Rumors have been bounding around suggesting that Sony will lighten their inventory of 80GB PS3s to make room for the new PS3 Slim (which may have PS2 emulation) featuring a newer, lower price. Engadget today revealed what may be the next piece in the PS3 Slim puzzle: the system's manufacturers.

The site is reporting that Foxconn and Pegatron have signed contracts with Sony to manufacturer a revised model of the PS3. Rumors suggest that this will be the last PS3 model of this generation until Sony launches a new console tied to their motion based controller in early 2010, but we and Engadget both consider that highly unlikely.

If all these PS3 Slim rumors turn out to be true (and it's looking increasingly likely that they will) we're sure Jack Tretton is shaking his fist somewhere.

Read more at IndustryGamers