PlayStation 3 delayed in Europe

[UPDATE] Sony announces next-gen console pushed back to March 2007 in Europe; blue laser diode issues cited for delay as confusion surrounds US and Japan launch.

When Sony's PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles launched worldwide, there was up to nine months between the Japanese and European releases. So European gamers rejoiced when, at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, it was announced that the PlayStation 3 launch would take place worldwide over a matter of weeks in November.

However, this morning Sony has issued a statement saying that the PlayStation 3 release date has been pushed back to March 2007 in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australasia. Sony cited 'the delay in the mass-production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group' as the reason for the postponement.

[UPDATE 2] After a large amount of confusion, Sony has now confirmed that it has drastically scaled back the scope of the PS3 launch in Japan in the US. Only 100,000 PS3s will be in Japanese stores when the platform goes on sale there on November 11. North America will only get 400,000 units for its PS3 launch on November 17.

The combined figure of 500,000 is one quarter of the 2 million units Sony predicted would be available at launch worldwide as late as this morning. The company has since lowered its worldwide 2006 shipment estimates from 4 million to 2 million-2.4 million. Officially, Sony's global shipment forecast of 6 million units for its 2007 fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2007, remains unaffected.

The European delay means that the PlayStation 3 launch will take place well over six years since that of its predecessor, which went on sale on November 24, 2000. Sony is making no additional comment on the PlayStation 3 delay at this point in time.

1200 Comments

  • mithund

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:17 pm GMT

    the "technical issue" is just a cover up. The real reason is because Sony's still evaluating the viability of the blu-Ray format. Neither the HD-DVD nor the Blu-Ray format have taken off the way their supporters thought it would. Sony better get back to talking to Toshiba about a unified format. It's better for them, the movie studios & the consumers !

    I know, $600 is a hell lot of money but i'd still consider buying one if all the uncertainities weren't there about the PS3. Sony cannot afford to screw up the Playstation business. They''re doomed if they do.

  • KingOfTheNubeis

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:14 pm GMT

    I have a PC that will give a360 or even a Ps3" yer I SAID it.!" a PS3 a run for its money..
    I have 2 Gigs on ram and my low'ly 7800 GTX can slap it round
    NOW.
    By the time Vista comes round..have you seen what the DX10 card
    can do?
    PS3 will be a fudge'ing DOORSTOP. FOR the love of GOD !!
    600 pound PCs by Early 2010 will come with a Flat monitor
    and will DESTROY IT.SONY have lost the plot. PS3 was hot.
    12 MONTHS AGO when it should have come out.
    MS will drop the price of the 360,they can.
    BUT the PS3..WILL DIE...heehhehehh DIE SONY
    DIE hehehehh the fools

  • Wej_accept_it

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:08 pm GMT

    NO!!!
    I DON'T THINK I CAN COPE!
    I NEED A PS3 TO PLAY F.E.A.R. AND HALF LIFE 2 ON CUS MY PC IS OLD!

    NO! NO! NO!

  • stooge_01

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:01 pm GMT

    C'MON WAT IS THIS?
    DAMN U SONY Y CNT U JUST GIVE US THE GOODS ALREADY

  • STARS_Splinter

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:01 pm GMT

    wow. That really, really sucks. Why the hell does Euro and Aus have to wait? Because Sony can't produce enough damn machines? probably. I'm actually getting pretty concerned about the PS3 launch in general... I mean, theres still scant little details in terms of its online abilities and multimedia functions.. and its due out in little over a month and a half. Isn't that kinda worrying...?

    Fortunately, I have my 360 and didn't plan on getting a PS3 until the price came down substantially anyway. Guess now I'll just have to wait even longer for that to happen. I don't doubt other people just won't bother and will go for the cheaper, readily available 360. Congratulations, Sony. You just shot yourself in both feet with a double barrelled shotgun. And thats gonna take some time to recover.

  • bubblepaul

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 11:00 pm GMT

    I get the feeling that it isnt a technical issue, I think they want to see how nintendo reacts price wise and then will rethink the way they are pricing the system.

    Nintendo wont have a problem with this however because it gives them a real head start over Sony. Already it appears that Nintendo has the gamers thumbs up over XBOX and Sony, now they have a head start in the gaming race over Sony. Everything appears to be falling into Nintendo's hands quite nicely

  • GUNblader

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 10:50 pm GMT

    godddddd daMMMIT i hate sony

  • JArcher1980

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 10:47 pm GMT

    Did anyone read the other news article, about a week back, where Sony stated that the PS3 will have a 10 year product life cycle before the PS4 comes out? Now with this European delay (and suspected supply problems elsewhere) I can't help but think that Sony are in trouble. If you are a PC gamer, you will be laughing at the 10 year product life cycle. By March, the PC will be far in advance of PS3 or XBOX360. When Vista, Quad Core processors and DX10 graphics cards hit the consoles will already be dated. I can't even imagine the comparison when 2 or 3 (let alone 10) years pass. I tell you, as a PC gamer, I will probably end up buying a Wii to go with my high-end PC. I can imagine many families buying a Wii this christmas with that economical price tag and innovative games. The Nintendo DS has been such a hit with all ages, I can't help but think that these sales will transfer easily to the Wii as well. True, if you want a cheap Blu-Ray drive then you might buy a PS3. However, 'if, is the word ...

