JAPAN: Sony says global launch to the next Playstation delays, likely date for release November this year

Record ID: 451815

  • Title: JAPAN: Sony says global launch to the next Playstation delays, likely date for release November this year
  • Date: 15th March 2006
  • Summary: (BN09) TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE) (REUTERS) PLAYSTATION 3 ON DISPLAY (3 SHOTS) PLAYSTATION 3 BOOTH AT GAME SHOW (CAMERA ACCESS INSIDE WAS NOT ALLOWED)
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA70UJ7L7DI1P7TH5N3JTZ8UCXM
  • Story Text: Sony Corp. said on Wednesday (March 15) it would delay the release of its new PlayStation 3 video game console until early November because development of some of the technology was behind schedule.
    The company, which currently dominates the game console market with a market share of about 70 percent, said it planned to launch the much-anticipated PlayStation 3 (PS3) almost simultaneously in Japan, North America and Europe in time for the key holiday season.
    "Ultimately we will be launching the Playstation 3 in November," said Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony's game division. "We are launching at that time in order to aim for the holidays overseas such as Thanksgiving," he added giving the reason why the month November was chosen over other dates.
    The PS3 launch date has been the subject of heavy speculation in the industry as expectations are high for the machine, which will have cutting-edge technology and is expected to enable users to play games and movies as well as download videos from the Internet.
    A six-month delay in the launch date could mean handing further advantage to rival Microsoft Corp., which launched its competing Xbox 360 console last November.
    Sony is now also likely to go head-to head with Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s next-generation Revolution console, which is expected to hit markets around the same time.
    Kutaragi said Sony planned to initially produce 1 million PS3 units a month for a total of 6 million units in the business year ending March 2007.
    Analysts expect the PS3 to cost about 500 U.S. dollars with an initial line-up of at least five to 10 games.
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