Sony denies PS3 delay reports

By Games Industry.biz Published 20 February, 2006

Someone actually said something!

Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson Kei Sakaguchi has officially denied reports from financial analysts at Merrill Lynch that the PS3 could be delayed by several months, reiterating that the console will launch this spring.

Sakaguchi was responding to allegations made by Merrill Lynch analyst Joe Osha in a report published late last week, in which Osha claimed that the PS3 could launch in autumn in Japan, with a US launch possibly being delayed to early 2007.

"There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006," Sakaguchi told the press in Tokyo, referring to the company's only stated goal for the launch so far - namely that the console will appear in at least one territory, most likely Japan, this spring.

Curiously, Sakaguchi's comments appear to directly contradict statements which appeared on the BBC News website this morning, attributed to an unnamed Sony spokesperson who apparently confirmed that the firm is "aiming for spring", but went on to comment that certain unfinished technical specifications could hold up the system. "We're waiting for them until the last possible minute, but the launch could be pushed back if they're not decided soon," the spokesman is quoted as saying - although in the absence of any source information, it's impossible to say how much weight should be attached to these comments.

It's also hard to say what exactly Sony defines as "spring", however. It's certainly not the traditional definition of the season, which covers the months of March, April and May. That would probably mean that the company has to meet its goal by E3 in May - a near-impossibility, given that no price point has been announced and no pre-sale activity has taken place at retail.

It's possible, however, that Sony will be ready for a launch by June or July, at least in some limited sense - not enough to make serious headway in terms of sales, perhaps, but enough for the firm to be able to argue that it met its own deadline and certainly enough to create a media furore that would give consumers another option to consider before purchasing an Xbox 360.

That last factor is one Sony must be painfully aware of. By the time the PlayStation 3 launches, assuming that the company can manage to scrape a June/July launch out of the system, the Xbox 360 will already have racked up between 4.5 and 5.5 million sales - not a lot on the scale of an entire console life cycle, but certainly putting a lot of open water between the Microsoft console and the PS3 in the crucial first 12 months.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 6 years ago

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

  • Talha #1 6 years ago

    F
    I
    R
    S
    T

    Oops, sorry. ANyways, all signs point to a delay, no matter what they say. Unless they mean 'Spring' as it is in the Southern Hemisphere.
    Edited by 2 at 20/02/06 @ 10:57

  • StratoDriver #2 6 years ago

    Well thats nice, I send Eurogamer a link to the story on the BBC web site about 2 hours ago and do i get a mention!!

  • thegamesthething #3 6 years ago

    to be honest i think they might have been aware of this one anyway

  • SeesThroughAll #4 6 years ago

    "It's certainly not the traditional definition of the season, which covers the months of February, March and April."

    Hum, you DO know that Spring takes place between mid March and mid June, right?
    Here, have a look in Wikipedia.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 11:06

  • smirny #5 6 years ago

    whatever the truth is, sony's shares are taking a kicking...

    http://today.reuters.com/busi ness/newsArticle.aspx?type=technology&storyID=nT157501

  • jack_klugman #6 6 years ago

    Unless you're in the Southern hemisphere where it takes place between September and December.

  • SeesThroughAll #7 6 years ago

    Yup.

  • space_ace #8 6 years ago

    sony denies rumours that spring is near :)

  • WhiteSaturn #9 6 years ago

    Marv Burkett, nVidia's chief financial officer said "that they have completed the RSX graphics chip for PS3, and he expects Sony to begin manufacturing PS3 in late April." So if they can manufacture a few million in a month they could launch in May?

  • TechnoHippy #10 6 years ago

    We're Sony! F*ck Spring!

    <a href='http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=2005-11-04'>Link for those that don't get it</a> :-)

  • Gurgeh #11 6 years ago

    You omitted the price estimate of $800 - $900 which might be a factor in delaying the launch (till things get a bit cheaper)

  • lennon #12 6 years ago

    /Sits and waits for official announcement of delay
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 11:37

  • kangarootoo #13 6 years ago

    "It's also hard to say what exactly Sony defines as "spring", however. It's certainly not the traditional definition of the season, which covers the months of February, March and April"

    I always though February was part of Winter. Its always bloody cold enough. Now I'm confused.

  • Zero_ #14 6 years ago

    Y'know... It's definetly not before E3, which takes place April-ish. I say... a July launch, world wide - no, make that galaxy wide! Then we can all play on Playstation HUB with our alien friends!

  • Shinji #15 6 years ago

    Cor, that Wikipedia article is interesting. I never knew that it was only we Irish who counted February as a spring month! I'll edit the article in a minute, ta :)

  • the creeper #16 6 years ago

    Have to agree with SeesThroughAll - not sure where you got the idea that spring is traditionally February through April. 'Fraid to say there's another month of winter to go yet...

