Having initially denied the existence of an 80GB PlayStation 3 model, after it was speculated in March, Sony now confirms that such a model is indeed lined up for release, but only in South Korea, where the console has yet to launch next month. Until recently, it was believed that the Koreans would only get the 60GB model, but all that changed yesterday, when the 80GB PS3 model made an unexpected appearance on Sony's Korean website.

The page clearly suggests that this model is to be released there on June 16, at a price of KRW 518,000 ($557 / €412), and GI.biz later managed to confirm this information with a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe spokesperson, who also revealed that the 80GB model will be the only model available in South Korea. No 20GB, no 60GB.

Could this mean that the rest of the world can also look forward to this enlarged PlayStation 3? Yes, it could, depending on what Sony decides for each territory. But as it stands now, "there are no plans to introduce the 80GB version of PlayStation 3 in Europe", according to the same source. And another spokesperson (Satoshi Fukuoka) basically said the same thing about all other territories, adding that "it could be an option to introduce it in other regions but it needs to be decided by each region".

For a company that has made a habit of living in denial, I guess we can expect Sony to slowly replace the 60GB model with the 80GB PS3 worldwide. Much like they're doing with the (former) 20GB model.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)