Today Sony announced they will be launching a 40GB PS3 in Japan on November 11th, a year to the day after the console was initially launched in Japan. The new 40GB PS3 will have a few changes changes from the units currently available including no memory card reader or backwards compatibility and will be short two of the four USB ports, which sounds just like the model recently announced for the UK.

The new 40GB model will be launching in both a Clear Black and Ceramic White colors and according to Sony they will be giving away Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray discs with the first 200,000 PS3’s in November to help promote sales. The 40GB model will retail for ¥39,980 ($341) and the existing 20GB and 60GB models will both see a price drop, testing the whole line’s ability to pick up some game console market share. The Sony PS3 has been trailing the less expensive Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 since its launch last November. As of October 17th, the 20GB PS3 will retail for ¥44,980 ($384) and the 60GB console will sell for ¥54,980 ($469), which is about a $43 price cut. Hopefully that 40GB model is on its way to the US next.

Bloomberg
Image Credit: Kotaku.com