This can hardly be considered breaking news anymore but Sony finally confirmed what everyone knew since last month, when Sony CEO Howard Stringer first announced it: the PlayStation 3 is getting a price drop of $100.

During his June interview with Wall Street Journal, Stringer did not specifically indicate the $100 price drop, but he did say that Sony is “weighing” a price cut for its hefty console.

Last week, the media started flooding the Web with credible reports and eye-witness accounts (accompanied by images) of a price drop being envisaged at popular retailers, but Sony President Ryoji Chubachi strongly denied the company’s intention to do so, in an interview with Reuters.

However, Sony came back on Sunday with a confirmation of the $100 price drop, which will be applied to the 60GB model, the only model currently on sale across major PAL and NTSC territories.

The price cut is effective starting Monday, July 9, but will only be operated in the US. "As we move into the next phase of PS3, it's important that we continue to evaluate our product line, offering consumers the technology and features that meet their growing needs for new forms of media and the way in which it is delivered," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SCEA. As for a potential similar move in Europe, “SCEE will be making an announcement at E3 on Thursday”.

This is not the only good news Sony prepped in the eve of this year’s E3 manifestation. The company also announced the debut of a roomier PS3 with an 80GB hard drive, which should be the direct competitor of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite. Sony justified the inception on the market of this larger-HDD PS3 by pointing out on its plans to expand the PlayStation Network.

"The introduction of the 80GB PS3, the new pricing for the current 60GB model, the availability of more than 100 new software titles this fiscal year and, finally, the expansion of services for PlayStation Network, will provide even more options for users and will help bring new consumers into the PS3 fold."