The US launch price of the 60GB PlayStation 3 was $599. Sony introduced the console in North America on November 17, 2006, alongside a less expensive 20GB model priced at $499. The 60GB version cost more because it included additional features such as Wi-Fi, flash-memory card readers, chrome trim, and HDMI output in the original launch configuration.
The price immediately became one of the defining parts of the PS3's launch story. Sony was positioning the machine as more than a game console: it included a Blu-ray Disc drive, powerful processing hardware, and media features. However, the $599 price was substantially higher than the competing Xbox 360 and helped create a perception that the PS3 was too expensive.
The hardware was also costly for Sony to manufacture. Estimates placed the initial production cost of the 60GB model at roughly $840, meaning Sony subsidized each unit sold. The 20GB model launched at $499, but it had fewer features. Later revisions and the PS3 Slim reduced costs and brought prices down, but the original $599 figure remains closely tied to the console's 2006 debut.