O2 delays Xperia Play UK launch

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 25 March, 2011

UPDATE: All other operators on for 1st April.

UPDATE: Sony Ericsson has responded to O2's delay of the Xperia Play launch, issuing Eurogamer the following statement:

"Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will be launching on 1st April across all UK mobile operator partners except for O2, who have decided to prolong the testing period in order to ensure that the software meets the requirements of its procedures.

"Sony Ericsson will be working with O2 over the next couple of weeks to expedite the process and ensure that O2 customers can soon join consumers across the UK in being able to enjoy the world's first PlayStation certified smartphone."

ORIGINAL STORY: O2 has delayed the launch of gaming phone the Xperia Play after it discovered a number of bugs on the device.

Sony Ericsson's PlayStation Phone was due out in the UK Friday 1st April.

"We've been testing the phone non-stop for weeks and have found some bugs in the software that, if they're not fixed, means customers won't have a great experience," explained O2's head of testing Stuart Hibberd.

"We've been working with Sony Ericsson to get these bugs ironed out, but haven't been able to get them fixed in time for us to be able to launch the phone on 1st April as we originally planned."

Hibberd said O2 will work with Sony Ericsson over the next couple of weeks to "make sure that any issues with the software are resolved before it goes on sale".

When O2 decides to sell the device, it will offer customers the white version exclusively.

What does O2's decision mean for its rival carriers? So far O2 is the only UK network provider to announce a delay, or reveal the discovery of bugs.

Eurogamer has contacted Sony Ericsson for comment.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (14) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • natureboy #1 1 year ago

    Interesting. I rarely play games on my phone so this will not be for me. If by some freak of nature i decided to buy this, please someone check me into the asylum ASAP. I am sure it is a great device but will only find a niche audience

  • LostGamer #2 1 year ago

    Update: Here's what Sony Ericsson has to say on the matter:
    "Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY will be launching on 1 April across all UK mobile operator partners except for O2, who have decided to prolong the testing period in order to ensure that the software loaded on the phones meets the requirements of its procedures. Sony Ericsson will be working with O2 over the next couple of weeks to expedite the process and ensure that O2 customers can soon join consumers across the UK in being able to enjoy the world's first PlayStation certified smartphone."
    http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/xperi...

  • Cronan #3 1 year ago

    April Fool's Day launch? Interesting...

  • mowgli #4 1 year ago

    Yeah, it's called 'Android'.

  • sonicyoda #5 1 year ago

    What is this, 'Hate on the New Hardware Day' or something?

  • ryandsimmons #6 1 year ago

    Is this because O2 are adding their own stupid branding to their phone which fucks everything up?

    Like Orange etc do to their phones which means you can never get the latest firmware as their adverts don't like it.

  • Goffee #7 1 year ago

    Ouch, I think that's the sound of cancelled pre-orders you can hear, shame - I liked the look of the white one.

  • Mnia786 #8 1 year ago

    @ryan - yep. Remember when Orange branded the Sony Ericsson Satio and caused them to brick, lagg and drop calls? Operators always add bloatware which ruins the phones - debranding ftw.

  • chaywa #9 1 year ago

    I can't wait for XDA to Root this baby...

  • Ror1984 #10 1 year ago

    "Sony Ericsson's PlayStation Phone was due out in the UK Friday 1st April."

    No capital 'p' needed on 'phone'.

    I won't be getting one of these, as my last upgrade came through about four or five months ago, but I'd be interested in EG reviewing one. Any chance?

    As others have said about operator bloatware, it is usually horrendous, but the Orange apps on my WP7 are really useful. Luckily, all they can add is apps and a (user-changeable) colour scheme. The Orange crap on my previous Symbian handset was atrocious.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #11 1 year ago

    O2's offices in Slough are lovely. They've got a Starbucks franchise, and foosball tables and creepy posters of the fat guy from Horrible Histories dressed as a centaur everywhere.

  • sanctusmortis #12 1 year ago

    I'll be giving it a skip then; Three are terrible for getting updates out on time, and this sounds like another Nokia N97 debacle in the making. Galaxy S2 Mini here I come...

  • scoop #13 1 year ago

    Mkes you wonder what O2 found, and what other carriers are perhaps happy to ignore?

  • Marshall2008 #14 1 year ago

    Probably bugs with the O2 apps on the exclusive White one they were getting.