PS3 Final Fantasy XIII and 1m slim PS3s sold

Sony kicked off the Tokyo Game Show with a special model of the PS3 for Japan as well as word of runaway sales for the slimmer model worldwide. The company's home country is receiving a special Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Edition of the console that both gives it a 250GB hard drive, making it the first to get the extra storage, and adds a special white design with pink artwork of the game's central character Lightning on the top. The model doesn't include a copy of the game but should ship for the equivalent of $455 on December 17th.

Due ahead of the system are special Deep Red and Metallic Blue colors for the DualShock 3. These ship to Japan on October 29th at an estimated price of about $60.

The additions come at a high point for Sony, which in its Tokyo presentations revealed that it has sold over one million units of the slim PS3 worldwide since it officially went on sale September 1st. Sony attributes it directly to the lower price but gives some credit to the quieter, cooler design as well. Sales of the console technically began in late August in some areas as Sony allowed early sales from stores that received the system ahead of schedule.

PS3 sales have all but reversed a seeming freefall earlier in the year and have at least temporarily eclipsed the Xbox 360 and even the Wii. The pace us such that Sony has warned it may face shortages if the sales rate stays the same or increases during the holidays.

By Electronista Staff