Sony Computer Entertainment has just released their official statement concerning the release of the Hard Disk Drive and Network Adapter as well as the price for the accessories. SCE has confirmed that the HDD and Network Adapter will be released in Japan on July 19th in order to coincide with the release of Final Fantasy X, which requires the HDD to play. The official price, converted from the Japanese Yen to the U.S. dollar, will be $153 for the external unit and $145 for the internal unit.

While it definately sounds high for a HDD, SCE has stated on their website that the HDD unit comes bundled with the Network Adapter, which was originally priced at $40. The U.S. bundle, still without a release date, will retail for $145 and will include the 40 GB Hard Disk Drive and the narrowband/broadband Network Adapter for $145.