The 60GB PlayStation 3 launched in North America at US$599.
Sony released the PlayStation 3 in North America on November 17, 2006, with two main launch configurations. The premium model included a 60GB hard drive and launched at US$599, while the 20GB model was priced at US$499. Both systems included the new Blu-ray Disc drive and were designed as full entertainment devices as well as game consoles.
The high launch price reflected the cost of components such as the Cell processor, Blu-ray hardware, and other advanced features. It became a major talking point in early coverage of the system and contributed to comparisons with Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
Later PS3 revisions changed storage capacities, features, and pricing, so the US$599 figure applies specifically to the original 60GB North American launch model. It is not the price of every early PS3 configuration or later slim hardware.