While Sony has focused mostly on getting fans prepared for the launch of the PlayStation 4, that does not mean that the company has abandoned the PlayStation 3 quite yet. It looks as though Sony is preparing a 12GB flash-based PlayStation 3 for users to buy, though it looks like NFL fans will have to find a new outlet for their football needs if they want to watch their favorite sport on any PlayStation 3.
Engadget is reporting that Sony is preparing to release the flash-based PlayStation 3 in North America, even though it was previously scheduled for a release in international markets such as Europe and Asia. A new photo leak seems to confirm that the device will be coming to North America very soon. The photo, allegedly from a Kmart stockroom, shows the new version of the PlayStation 3, with a sticker declaring that the console will not be on sale until August 18. This means that those interested in a cheaper PlayStation 3 model to play games and use apps such as Netflix, but do not want to spend money on a more expensive model (or the PlayStation 4) can pick up the flash-based model. It is rumored that the new PlayStation 3 will cost $199, or $100 less than a full PlayStation 3 and half the price of the upcoming PlayStation 4.
In other PlayStation 3 news, it looks as though that the NFL will no longer be available to watch on the PlayStation 3, as Sony has announced to IGN that the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket app will no longer be offered on the console. The app allowed users to watch any and all NFL games directly on their PlayStation 3 for the entire regular season. No reason was given as to why the NFL and Sony are no longer working together, but the most likely caused is the partnership between the NFL and Microsoft. Microsoft bragged about the partnership between the Xbox One and the United States' top football league when the Xbox One was revealed back in May. Another clue that the NFL Sunday Ticket would not available for the PlayStation 3 is the fact that Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition, which gives fans a chance to get discounted NFL Sunday Ticket on various platforms, did not include the PlayStation 3 on the list. No word yet on if the PlayStation 4 will get NFL Sunday Ticket, or if Sony has been locked out completely from offering the package.