Reduced pricing for 20GB PS3 won't apply outside of Japan

Sony Computer Entertainment announced a price drop for the 20GB PlayStation 3 console last week at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show. Eagle-eyed readers who realized the price cut applied only for the Japanese market took to waiting for further confirmation regarding similiar announcements for other territories. Unfortunately, SCEA president Kaz Hirai revealed his company has no plans to reduce the suggested retail pricing for any PS3 model outside of Japan:

"In the US, we're comfortable with the pricing that we announced at E3--$499 for the 20 gigabyte version and $599 for the 60-gigabyte version. There are no plans right now to adjust the pricing for the US market."

On the bright side, Hirai confirms the HDMI output will indeed be present for all 20GB PS3 models shipped worldwide.