PS3 delayed in Europe News
PlayStation 3 News by Ellie Gibson
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."
Gamers 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.
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HAHA!
Byebye Sony. ***STORY UPDATE*** Source In the U.S., about 400,000 PlayStation 3 machines will be available when they go on sale Nov. 17. About 100,000 will be available on the Nov. 11 Japan launch date. So they're internationally fucked. The 360 release had that number available on launch and we all remember how nasty that turned out! Wiki BBC item with GI.biz's Ellie
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most recently on 06/09/06 @ 15:14
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Buying a 360 at launch just keeps seeming like a better and better decision on my part.
Seriously how long can Sony treat Europe like a second class citizens? And giving MS two complete christmasses without opposition seems so foolish when people are already saying Sony are screwed. MS are going to less millions of units in Europe this christmas. I truely now believe that the PS3 will not do as well as Sony think.
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most recently on 06/09/06 @ 08:52
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So it's no longer going to be the first blueray player in the european market, and it's giving the Wii360 the christmas sales!
But lets be honest here, even if they didn't delay the launch - we all know they are going to have so few consoles available that they might as well have just delayed it and avoided consumer aggro. Hopefully the delay results in a cheaper RRP with more units available from day one - and best of all, some decent games! Last time I looked at the current PS3 launch line-up was pretty poor, with a lot of the best titles out around March 07.
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most recently on 06/09/06 @ 09:02
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Der_tolle_Emil
06/09/06 @ 07:51
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Not that I like Sony, but I honestly did not expect such a delay. I guess this will hurt the release even more - Christmas would have definetly helped them.
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chupachups
06/09/06 @ 07:52
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"The Wii is going to clean up this xmas now"
It would if it had enough stock, but that's very unlikely as the Wii is only just launching too. The only new console you'll be able to easily get hold of this Xmas will be the Xbox 360. |
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InfiniteFury
06/09/06 @ 07:53
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Good god, what an all-round disaster.
Sony yet again talking the talk. |
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Nightmare situation for Sony europe, everyone might as well pre order from videogamesplus.ca if you want one this year.
Nintendo wont follow suit, the Wii is a gamecube with more memory inside so the production will be easier than any machine before, i'd imagine. Bad news for Sony and the european industry. On the plus side, i wont be forking out £600 this christmas for something I didnt really want/need, also maybe the european market will actually have a good launch game in march. |
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chupachups
06/09/06 @ 07:59
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"Isn't March 2007 the release date for Halo 3? This could be interesting."
Flip... that's true. And you'll actually be able to buy Halo 3 and an Xbox 360, whereas the PS3 probably won't be available in huge numbers until the end of summer at the earliest. |
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chupachups
06/09/06 @ 08:00
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"Apparently history repeats itself... "
I hope not for Sony's sake, the PSP eventually got delayed by a year in Europe. |
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JohnnyWashnGo
06/09/06 @ 08:01
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Goddamn you Sony, I preorder plenty of those machines to put on eBay and pay for my Christmas.
So not only have you managed to piss off a sizeable portion of gamesplaying Europe, but you also ruined my Mums Christmas. Is nothing sacred to you guys? /sulks |
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bloodflowers
06/09/06 @ 08:03
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Excellent - exactly what they deserved. +10 damage for treating Europe like scum again, +20 damage for failing to live up to boasts, +25 damage for not having a new product at Christmas, and +50 critical hit for fucking up their Blu-Ray world domination attempt.
Be interesting to see what the US/JP stock shortages are like actually. Will the US get delayed too perhaps? |
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Emilia'sHorse
06/09/06 @ 08:04
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I am not suprised and I am sure Sony has the support from gamers who will wait.
But why on earth should you wait? Go out now and buy a 360, you know you want to. |
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gamesb*tch
06/09/06 @ 08:05
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I don't think it will make that much difference in the long term. The installed base for PS2 is so huge and the PS2's brand is so strongly associated with so many mass market and niche gaming titles that it will be hard to rock Sony's boat over the 3-5 year life cycle of the console.
As far as I am concerned, Microsoft are still bleeding $$$s over XBox1 and Wii is more of a gadget than a serious next gen console (I will buy one though). The fact that they can get some out in NA and JPM means that the pressure of hype will just get greater and greater in EU before next Easter. And, for everyone going fyou Sony fyou, who would you rather have making consoles? Wonderswan??!! Never forget the N64's under-supported European presence when you champion Nintendo. OAO |
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Penguinzoot
06/09/06 @ 08:06
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Thing is though, no matter how upset European gamers may be about this, Sony know they can do what they like and the European gamers will still lap it up. It'll still sell out when it eventually appears in European shores.
/scratches
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most recently on 06/09/06 @ 09:09
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From all I read does anyone care that much. I still haven't upgraded to a 360 but I will do after xmas. I'm playing my psp and ds lite more than any home console at the moment anyway, how big is Mario 64 DS!!. I think I would only be buying the ps3 for MGS4, do I really need it that bad ?
BTW how class does Assains Creed look, Thief 3 was and is great on xbox, so I can't wait for this game. OH YEAH |
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Sorry, i meant Wii is a gamecube with more memory inside and a revolutionary control method. If you've played one you'll know the graphics aren't alot better than the GC, it just has larger levels and prettier shader effects.
PS3 will launch alongside Halo 3 if bungie stick to their guns, should be interesting "BUY A 360 WITH HALO 3 FOR £100 CHEAPER THAN A PS3 WITH NO GAMES" |
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