The PlayStation 3 (officially abbreviated as PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network, which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on video game developers for online play. Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium. The PS3 was also the first Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market.
Versions:
PlayStation 3 "Phat" Launch Model: A bulky console that came in 20, 40, 60, 80, or 160 GB and could play original PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games via emulation. The 40 GB, 80 GB (CECHL, CECHM, and CECHK) and 160 GB models had two USB ports instead of the four USB ports on other models and do not include multiple flash card readers.
PlayStation 3 Slim: A redesigned slimmer console that is 33% smaller, 36% lighter and consumes 34% (CECH-20xx) or 45% (CECH-21xx) less power than the previous model. It came in 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB or 320 GB, and had 2 USB Ports and no PS2 emulation support.
PlayStation 3 Super Slim: A redesigned, even slimmer console that was 25% smaller and about 20% lighter than the PS3 Slim. This version has a sliding disc cover rather than the slot-loading drive found on the previous PlayStation 3 consoles. It came in 250 GB or 500 GB and no PS2 emulation support.