Sony is about to start offering updated tools at lower prices in an effort to "further strengthen its support for game development on PlayStation 3."

Sony announced the new dev kit models DECR-1400A for North America ($2,000) and Europe/PAL territories (€1,700), and DECR-1400J for Japan (200,000 yen). The kits are the same in form factor as the commercial PS3 and offer increased programming and rendering power.

The increase in rendering power is due to Sony's engine announcement made at GDC today, the PhyreEngine version. 2.40. This new engine includes a new "foliage rendering" system that should allow developers to make more realistic looking plants and trees.

Sony also promises to provide more tech support services for PS3 developers. In the official statement, the company had this to say: "With more and more new and exciting PS3 titles scheduled for release this year from third party developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios, SCEI will deploy various measures to further reinforce game development for PS3 and will continue to expand the platform to offer attractive interactive entertainment experiences only available on PS3."