It hasn’t even launched in Europe yet, but Sony’s already working on the next generation of PlayStation 3.

The games giant reckons it can cut the size of its console’s innards, paving the way for a redesign on the outside.

In a statement from its Japanese press office, Sony said it expected the transition to 45-nm chips would happen in 2008, or early 2009. That change will halve the size of current 90-nm chips and could mean a slimline PS3 is in the works already.

It’s still a way off, but Sony wouldn’t surprise anyone with a smaller console. After all, the PS2 underwent drastic shrinkage once smaller chips were available, and the PS3’s bulky frame could certainly stand to lose a pound or two."

Labels: gaming