    And I think it's normal for these things to be reported over here using Northern Hemisphere seasons, isn't it? I've never really thought about it before, but in the past when somebody has talked about spring for a global product, it's been our spring. (Which isn't to say it doesn't get reported differently for our Antipodean friends.)

    So - a Japanese launch around June 20th then?

  • the creeper #17 6 years ago

    Shinji - see what you mean. Didn't know that about Ireland. Let's run a sweepstake on the nationality of whoever wrote the article.

    Let's see. I think I'll go for.... Irish. Anyone else in?

  • Scientist #18 6 years ago

    "So - a Japanese launch around June 20th then?"

    It would look good:

    20 06 2006

  • Scientist #19 6 years ago

    "Let's see. I think I'll go for.... Irish. Anyone else in?"

    I think the fact that his name is Fahey and he says "we Irish" rather gives it away.

  • Beano #20 6 years ago

    I smell a conspiracy.... Sony is buying Wikipedia and changes the definition af spring to october/november/december :)

    Anyway, spring IS march, april and may. February is winter... geee !!
    Edited by 3 at 20/02/06 @ 11:49

  • Shinji #21 6 years ago

    Let's see. I think I'll go for.... Irish. Anyone else in?

    You win, since I wrote the article and I'm Irish :)

  • Kiigan #22 6 years ago

    "There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006"

    Humm, good luck with that plan :-)

  • tonynibbles #23 6 years ago

    "There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006,"

    Well. If that is what they're saying, categorically - then there has to be a fucking big announcement soon.
    Japan release still in Spring 06?

    Sony have been far too quiet for far too long. There was no regular limelight-stealing-announcement when 360 launched, nothing in the New Year - its just been far too quiet.
    So the rumour mill has been going overtime - Perhaps Sony have genuinely gone 'schtum', ready for an uber-announcement and Spring 06 will still happen... Either way I cant wait for the announcement, it has to be soon now...
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 11:51

  • the creeper #24 6 years ago

    Scientist - Never knew that Shinji was Rob Fahey! And I've been reading these forums for ages. Must... be ... more... observant!

    Think you may be right - that does kind of give it away!

    Sorry Rob - you can have Irish in the sweepstake if you like (think I'm going to withdraw my entry...) :o)

  • Markusdragon #25 6 years ago

    Hate to sound fanboyish, but PS3 sounds doomed.

    It's costing them $800 to manufacture each unit. If they sold them at $400 (before the store's markup and tax are added) and got a 25% cut of every game sold, they'd need an attatch rate of 32 games at full price per unit to break even.

    32 games at $50 each anyone?

  • gizmo #26 6 years ago

    I think Sony may be getting out of their depth here, I just can't see them having the console at an affordable price, given the included technology in time. I don't see them having their on-line gaming network up to live standard in time. Don't get me wrong, I will most likely buy a ps3, but I feel they have some serious problems on their hands.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 11:54

  • lennon #27 6 years ago

    @Tony - I want to be excited but the thought of getting disapointed again by Sony really makes me cringe. Even a date for a Japanese launch wont help us in Europe and any thoughts of importing as I did with my psp will no doubt only be met with legal action.

    Come on Sony surprise us all....

  • tiddles #28 6 years ago

    Cor, that Wikipedia article is interesting. I never knew that it was only we Irish who counted February as a spring month! I'll edit the article in a minute, ta :)

    Typical Irish wishful thinking!

  • KTroopA #29 6 years ago

    Limp excuse at best Sony...

    you are launching the hw, so upto you to organise all ur shit. just say its delayed and skip the PR bs.. mumbo crap.

    you aint ready :/

  • Darren #30 6 years ago

    I thought the general consensus was that Sony were releasing the PS3 in Japan in June before the 21st (which still counts as Spring albeit it's the end of!), followed by the US in the autumn and then Europe, which gets the machine last (naturally!) in March 2007?

  • Khanivor #31 6 years ago

    Sony have been working on tectonic technology that will drag Japan into the southern hemisphere thereby allowing them to hit their Spring 2006 launch window.

  • gerg #32 6 years ago

    Haven't about seven posts just dissapeared...?

    I swear the post count was at 32, then suddenly down to 25.

  • the creeper #33 6 years ago

    How long was it between Microsoft announcing the launch date of the 360 and it actually hitting the street? If memory serves, it wasn't all that long, maybe a couple of months. I know a lot of retailers were taking preorders long before that, but that was off their own back and look at how that turned out...

    Sony have four months until Spring ends, with E3 coming up as well. I don't see why they shouldn't be able to launch in Japan in June. They're certainly going to have to take a big hit on price in order to be competitive, but that seems to be a reality of launching a new console these days (unless you're Nintendo of course).

  • lennon #34 6 years ago

    @Creeper About 3 months. Somthing like August the 17th I think was the official announcement. Unless of course you meant that wonderful MTV launch which I think was June or July.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 12:25

  • space_ace #35 6 years ago

    sony denies rumours that the xbox 360 has shipped.

    :)

  • the creeper #36 6 years ago

    Yeah I meant the announcement of the launch date. I think the MTV extravaganza was the week before E3 so that would have been back in May, but I don't think that covered anything that the Sony pre-E3 press conference didn't cover about PS3.

    August some time sounds about right. I guess all I'm trying to say is, we can't assume it's delayed just because Sony haven't announced a release date yet. There's still time for that.

    (Which isn't to say that there won't be reasons for a delay, but until Sony says anything, we can't know for sure one way or another.)

  • The12thMonkey #37 6 years ago

    Weren't MS plugging the 360 a bit before all that though? Jst to get the hype machine moving before the official MTV thingy? Surely, the lead in time for the release of a machine of the scale of the PS3 would have to be about 5-7 months?

    In comparison, as other have pointed out, Sony have been very quiet for a very long time. They either have something ready to unveil at E3, or it really is delayed. And those nasty price point rumours don't seem to want to go away...
    Edited by 2 at 20/02/06 @ 13:23

  • tonynibbles #38 6 years ago

    I'm still excited about PS3.

    Even if it's around £500 I'll still be getting one. The amount of technology crammed in to it is just too crazy, and well worth the money. 360 might be _cheap_ but although you get value for money, the technoogy is just not the same . A hi-def blue ray player for starters, direct HDMI output, networked media storage and remote PSP access - it is all good stuff, and for me - is stuff I'm interested in.
    Sony may well launch a cut-down version to keep everyone happy, but I'm interested in a full-spec machine. 400 / 500 - it's still _hell_ of a lot cheaper than a PC with equivalent technogy.

  • the creeper #39 6 years ago

    @space ace

    Well they did say the next gen doesn't start until the PS3 launches! Apparently the 360 isn't next gen enough because it only supports up to 1080i, whereas PS3 will support dual 1080p! (Hope I got that the right way round - I tend to mix up my 'i's and 'p's when it comes to high def.)

  • the creeper #40 6 years ago

    @The12thMonkey

    The nasty price point rumours didn't go away about the PSP either, but they proved to be exaggerated. To make money, Sony needs to sell software, not consoles. The console is a necessary evil that they need to produce in order to collect the licencing fees from the games, consequently they'll be prepared to take a big hit on the price of the hardware, in order to get as many units out there as possible, in order to maximise the amount of software that can be sold.

    I'd be genuinely surprised if it launched at a significantly higher price than the 360 launch price.

  • Eighthours #41 6 years ago

    I'm sure the PS3 will launch in Japan in June/July, just without any meaningful software. In other words, a very barren launch schedule. They'll drip-feed it out very slowly to stoke demand. Then they can say that they launched it on time, and will have the column inches they want to detract attention from the 360 for months on end.

    What's interesting for me is that all 3 major territories look like very different console battlegrounds if Sony launch in 2007 in Europe.

    Japan - 360 a failure, Sony battling against the Revolution but out before it. Even though the PS3 will have little software, the Japanese market has shown before that it doen't always matter.

    United States - 360 has a decent lead but Sony launch with massive hype before Xmas armed with (they hope) at least a couple of killer games. Revolution could struggle.

    Europe - After years of treating us abysmally, akin to Nintendo in the mid 90s, can Sony still pull off a big win even though Microsoft will have Xmas 2006 (with possible Halo 3 release) without them in the hunt? And how will the Rev fare?

  • SeesThroughAll #42 6 years ago

    ...consequently they'll be prepared to take a big hit on the price of the hardware, in order to get as many units out there as possible, in order to maximise the amount of software that can be sold.

    How big a hit can they afford to take? They really risk bankrupcy if they try to match the 360 pricetag and keep all the bleeding edge hardware at the same time.
    It will be the most expensive console, nonetheless...

    EDIT: Expect the PS3 to match the 360 in shortage, nothing more.
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 12:50

  • gerg #43 6 years ago

    Does no-one remember that Nintendo Christmas card thing or something, or even the actually NoE Revolution website that had something along the lines of 'Revolution coming 2006'?

  • tonynibbles #44 6 years ago

    If PS3 is the same price as 360 it will be a fucking miracle.
    Not to mention, a fucking bargain... I can't see why Sony would try to match the 360 price. They'd be giving consumers all that extra functionality jsut for the sake of playground price matching. Not gonna happen imo.

