[Update] It's now showing up in other retailers systems, and Engadget received a picture of one of these in a US-based Kmart stock room with a note saying not to sell or display until August 18th. That about confirms it, but it still needs to be made official by Sony, we'll update when they acknowledge it.
[Original Story] Previous PS3 price drops have been announced at Sony's presser at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, which has everyone holding out to see if it'll happen again this year. The PS3 could use a price drop considering that its successor is right around the corner.
However, a new rumor suggests that instead of a full blown price drop, Sony could put out a 12GB PS3 on August 18th in North America, acting as a lower cost PS3 model, much as the 12GB version does in Europe where it's been available for nearly a year now.
The rumor comes from a Canadian GameStop system that clearly shows a SKU listing for a 12GB PS3 releasing on August 18th. Sony usually treats Canada and United States as "North America", so it releasing in the US as well is extremely likely.
Sony hasn't made an announcement either way, and the August 18th release date means it'd be on retail store shelves even before Sony's gamescom press conference on the 20th.
Would you buy a $199 12GB PS3 if this rumor is true?
