Remember a couple weeks ago, when Ars Technica's trusty, eerily accurate "mole" prophesied that the 80GB PS3 would be ushered off store shelves in order to be replaced by the 160GB model, ultimately leading to the introduction of the oft-rumored PS3 slim? Remember when he (or she) said the 80GB model would have boosted sales thanks to the creation of new, attractive bundles? Did you notice the image above? Do you see where we're going with this?

One week after releasing an 80GB bundle containing Wall-E and LittleBigPlanet, Best Buy will supposedly be upping the ante with the package you see above, which includes Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. Said photo was sent in to Kotaku from a Best Buy employee, and several other Best Buyers have confirmed its legitimacy. We won't know for sure until the bundle hits store shelves, but it certainly looks like the ol' "mole" might have another notch in his accurate-prediction-belt.

Update: We've received confirmation from two Best Buy employees stating the bundle is real. One employee's store anticipates the bundle will go on sale within the next week (possibly on Sunday), while the other employee says the bundle is on sale in his store in Louisiana. They claim the price of the bundle is the standard $399 price point for the 80GB system. We recommend asking your local store if it's carrying the bundle, and finding out when it'll hit shelves! Thanks, guys!

Here's a problem we're sure you're familiar with: you need a new video game console for your own kids right now, but you also need a guaranteed method of ruining that console, and you only have time to shop on one website. GameStop has solved that problem with its Summer Fun bundle, which consists of a Wii and a plastic water gun. Yes, really.

That's actually the least bizarre of GameStop's Wii/cheapo party favor bundles. The others include

• The Pirate Tattoo bundle, which includes a pirate-style tattoo sleeve
• The Take a Bath with a Buddy bundle, which includes a water-squirting rubber duck.
• The Mario & Sonic Olympic Games bundle, which includes -- oh, that one's okay.

We honestly can't tell what's going on here. Is this some form of retail trolling on GameStop's part?

[Via Destructoid]

Three new PSP bundles are bound for Korea, two containing the popular fighting title, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. The Tekken bundle is available in with either a white or black system along with the game and a 4GB memory stick. The third bundle, called the DMB Pack, includes a South Korea-specific (Read: Not import friendly) TV tuner and 32MB memory stick and the unit. Wait, a 32MB memory stick? Is that still a thing? Each bundle is priced at 278,000₩ ($218 US).

Oh, and as you would have guessed by the headline of this story, Sony is using a giant PSP with a teaspoon of sexuality to promote the bundles. Makes sense to us!

Best. Bundle. Ever.

Seriously, if you haven't picked up a PS3 yet, there's no need to wait for an oft-rumored price cut. For $399, Best Buy's offering an 80GB PS3 bundled with a copy of Media Molecule's DIY platformer, LittleBigPlanet, and Pixar's cautionary environmental tale, Wall-E. That's about $90 worth of complimentary adorability -- an offer that we find difficult to pass up. Just look at those big button/robot eyes. How can you say no? Awwww.

We were sent a tip regarding a new PS3 bundle that Blockbuster was supposedly selling, so we headed on down to our local chain to snoop around. What we found was the above image showing off a PS3 bundle consisting of a 40gb console, Transformers: The Game, Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray, PS3 remote, HDMI cable, and a 12-week rental card (which allows you to rent one movie each week), all for $359.99. What makes this such an odd story, however, is that this bundle isn't offered at every Blockbuster store.

We called another nearby chain and quizzed an employee on his store's bundle. He said that particular store offered a 80gb console, with Transformers: The Game, Click Blu-ray, PS3 remote, HMDI cable, and a 12-week rental card, all for $499.99. So, it would seem that each store has a bit of leeway with its bundle package. If you're in the market for a PS3 and thinking Blockbuster, give them a call before you head down. Both stores we talked to were all sold out.

Update: Well, folks, Bethesda has confirmed our fears: The Oblivion included is not the Game of the Year edition. It's the original Oblivion release.

Bethesda, proprietor of large, navigable worlds both post-apocalyptic and, uh, pre-apocalyptic, has teamed up with 2K Games to offer a gaming bundle not seen since the days of the original Xbox, when you could get Jet Set Radio and Sega GT together in one convenient package. 2K and Bethesda are bundling Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Bioshock together for Xbox 360 and Windows PC, for $39.99 and $29.99, respectively, starting July 7.

The press release was unclear on which version of Oblivion this is (Game of the Year edition?), so we've sent word for a comment regarding that.

That's the first Professor Layton game. And a DS Lite. Despite the current availability of a new DS system, and the impending launch of a new Professor Layton game, Nintendo is planning a UK release of a bundle containing a black DS Lite and the extremely popular first Professor Layton game, due in stores June 19.

MCV suggests that it's being positioned as a Father's Day bundle, but we could see it selling well beyond the gift-giving occasion, due to two factors: first, the enduring hit status of Professor Layton, and second, wow, is that ever a classy-looking box design.

If you're willing to drop bundles of real-life cash for a bit of virtual notoriety, Turn 10 has got a deal that should tickle your unusual fancy. The U.S. Gamestop-exclusive limited edition bundle for Forza Motorsport 3 will hit store shelves in October, selling at $79.99, and giving its purchasers a 2GB USB dongle, a few extra cars, a dashboard theme and a "Forza Motorsport VIP Membership."

