Sony Computer Entertainment America today announced a new 80GB model of its PLAYSTATION 3. Beginning in August, the new PS3 model will be available in North America for a suggested retail price of $599/$659 CND and will be sold with the MotorStorm. The company also announced that effective immediately, the current 60GB PS3 model will be available in North America for $499/$549 CND, or $100 below the original launch price.

By featuring an expanded hard disk drive (HDD), the new 80GB PS3 is designed to appeal to the online gaming and entertainment enthusiast, providing ample storage space to download more games and other entertainment content from PLAYSTATION Network. There are currently more than 60 playable games and game related downloads available through PLAYSTATION Store, with expanded entertainment content coming soon. The new model features the million selling game MotorStorm in the box, allowing up to 12 players to play online at one time, hitting the dirt in this visually-arresting, fast-paced racing title.

Throughout the holidays and this fiscal year, more than 120 new first and third-party software titles will be available for North American PS3 users to enjoy, in addition to the more than 40 software titles currently available. Key upcoming first party titles include Folklore, Heavenly Sword, LAIR, NBA ’08, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, SingStar, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALS Confrontation, THE EYE OF JUDGMENT, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Warhawk.

Only time will tell if this effects the sales of the system or not but we expect a sharp rise in sales as people have no doubt been holding back waiting on this price drop.