500GB white PS3 hits next week

Sony will launch a new 500GB white PlayStation 3 model in North America next week, the company announced today. Its arrival will mark the first time the PS3 system has been made available to consumers in the United States and Canada in any color other than black.

Officially titled the "Classic White PS3 Instant Game Collection Bundle," the $300 pack includes a slim system, a matching white controller, and a one-year subscription to PlayStation Plus. A one-year pass to Sony's premium service separately sells for $50.

A PlayStation Plus subscription includes access to Sony's Instant Game Collection, which features a regularly rotated library of 12 free PS3 titles. These include Little Big Planet 2, Infamous 2, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, and others. Players must keep an active subscription to play the games.