A number of retailers from Japan and the UK notified an analyst from Wedbush Morgan Securities, a financial services and investment firm, that they were not able to refill their stocks of Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles since Sony Computer Entertainment ceased to supply current models. Potentially, this means that SCE is preparing to release a new model with lower cost.

“The retail commentary I’ve seen has come out of the UK. I have not seen at the U.S. retail. We heard Japanese retail a few weeks ago, say they were not going to be getting any more PS3s after August 8, and now we are starting to hear the UK retail say they cannot re-order PS3s until month-end. And that suggest there will be a model change,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan, in an interview with VG247 web-site.

Earlier this month rumours transpired that Sony plans to launch slim version of PlayStation 3 at €299 price point on the 18^th of August, 2009 at the opening of Gamescon trade-show in Cologne, Germany. No exact details were revealed at that point.

In case the information from the retailers in Japan and the UK is correct, then there is truly something going on as it is would be at least strange for Sony to start preparing for Christmas season in August, considering the fact that the demand for PlayStation 3 is not strong and it is logical to sell as much as you can now amid the global economic recession.

“If Sony’s practice is the same as it was in the past, and the PS3 Slim is more of a redesign of the components to drive down cost, then I think we will get a price cut,” added Mr. Pachter.

Sony did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Sony, Playstation