Sony shows off new slim PlayStation 3 at Tokyo Game Show (photos and video)

We’re on the ground at Tokyo Game Show 2012, and our first port of call was Sony’s booth to see the newly slimmed-down PlayStation 3 that the company announced yesterday. The unit isn’t dramatically smaller than the previous PS3, which itself wasn’t a huge cut down from the launch model, but the cumulative downsizing still impresses — I have an original unit at home, and instantly started thinking about the space I could save beneath my TV.

The ridged design on top hides a top-loading disc mechanism; slide the right section over the left to reveal the disc tray, then slide it back to close. It might not be as elegant as the previous models’ slot-loaders, but the unit’s overall design is attractive and has a charm of its own. Otherwise, there’s not much different — two USB ports on the bottom left, a lot of logos on the bottom right, and the obligatory vertical stand accessory. It’ll be out first in the US, with a 250GB Uncharted 3 bundle seeing release next Tuesday for $269.99.