It’s what we all feared, that the long awaited release of the Playstation 3 will be delayed. We only reported a few weeks ago that a delay was possible as the production had not even started on the consoles, but now we can confirm a delay.
Due to a shortage of a key component for the PS3 Blu-ray drive, the blue laser diode, in the Sony Group, the launch of the PS3 will be delayed until March 2007. The original launch dates for Japan and the USA will remain for November but in Europe we will have to wait.
Sony also has announced a shortfall on the expected number of consoles to be available at launch. Initially the big Sony bosses were boasting that there would be 2 million at launch and a further 2 million by the end of 2006. The launch date console figure has dropped dramatically to only 500,000 which has to be split between Japan and the USA. Reports are that the USA will get 400,000 and Japan only 100,000.
Sony have reassured fans of the Playstation that there will be 6 million consoles shipped in 2007. The PS3 delay must be good news for Microsoft as they are planning to release their Xbox360 HD-DVD for Christmas, and for Nintendo as the Nintendo Wii is due for launch as well.
Why doesn’t this news come as any surprise to everyone that is waiting for the PS3. Why do the gaming console manufacturers fill us with these promises of a launch date and then 2 months before change their plans. How can there be a shortage on this component… did no one go and check to see if they had enough and that enough will be produced. What a farce!
Is there really any point releasing the half a million into the USA & Japan anyway as that’s just no where near enough. They will have to still get all the games ready for the Nov launch but will not have the expected volume of people buying them all. It wouldn’t surprise me if the whole launch gets delayed until March 07.