Originally released in North America on November 17, 2006, the Sony PlayStation 3, commonly referred to as the PS3, is the 3rd in Sony's headline PlayStation series of gaming consoles. The PS3 includes a Blu-Ray DVD player both for watching high-definition movies and playing video games. The PS3 was one of the first Blu-Ray players to market and the addition of this feature is often cited as the reason why the PS3 is more expensive than its competitors, the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. The PS3 also features free online gameplay via the PlayStation Network, the ability to connect up to 7 wireless rechargeable controllers, an included hard drive varying in size from 20GBs to 160GBs depending upon the model purchased, the ability to connect with its portable cousin the PSP, and advanced multimedia capabilities.

PS3 known issues

Blank screen follows firmware update

If you've upgraded the firmware on your PS3 and are receiving a black screen upon console bootup, see our thread regarding how to solve the problem.

See also:

PS3 accessories »