A new FCC filing by Sony reveals the company is working on a "CECH-40" revision of its PlayStation 3 game console. The features of this new model are unknown, some believe it's just new hardware that's cheaper to manufacture, while others think that this model may also have a new, ultra-slim form factor.

Apparently, Sony is preparing to introduce PlayStation 3 model CECH-4001x, according to the AK8CBEH19C1 filing with FCC. Sony's model numbers for PS3 always begin from CECH-**, where ** are model prefixes that point to the generation of the console as well as onto it core specs like chip revisions and their manufacturing technology, mainboard versions, etc. The remaining digits and letters point to other region the device is intended for as well as the hard drive capacity. The first-generation PS3 consoles carried CECH*-like model numbers, whereas the second-generation PS3s (slim) are marked according to the new nomenclature: CECH-20, CECH-21, CECH-25 or CECH-30. All-in-all, the CECH-4001x model number clearly points to a brand-new generation of Sony PlayStation 3 game system intended for selling in 01 region, or the U.S. and Canada.