Source: Kotaku found a mention of an 80GB hard drive PlayStation 3 in one of Sony's filings with the Federal Communications Commission. What we heard: In the past, one of the largest benefits home consoles had over their PC gaming counterparts was a uniform system configuration. Where PC game developers had to take into account a wide array of possible system configurations, console developers knew that each of their potential customers was using essentially the same system.

　　That changed this generation, as Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 in two different hardware configurations, followed by Sony offering a pair of PS3 packages at launch. Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the impending release of a third version of the Xbox 360, and now it appears Sony might be offering a new PS3 as well.

　　In a filing with the FCC, Sony requests permission for a change to the PS3's innards. In a letter dated March 2, Sony seeks approval for a few changes to its original approval of the PS3, which was granted September 16, 2006. In addition to tweaks to the system's Bluetooth module, Sony notes that it is adding a new model to the PS3 line, one with an 80GB hard drive.

　　There's no doubt that Sony made the filing and prepped and tested an 80GB hard drive for approval from the FCC. However, much like with patent filings and trademark applications, the mere fact that a company seeks approval for a product or a property doesn't necessarily mean it's going to do anything with it.

　　Even if Sony does decide to go forward with an 80GB model of the PS3 (a relatively tame bump up in storage space from the 60GB model already in stores), its arrival isn't necessarily imminent. Sony submitted its original PS3 test reports to the FCC on September 13 of last year, more than two months before the system's November 17 arrival on shelves. At the time, the unit being tested was designated as a production prototype. The equipment being tested in the 80GB filing from earlier this month doesn't even appear to be that far along in development, because Sony lists its status as an engineering prototype.

　　At the very least, Sony is toying with the idea of bringing out an 80GB PS3. It doesn't make much sense for the company to introduce a third PS3 model to go alongside the existing two if the only benefit is an extra 20GB of hard drive space, but perhaps Sony has more perks in mind for this version. Or maybe the company plans to take an iPod tack and releasing ever-more-impressive PS3s while maintaining the system's existing price points.

　　Whatever the case, the company spent weeks testing the equipment and prepared hundreds of pages of resulting reports for the FCC. That sounds like an awful lot of time and money to spend on a lark. It's a safe bet that Sony has plans for an 80GB PS3, but it's not necessarily just around the corner.

　　The official story: "As mentioned when we made the product announcement for PS3, the system will have different configurations (thus, 60GB HDD with memory card slots and Wi-Fi and 20GB HDD without memory card slots or Wi-Fi both exists). Application to the FCC has been made with various possibilities in mind; however, it does not lead to a new product announcement at this time."--A Sony representative.

　　Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus.