PS3: What it does

The basics

The PlayStation 3 will be in your hands later this year. It'll be an incredibly powerful console - more than likely the best of the generation. It'll offer exciting new capabilities to developers, which will translate into excellent new games for you to play. But what will make the system really special? What'll make it tick? We've got all the information you need on the latest and greatest in Sony's impressive arsenal. So hold tight and prepare for the future.

The PS3 will be a beast. Its graphics chip alone is on par with PC hardware that costs as much as an entire Xbox 360; its processor is bleeding edge tech. Sony's new disc format, Blu-ray, allows for a vast improvement in storage over the PS2's DVD-ROM discs. It also opens up the possibility of the PS3 to play brand new, high definition Blu-ray movies, which will start hitting U.S. stores on May 23.

Above: The PlayStation 3 hardware is the platform of choice for the incredible stealthaction of Metal Gear Solid 4.

Of course, the PlayStation 3 will feature integrated ability for online gaming, both plug in (Ethernet) and Wi-Fi. It will also be backwards compatible with PlayStation 1 and 2 games. Its Wi-Fi capacity will also allow it to communicate with the PSP.

Click ahead, and we'll give you a deeper look into its features and, better yet, explain exactly why you should care.

CATEGORIES
Latest in Games
Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima is still hung up on his ex, as Death Stranding 2 features a Metal Gear Solid doppelganger the director says is the spitting image of Solid Snake
God of War Ragnarok
God of War turns 20 this month, but before you get too excited, Santa Monica Studio says "there are no planned announcements" at its celebratory panel
Balatro
Balatro creator started "properly playing the game myself about a week before launch" and had "a pretty emotional moment" where he realized it's "actually fun"
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition
Hideo Kojima reveals Death Stranding 2: On the Beach release date, and the Collector's Edition includes exactly what I predicted it would
Kingmakers
Kingmakers is a strategy game about taking on medieval armies with a gun, but its devs thought the giant mech was too much
The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
Latest in Features
Monster Hunter Wilds characters share a meal
Oh no, Monster Hunter Wilds is so good that I'm already counting the days until its inevitable Master Rank expansion
Kai and Giatta battle Xaurip in Avowed
I get why Obsidian doesn't like The Elder Scrolls comparisons, but Avowed is the first RPG to have its hooks in me this deep since Skyrim took over my life 14 years ago
Photo taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe of the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Nintendo Switch handheld, with the Super Mario Nendoroid figure standing in front of it.
My PC is screaming for an update, but the Switch 2 will be taking all my money this year
GoDice in their RPG case beside Pixels dice
I put two electronic d20s head-to-head and the bad news for your wallet is the discount D&D dice failed its saving throw
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread in play
This board game TRPG hybrid delivers something D&D hasn't quite managed to capture for me
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again killing off a fan-favorite character is controversial, but it might prove to be the right choice for the new Marvel show