PlayStation Portable to miss March date in Europe News • News • Eurogamer.net

News PSP

Sony's PSP production line continues to be hit by component shortages.

Reports this morning indicate that Sony's PlayStation Portable will not launch in Europe until the second quarter of the year, with chip shortages blamed for this fresh delay to the system's arrival.

A spokesperson for the company told Bloomberg this morning that the device is now expected to ship in Europe in the first half of the year - the first time that Sony has ever indicated that it will arrive outside of the first quarter.

Speaking with the news service, Sony's Kenichi Fukunaga admitted that the firm cannot manufacture enough of the devices to satisfy demand in all three major markets - which has pushed the schedule for the European launch back.

The news came only hours after Sony confirmed that the PSP would launch in the United States on March 24th at a price point of $249.99, with around a million units of hardware expected to be made available in the launch period.

The PlayStation Portable was originally intended to debut worldwide in late 2004, but eventually only managed a limited shipment in Japan in mid-December, with just over 500,000 units shipped there by the end of the year.

The company's projections have always called for worldwide sales of three million PSP units by the end of its financial year on March 31st, and it's not clear how a delay in Europe will affect that target.

Meanwhile, the console's main rival, the Nintendo DS, is on schedule to go on sale in Europe on March 11th - and has already been on sale in North America since December 2nd last year.

About Games Industry.biz

Read more articles from Games by visiting the Games Industry.biz archive page.

Comments (38) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

Order
- Oldest
- Newest
- Best
- Worst
Score
- -25
- -10
- -1
- 0
- +1
- +10
- +25

IronGiant #1 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Maybe just maybe this could lead to a cheaper price on launch.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #2 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Blimey.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Universal_Hamster #3 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
AAAAAAAAGH!
But then again...
Just more incentive to import...
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
gamingdave #4 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Wasnt suprised in the slightest when it fialed to be worldwide release, am not suprised in the slightest to hear of another delay.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Tyronne #5 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Well im not going to lose any sleep over something i do not intend to buy anyways.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Wobbler #6 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Europe coming last... again
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
#7 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Don't care... Wipeout Pure's delayed too... So it don't matter to me...

Have they given an official price yet?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
ChrisOTR #8 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Nintendo have a bit of a dilemma. Rush software out to capitalise on this, or stick to making quality stuff and waste their head-start?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
ChrisOTR #9 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Djini - Wipeout Pure delayed? Missed that?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
mattigan #10 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Great, this will give $ony some more time to port a few more PS2 titles for launch, I'm glad I never wasted money on the PS2, as it means I wont be buying the same old titles for the second time. Come to think of it, most of the games were shit the first time round. I think I'll pass on the PSP.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
andrewfromdoncaster #11 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Sony ignoring Europe; Typical!!!
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Kami #12 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
I'd say I'm surprised by this news...

... but in all honesty, when Sony said the US launch was gonna be March, I kinda knew then we'd be getting a delay...
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
GitSomE_UK #13 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Gah, might of known, we always get the shitty end of the stick.

Tossers.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
gylo #14 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
I'm so pissed off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bend over Europe and take it from behind!
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
onyxbox #15 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Ahh well, guess I'll be getting that �99 DS to keep me occupied in the meantime.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Smiggs #16 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
"Nintendo have a bit of a dilemma. Rush software out to capitalise on this, or stick to making quality stuff and waste their head-start?"

eh? why would making a load of rubbish give them an advantage? they would only need to rush stuff out if they had competition the pressure is off they can make hay while the sun shines! Then rush stuff out when they have the psp for company
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
pjmaybe #17 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Slippage - more slippage...oh jolly dee!

Peej
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
ChrisOTR #18 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Smiggs - I meant because without a range of software (something the DS currently lacks, and I'm speaking as a DS owner), the DS won't sell as many as it could in this window of opportunity.

And if Nintendo were to rush out a load of crap in the next few months, they would have a perceived big games library, which would help the DS sell - even if affianados (sic) know it's all rubbish.

