Retail dates 80GB PlayStation 3 release for this Friday

Online retailers have confirmed that the 80GB PlayStation 3 will go on sale in Europe this Friday.

Previously, SCEE president David Reeves had indicated that the new hardware SKU would launch a week later on August 27.

However, Play.com. Amazon, Gamestation and GAME are all listing the console for August 22, with Sony expected to officially announce the date at Leipzig Games Convention this week.

The 80GB console replaces the current 40GB PlayStation 3, and retails for the same price of GBP 299.