12 GB PS3 Joins PS Vita on Sale for $199

$199 PS Vita available at Best Buy as well

PlayStation 3 is running strong since its unfortunate “$599 US Dollars” introduction to the mass consumer market in 2006. The console has seen two redesigns and a number of price drops, and worldwide sales have evened out with the Xbox 360. But with a baseline 160 GB model for $249, the PS3 is still not something one would consider ‘cheap.’ But for those still on the fence about getting a PS3 this late in the console cycle, with the release of the PS4 just around the corner, would another $50 sound good to you?

A new Kmart ad in the US is advertising the 12 GB flash memory model of the PS3 for $199.99 starting tomorrow, August 18. In addition, copies of The Last of Us will be on sale for $39.99 to go with that lovely super-slim PS3 you just picked up. If you prefer to shop at Best Buy, the folks at Examiner are reporting that they will also be offering the 12 GB PS3 starting Sunday, bundled with two games–The Last of Us and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – Game of the Year Edition. However, this ad, tweeted by Louie T (@thebiglouie), only shows the 12 GB PS3 model at the $199 price point with no mention of pack-in games.

This is the first time that the flash memory version of the PS3 will have been made available in North America, after it debuted in European territories shortly after E3 this year. The $199.99 price point represents a 67% price reduction from the original launch model of the PS3 seven years ago, and half the price of the PS4 which launches this holiday season.

Thanks to Wario64 for the scoop.