What does this exclusive title give you? According to the Gamestop listing, the benefits of being a Very Important Person include "special treatment within the online Auction House, Community Storefront and on the Forzamotorsport.net forums," as well as five additional exclusive vehicles. The type of "special treatment" offered is still unknown, but our money's on virtual sensual footrubs.

In two weeks time, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite will make its way to North America and Europe. For Europe at least, the release of this new Monster Hunter title will be marked with a special PSP bundle. Arriving day-and-date with the regular software, the bundle will include a copy of the game, a silver PSP-3000, a Monster Hunter-branded carrying pouch, screen wipe and a branded skin cover.

Expect to see this bundle on June 26 -- the official European release date. As for North America, the game will arrive three days earlier on June 23, although no special bundle has been mentioned.

Not only will a new black Wii be out in Japan this summer, prospective owners will have the option of buying it in a bundle with what will undoubtedly be 2009's biggest game for that region: Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 (Tri).

The Monster Hunter 3 bundle will be released on August 1, concurrent with the standalone version of the game, and will include the game, a black system, and a black Classic Controller Pro for 33,000 yen ($342). In addition, a black version of the MH3/Classic Controller Pro bundle will be sold for 8,490 yen ($88).

Despite the fact that the red DSi is coming out on the same day as Dragon Quest IX, no bundle has been announced for that yet.

[Via GAME Watch]

It looks as though Sony is planning to introduce yet another PS3 SKU in the coming weeks. A reader has tipped us to a new addition to Best Buy's product database -- a "limited edition" PS3 bundle that includes a 80GB system and two games. It sounds similar to Target's post-GDC PS3 bundle, which included MotorStorm and Resistance.

According to the database, this new SKU is scheduled for release on June 9th, one week after the start of this year's E3 Expo. The listed price for the bundle is $399, the current price for a PS3 system now. Analysts have repeatedly stated a PS3 price cut is in the works, but this new SKU may suggest otherwise. Conversely, Sony may opt to drop the price on a "bare bones" bundle, while offering this new "elite" package at the now-standard price.

For now, this new bundle may be exclusive to Best Buy, similarly to Target's post-GDC bundle. The UPC listed uses a prefix that is typically used in Best Buy's PlayStation products. If Sony packages some newer high-profile games with the system (we have a few in mind), the $399 price point might be a bit more attractive. Oh, and Sony, please don't bundle Lair and Haze with the system, kthanks.

Images of a supposed 80GB PS3 + inFamous bundle have been circulating the video game blogosphere for the past few weeks. Sony has been hesitant to comment on the package, but a recent online retail listing cleared up the confusion -- the bundle is real, and coming to Amazon UK on May 29. Those interested in simultaneously acquiring the shockingly good superhero title and the system on which it runs can grab both for £279.99. We've contacted SCEA to find out if this deal is coming stateside. Consider our fingers crossed.

Square Enix loves bundling its PSP games with hardware. It's the company's way of single-handedly getting more systems into the wild so that more people will buy its next game -- and there's always a "next game." Strangely, these bundles tend to be more common in Japan and Europe, but not anymore. The PlayStation Blog has just announced that a Dissidia bundle is headed to the US of A, exclusive to Gamestop.

For $199.99 your new Dissidia bundle, available on August 25, will contain a copy of Dissidia, a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, a 2GB memory stick and a special branded Dissidia PSP-3000. Oh, wait -- it's just a bog standard Mystic Silver system. Where's the limited edition Dissidia unit that was available in Japan? Oh well, if Crisis Core is anything to go by, Europe will probably get it when it finally releases there in the year 2051.

This week's Famitsu magazine reveals the Japanese release date for Monster Hunter 3 (tri-): August 1. Capcom is graciously offering fans three different ways to blow a bunch of money on the game -- in addition to the standalone game, two separate limited-edition bundles will be released.

A Classic Controller Pro package, containing the game and Nintendo's new controller, will be available for ¥8,490 ($88), and a Limited Edition pack, containing the game, a "making-of DVD" and other unspecified extras will retail for ¥9,440 ($98). The Famitsu article also shows the silhouette of a "Monster Head Figure" to be handed out as a bonus with early copies of the game.

[Image via Wii Everyday]

Microsoft Canada has told Joystiq that a new console bundle is headed exclusively to the Great White North. The Grand Theft Auto IV: Limited Anniversary Edition bundle packs the best-selling "American Dream" simulator, GTA IV, with an Xbox 360 Elite console. As for other extras, the bundle comes up short.

Included in bundle are the standard Elite offerings (black console, controller and wired headset) along with 400, one month of Xbox Live and two promotional stickers: One for Grand Theft Auto IV itself and one for the Liberty City Swingers baseball team. That's it. The downloadable, Xbox 360 exclusive GTA IV: The Lost and Damned is not included.

The bundle is set to hit stores on May 4 and is priced at $399 -- the standard price for Canadian Xbox 360 Elite bundles. So, yay: a new bundle celebrating the one-year anniversary of GTAIV. Sorry if we don't bust out the confetti but this isn't even half as exciting as the Game of the Year edition bundle revealed earlier this month.

Update: FutureShop is now taking pre-orders on the GTAIV Elite bundle.