PS3 Delayed till March 2007

[dabouncer]

PS3 will not reach Europe until March

But still on track to arrive in Japan and North America this November

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced that the release date for PlayStation 3 in PAL territories has been pushed back until March 2007.

In an official statement, Sony said the decision to revise the launch date was taken following "the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PlayStation 3."

Consumers in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia will now have to wait until March to get their hands on a PS3. However, the console is still on track to launch in Japan on November 11 and in North America on November 17. Sony still plans to ship 6 million PS3 units globally before the end of the 2007 fiscal year.

Blue laser diodes are a key component of the PS3's Blu-Ray drive. Rumours of a shortage began to emerge just days ago, with reports suggesting that Sony had suspended shipment of the diodes to customers making standalone Blu-Ray players - but it would seem that wasn't enough to ensure there would be enough consoles to go round in November.

Sony's plans for a global launch in November were first announced by Ken Kutaragi back in March. The announcement came as a surprise to many industry observers who had predicted a staggered release schedule and a 2007 launch date for Europe - but at E3, SCEA president Kaz Hirai confirmed November release dates for all three territories.

News of the delay will no doubt please executives at Microsoft, which managed to pull off a global launch of the Xbox 360 last year. There were problems with hardware shortages but last month, Microsoft Europe boss Chris Lewis pledged that there will be no shortfall this Christmas - and with only the Nintendo Wii to compete against, MS could be set to clean up.

PS3 Links :
http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15355
Xbox 360 Links :
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19376

Knew something like this would happen... Typical Sony. The delay doesnt surprise me considering all the problems they are having...

 

[playkiller no.2]

Why thank you Ken Kutaragi for LYING TO THE WORLD.
Oh well Wii and xbox360 for me.

See you in 6 months for the PS3 launch.

 

[GavinMannion]

LOL, so how many people who where waiting for November are now getting an Xbox 360?

 

[Bondizzo]

lol i saw through the bs since sony started stealing ideas, wii360 ftw

 

[useless]

man... Sony is going to loose a LOT of bucks for Xmas in the EU. Eish!

 

[lilDeath]

The best news I heard all day!
Good riddance sony frackers!!

 

[GavinMannion]

I do now wonder if the possibility of the PS3 completely bombing is plausible...

I personally prefer the Xbox but it would be a huge corporate disaster if the PS3 doesn't win this round of gaming....

I just don't see any good news about it... Fifa titles are now Xbox exclusive, that corners most of Europe in one swipe.

Japan will go with Sony or WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi..... But I think Xbox may win US, EU, Aus and Africa... It's going to be interesting.

 

[Bondizzo]

yeah cant wait to see how this so called war ends up in the next 2 years

 

[useless]

hopefully the PS3 will be out before the Xbox 720 is out...

 

[playkiller no.2]

http://www.thisiswaiting.com/

 

[useless]

ROFL! i loved the Wii wish you a merry (xbox logo)-mas message!

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Are Sony trying on purpose to lose this console war?

Even when Sony was claiming that there'd be 2 million PS3 consoles available at launch, we made a prediction: if you wanted a PS3 on launch day, you would need to pounce on the one guy in your city who managed to get one as he walked out of your local EB, crack his head against the pavement until he passed out, consume his heart for his strength, then fight off the rest of the gaming scavengers who had swooped down upon his corpse, eager to steal his shiny PS3.

Of course, that was before Sony announced that the PS3 would cost about $600. That price point definitely slimmed demand. Of course, we still stand by the prediction, because now Sony's backed down on their 2 million PS3s claim. Not only have they delayed the PS3's launch for the vast majority of the world, but look at these new numbers on how many PS3s will be available at launch date.

• North America: 400,000 Units
• Japan: 100,000 Units

Does that look like a lot to you? Keep in mind Microsoft's global launch was 1.5 million units, and there were still massive shortages.

I mean wtf...they're $crewing their main market (Japan)...

 

[GavinMannion]

Now if you take a look at the NAG forums people are still going to hold out for the PS3? I just don't understand it.

It is not really more powerful than the xbox, it is twice the price and has very few good games on the horizon. It is also being released a minimum of 7 months later...

I have order my Xbox and all in all it came to R5000 which is a lot of money for a games machine, can you imagine the PS3 with an extra controller and 3 games plus a few accessories.. R10 000 insane...

 

[Wisemansa]

R10 000 insane...

id much rather spend the money on a computer....or wait few months and buy a graphics card thats much better than the PS3 graphics...

 

[Peppercorns]

I had a gut feeling this would happen...it was just a matter of time

 

[Highflyer_GP]

id much rather spend the money on a computer....or wait few months and buy a graphics card thats much better than the PS3 graphics...

Graphics don't necessarily make a game fun. Gathering a few mates together in the comfort of the living room with a few beers for some multiplayer gaming is way more fun than spending a weekend alone in front of your PC playing online against people who you can't properly interact with. Consoles have their place in the market, personally I'm going for the 360.

 

[useless]

aye, at times a console is way more sociable than a PC, plus its really a plug & play gaming machine.

 

[noxibox]

There's that convenience. When I put a game into a console it runs and works. No installing updated drivers, fiddling with graphics and sound options to get the thing to run well.

 

[lord_spaceman]

There's that convenience. When I put a game into a console it runs and works. No installing updated drivers, fiddling with graphics and sound options to get the thing to run well.

...that's half the fun with a PC - updating drivers and patching is always exciting for me.

 

[GavinMannion]

...that's half the fun with a PC - updating drivers and patching is always exciting for me.

Yeah me to, I love sitting around all weekend updating my patches and installing new drivers ...

These new consoles get patched now days as well but it is so much simpler. If the thing is connected to the internet it updates itself in the background, if not you pick up a DVD and hit install. Nice and simple...

For me it's the convenience and social factors that sold the console. Having a couple of beers and a game of Tiger Woods golf is a fun thing to do on a rainy day.