A new 160 GB PlayStation 3 will be released in the U.S this November, doubling the storage capacity of the previously most advanced version, the 80 GB hard-drive $400 PS3. The new one will retail for $500 (technically: $499.99) and will be bundled with a copy of last year’s Naughty Dog-developed “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.” The 80GB model will also continue to be made and sold for the more frugal consumer.

Wait a minute.

Wasn’t I just at E3 in July? Wasn’t I just there interviewing Sony’s top marketing man for American PlayStation business, Peter Dille? Weren’t he and I talking about the E3 announcement that the 40GB PS3 was getting cleared out to make room for an 80GB unit?

Yes to all that. And at E3, Dille told me: “There will be one model of the PS3 going forward.”

You know, “going forward” is a pretty vague term.

Come November, the Wii will revert to being the only modern gaming console that comes in a single model, or so it seems today. Who knows what will happen going forward?