 Slim is real and the long rumored price cut is coming later this week. This slimmer, streamlined SKU will launch in the first week of September on a worldwide basis for 299 Euros in Europe and $299 USD in the States. The announcement was made by Kaz Hirai, CEO and President of SCE.

The PS3 Slim will feature a 120GB hard drive, will consume 34 percent less power than its first-generation sibling and will be 32 percent smaller in size. For once, many of those leaked images of the PS3 slim that were paraded out in hundreds of rumor posts turned out to be real. Go figure. Images of the new PS3 Slim can be found below (click to enlarge):