US version of 40GB PS3 to launch November 2?

Sony's recently announced 40GB PlayStation 3 is coming to North America just under a month after the Ruopean release, according to an anonymous industry source. Supporting claims by a major retail buyer, the tip would have Sony release the model in the US on November 2nd for $399. This would be slightly later than the October 28th date purported by a Best Buy leak but would otherwise confirm expectations. Like the European model, the US 40GB system would also remove PS2 backwards compatibility, two of four USB ports, and a multi-format card reader.

Whether or not the American version would include a copy of Spiderman 3 was not mentioned in the alleged disclosure, though the Best Buy leak has all but confirmed the tie-in as a method of spurring sales for both the console and the movie. Sony is said to be urging retailers to offer incentives to help clear stock of the 60GB PS3, which was effectively discontinued in July, in preparation for the lower-cost system. Previous reports would have Sony drop the 80GB system's price to $499 once 60GB versions were no longer available.