Make sense? Not sure it does to me

Edited by 1 at 04/02/05 @ 14:15
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
ChrisOTR #19 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Thanks for clearing that up, and a special thank you for the specifics backing up your statements.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Tweakmonkey #20 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
So the DS will have lots of shelf space to itself for a while.

/still wondering how GAME will fit the new consoles in to the shops
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
teabagger #21 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
"This is some PR stunt by Nintendo. "

I think you're joking, but just in case;

A spokesperson for the company told Bloomberg this morning that the device is now expected to ship in Europe in the first half of the year - the first time that Sony has ever indicated that it will arrive outside of the first quarter.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Kami #22 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Tengu, a joke is only funny so many times.

Time to put ol' PSP to rest...

Edited by 1 at 04/02/05 @ 14:51
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Stu #23 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
When's Pro Evo out for PSP?....
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Hicksy #24 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
yeep! o_o

ninty must have a very big grin on their faces today
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
chappers #25 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Tengu, a joke is only funny so many times.

Time to put ol' Paul Steven Patters to rest...

I knew it. (P)aul (S)teven (P)atters indeed
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
teabagger #26 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
"I'd rather they ironed out their build quality before shipping over here. As handy as it might be, the 'flex-n-release' method of disc removal is shoddy."

Yeah, 'cos that's a problem with every machine of course. I've personally used 5 machines and not one of them had any kind of problem.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Floppy #27 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
All companies, regardless of industry, skimp on quality to get their product out on the market on time. Especially if it's a new product concept. The PSP is no different. It's a new design, and small flaws will be noticeable in first generation shipments.

I totally agree that a vast number of PSPs will not have that problem. I'm just prepared to wait a little longer until they're ironed out some the build quality.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
tengu #28 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Paul Stephen Patters isn't me anymore though. In fact, I thought it might have been you, Kami

Seriously, I'm done with it now I'm exposed. Why the hell would I continue if everyone knows it's me?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #29 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
It's not Tengu as far as I can see, the IP's don't match up. (I know that's not foolproof, but it's better than nothing)
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
tengu #30 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Well, at least I have someone to back me up here, cheers.

How can you see the IPs though Bertie?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #31 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Special privileges
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
Kami #32 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Nope, not me.

I like a joke as much as the next person, but this Paul Stephen Patters/Peter Steven Patters thing is old and stale now. So no, not me.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
#33 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
I think it may be time for Sony to enlighten us on their European plans. Right up until today I've been swamped with PSP orders and very few DS.

Today I've had a few ask if they could swap their orders to DS.

I'd point to Nintendo's arrogance with Sega and Sega's arrogance with regard to SONY in past console wars and where they lead.

Fun anyone? You'll either have to wait or get a DS.

As for retail, we've had enough of Hardware shortages so we may have to switch to evangelising about our dual screened friend.

We can only sell what we've got and after all we all have to eat.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
#34 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
So, do you think those clever boys at Play.com (a) know something we don't or (b) they've secured supply from the states.

I'll ask the audience.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
struddie #35 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
"play.com has listed the PSP as 25/03/05 release and a price of �199.99"

Yeh, and Amazon.co.uk have it for March 18th at �179.99, though it states clearly "Please note: the release date and final UK launch details for the PSP console have not yet been confirmed. This information may therefore be subject to change." - they're just trying to get pre-orders in early
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
#36 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
got mine already... nyah haha haa
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
DaveT #37 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
"play.com has listed the PSP as 25/03/05 release and a price of �199.99"

They quite often put release dates on something and are completely wrong.
For Example, they had Mario Tennis on GC release date as 31/12/04.
And then sometime in january. and now sometime in febuary (Which is now eventually correct).

Just one example of millions.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
redzero #38 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
Whats the word on the territorial lock-out? Will UMD's from Europe play fully on an imported console?
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
- Edit
- Delete
- Ignore
ssuellid #39 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
According to the Register Amazon has the 29th of April as the PSP launch date.
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +
RobTheBuilder #40 7 years ago

Comment below viewing threshold Show
www.dvdboxoffice.com

�140 (depending on exchange rate)
Preorder US PSP Value Pack INC delivery
- Log in or register to reply
- 0 - +