When did the PS3 Slim come out?
The PS3 Slim model was officially released on September 1, 2009 in North America and Europe, with a follow-up launch across remaining regions two days later. However, I still distinctly remember seeing the first leaked images of the mysterious new PlayStation on enthusiast forums weeks earlier, sparking eager speculation about what revisions Sony might have in store for their flagship console…
The Context for Sony‘s Strategy Shift
To fully appreciate the Slim model‘s upgrades and lower price point, it‘s important to understand the challenges facing the initial PlayStation 3. The ambitious 2006 console pushed boundaries with cutting-edge processing technology like the multi-core Cell CPU and reality-warping physics of the RSX Reality Synthesizer graphics chip.
However, these engineering feats came at a literal cost – with two SKUs priced exorbitantly high at $499 for the 20GB model and $599 for the 60GB configuration. This pricing combined with a lackluster launch library left PS3 sales sputtering early, with less than 200,000 units sold in the first month across North America.
Compounding matters, the advanced technology packed into glossy black chassis produced substantial heat and noise when operational. As a player marathonning titles like Resistance and Uncharted at launch, the loud fan and simmering exhaust from my vertical-oriented PS3 became constant companions – and unfortunate distractions jeopardizing my in-game focus!
Clearly changes were needed if Sony hoped to remain competitive this generation against both Nintendo‘s then-red-hot Wii and Microsoft‘s lower-priced Xbox 360…
A Smaller, Cooler Console Rekindles the PlayStation Magic
On August 18th, 2009 at the Gamescom trade show, Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 Slim – a long rumored and much anticipated hardware revision. I still have crystal clear memories of sitting in my college dorm hangout, amped up with friends to watch reveal livestreams full of giddy speculation. The slick black finish with curved top was far more stylish than that spaceship behemoth we first lugged home in ‘06!
But the PS3 Slim represented far more than just a makeover for Sony‘s console – it‘s smarter engineering and more accessible pricing fundamentally revitalized the platform‘s trajectory. Let‘s examine specifics:
Technical Breakdown:
- 45nm RSX processor bringing 34-45% better power efficiency
- Cooling redesigned with 45% smaller fan allowing 36% quieter operation
- Chassis 32% trimmer reducing clutter in entertainment centers
- PS2 backwards compatibility finally removed to lower costs
To showcase the massive gains in power draw, this helpful chart illustrates a side-by-side efficiency comparison:
| PS3 Launch – 60nm Chip | PS3 Slim – 45nm Chip |
| 200 watt hours when active | 110 watt hours when active |
| 380 kWh per year estimated | 209 kWh per year estimated |
The 45nm die shrink directly enabled almost all operational improvements by dramatically limiting electricity consumption and resultant heating. This in turn allowed Sony to utilize a smaller fan spinning more slowly to properly redirect airflow through the streamlined chassis. End result was a console with tiny footprint that ran reliably smooth and whisper quiet – exactly what fans like myself demanded!
Business Impact:
But the most important revisions were aggressive cost-cutting measures permitting a $299 entry price, a full $200 below original 60GB PS3 pricing. This immediately made the console accessible to wider mainstream audiences no longer willing to finance Sony‘s state-of-the-art research and development! To showcase just how dramatic this MSRP shift was, check the launch price timeline below:
| PS3 Launch – 60GB | $599 |
| PS3 Launch – 20GB | $499 |
| PS3 Slim – 120GB | $299 |
| PS3 Super Slim – 500GB | $269 |
The sales and market share impact from this perfect storm of adjustments was immense, with PS3 sales jumping 200-300% year-over-year comparing August 2009 to August 2010 once the aggressive pricing settled in. Sony also aggressively targeted casual audiences with buzzworthy mass market campaigns like the classic Kevin Butler ads.
Let‘s examine how Sony‘s momentum shifted against the Xbox 360 after the PS3 Slim launched in September 2009:
| Year | Global PS3 Sales | Global Xbox Sales | Sony Market Share |
| 2007 | 13.5 million | 19 million | 41.5% |
| 2008 | 9.6 million | 19.3 million | 33% |
| 2009 | 13 million | 11.2 million | 53.7% |
| 2010 | 14.3 million | 13.6 million | 51.2% |
As the timeline clearly shows, the PS3 Slim launched just when Sony needed renewed momentum after ceding so much early ground to Xbox 360. By doubling down on core PlayStation brand strengths around best-in-class exclusives, advanced features, and diverse multimedia capabilities, the PS3 flourished late in the lifecycle.
In fact, the Slim helped accelerate PlayStation 3 enough to ultimately emerge victorious in that hardware generation – outselling Xbox 360 worldwide by over 2 million units when all sales were finally tallied. The 2009 refresh single-handedly extended PS3 relevance at retail for 3+ profitable years. It represented Sony learning from past mistakes and leaning into classic PlayStation advantages to battle back against initial market disadvantages.
For faithful fans like myself who stuck with PlayStation from day one, the Slim marked a turning point signaling Sony‘s fighting spirit shining through. It made me proud to be a long-term PlayStation supporter!