    If it follows the PS rule of '£300' thumb... Most people will be extremely happy.

  • BillGaitas #45 6 years ago

    Its amazing!

    Its almost certain that Sony will surprise everyone - well not everyone but ... - by releasing their new console in two terrirories in the spring.

    Japan spring 2006
    Europe spring 2007

    thats so lame .... and you have to consider that untill the ps3 price drops to reasonable prices its going to take a while too.

    LAME


    I just hope the ps3 will have the technology they clame it has or else its going to be the worst strategy ever
    Edited by 1 at 20/02/06 @ 13:29

  • manic_mouse #46 6 years ago

    "If it follows the PS rule of '£300' thumb... Most people will be extremely happy."

    Unfortunately I don't think it will, especially taking into account comments from KK like "people will work more hours to get one", it will be "expensive" etc.

    I'm going to say it might even be as high as £400, but more likely somewhere in between £300-400. But then again, you'll need to buy the "optional" HDD for your online gubbins (downloaded demos etc) which will add at least another £60+ onto that price, and/or a memory card.

    MS, of course, will be ready with a big juicy price drop by the time the PS3 is released. And probably some killer software like Halo 3.

  • manic_mouse #47 6 years ago

    "you have to consider that untill the ps3 price drops to reasonable prices its going to take a while too. "

    Yup. I'm not buying one until they're around £250 or less. So I may be waiting a while...

  • Zuiyo #48 6 years ago

    Who cares, anyway.

  • BillGaitas #49 6 years ago


    "Yup. I'm not buying one until they're around £250 or less. So I may be waiting a while... "

    me too ... LAME

  • drumbaby #50 6 years ago

    Well, I'm not buying one until I want to.

    Contraversial.

  • smoison #51 6 years ago

    I hope you ebayer's are getting your 2-10 pre-orders ready...

    This baby's gonna sell like hot cakes, and there wont be enough for everyone!

  • reality_cheque #52 6 years ago

    My boss is already asking me to pre-order a dozen or two, he's offered to fund it and split the profit with me if I take care of the eBaying.

    Absolutely shocking.

  • BillGaitas #53 6 years ago

    nahhhh
    i dont like to make money on other peoples stupidity

    ... then again its very temptating - i hope that word exists - and maybe they deserve it ...

    what to doooooooooooooooooooooo ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • urban #54 6 years ago

    crucial ? ballocks...nobody i know who has a xbox has got a 360 yet.

    thats important.

  • reality_cheque #55 6 years ago

    @urban: No offense dude, but if you are 14 or hang out with jobless wasters (like i do), I wouldn't expect any of your mates to have a 360! Your friends, no matter how popular you are, do not a statistical set make.

    If the PS3 does not get released in Europe until 2007, then those 18 months may well be what tips the balance. (the balance in this case being between the Sony-branded dark side and the MS branded dark side, with the light side being the now defunct Amiga).

    Not that I'll be buying a PS3 this side of 2010 unless it has some very awesome exclusives.

  • reality_cheque #56 6 years ago

    nahhhh
    i dont like to make money on other peoples stupidity

    Why not? It'll teach em a lesson for being stupid, and put more cash in the pockets of the intelligencia. Don't limit yourself with morals :p

  • Scientist #57 6 years ago

    I would hardly class an eBay console seller as a member of the intellectual elite. There's a difference between a spiv and a professor. But good luck to 'em. I've made a few bob selling faceplates, signed E3 tickets etc. :-)

  • reality_cheque #58 6 years ago

    Ah, but compared to the people who spend £1k on a £280 console, spivs ARE the intellectual elite ;)

    As for rocket scientists, well these eBay mugs make them look like gods in comparison! (although this could also be said for people who can tie their own shoes)

  • Bumbuliuz #59 6 years ago

    No matter the delay we in Europe will still not get our hands on a Ps3 until 2007. Unless Sony suddenly figures out that Europe is their 2nd biggest market and releases at the same time in the US. My bet is on 2007 :(

  • the creeper #60 6 years ago

    Although delays are frustrating, one positive side effect is that it can lead to a healthy crop of launch titles. We had to wait forever for the PSP in Europe, but when it finally came out it had one of the best launch line-ups ever. (Shame about how little we've had since - GTA excluded of course.)

  • Xerx3s #61 6 years ago

    Ow, sony said something. It must be the truth then! Just like the stuff they said about the ps2.

    :\

  • morriss #62 6 years ago

    Maybe they mean Spring 2007?

    :)

  • TheChojin #63 6 years ago

    I still hope they remodel the thing in time for launch , it really does look like a george foreman fat reducin grilling machine ,Kens so proud he,ll put his name on it :D