  • benboz

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 10:29 pm GMT

    Haha, i knew there would be a delay but who cares I have a Xbox360 and I don't care about the playstation 3.

  • Playa_Chris

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:58 pm GMT

    I dont care how long it takes for it to get here, ill still get one

  • REDCONAN

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:54 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • quilpie

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:40 pm GMT

    this is no shock sony need to get there act together i was waiting for the sony but they cant go jump im sick of them letting me down. so im going to mircosoft aleast they got there act together. the xbox 360 and xbox live is amazing . bye bye sony keep up the good work at letting us gamers that keep you in work down. for shame . long live mircosoft

  • tonytoenails

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:24 pm GMT

    dont particularly think that this is going to push sony in europe. What a surprise, we get stiffed again. Think that still releasing in US and Japan this year will heighten the need for the console there but will people lose interest when they realise that they cant get one for months in those regions. If nintnendo launch this year i can see them gaining ground in europe. After all when do the most console sales happen? Christmas of course, meaning sony will lose loads of sales to Nintendo and xbox360. Think that this means good news for nintendo. Shock, nintendo not being last to relsease console.

  • Havoc19

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:09 pm GMT

    http://i5.tinypic.com/2ce0uqc.jpg

  • Enthasius

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 9:03 pm GMT

    Whoa, whoa, whoa....Sony doesn't make games? As in, none of the sony divisions make any games?

    Might I point out Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, Gran Turismo and the like?
    They DO make games and the ones I brought up are fine examples of exclusives that were rather popular.

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:57 pm GMT

    Damn, that sucks. Not a big surprise, but still a big letdown.

  • vroenis

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:56 pm GMT

    It really doesn't matter. All of the next gen consoles won't be at a stage of market maturity until 18 months into the cycle, and even then with a wider catalogue, there are likely to be many developers still getting their heads around the hardware architecture.. A difference of three months or so is incidental.

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:54 pm GMT

    This just in, I just farted

  • exocel

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:51 pm GMT

    i love my xbox cube and ps2 equally and have a 360 and plan to get a wii but i think the ps3 is going to be sonys last console, im not saying its going to fail or be drawn into fanboy arguments its just looking so rushed asn since sony only makes the consoles but mircosoft and nintendo makes games even if the ps3 does flop so what?, well still see the games on other consoles just like the dreamcast, which kicked ass in my opinion.

    i just think that sonys marketing guys are way over judging how 'untouchable' the playstation brand is, case in point UMD and the psp.

    you cant stay on top forever.

  • XboxIsNot360

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:47 pm GMT

    OFFTOPIC: Microsoft Sucks at making video games and consoles!!! Xbox A.K.A SUXBOX or X-BOX 1.5 will certainly not dominate the video gaming market. Next-gen gaming market ranking:
    1. SONY 2. Nintendo eventually ties with Sony for 1st place
    3. Microsoft SUX
    4. The rest??? What else are there???

    Despite these delays and underavailability for the launch date, Sony PS3 will definitely not fail and past seccessful events prove it.

  • west2046

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:32 pm GMT

    It's a SONY!!!!

  • plasmabullet

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:28 pm GMT

    !@#$%^ u Sony dude the same damn thing hapened to the xbox 360 realese date!

  • redbeef88

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:27 pm GMT

    "Like Sony will fail!! Do you lot remember the Dreamcast and how much earlier that came out than the PS2!!? To think that the PS3 will fail is outrageous!! You lot are just jealous of Sonys success i wonder how many of you have a Playstation!! PS2 had LOADS of problems when it came out, look how bad that turned out!! "

    LOL i'm jealous of the really, really, really, really big delay of this next-gen console. :p
    face it dude, they've buggered up. Their success was in their PS2, when xbox was only microsoft's 1st gen console. now time to get wii60

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:25 pm GMT

    i knew sumthing like that would happen

  • crazy_boy166

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:17 pm GMT

    HAHAHAAHA LOOSERS!!!!!!!! SONY IS DONE

  • CyphenX

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 8:13 pm GMT

    "Hey, yeah, we're gonna have a world wide launch. It's gonna be HUGE."

    Yeah right Sony.

  • the_mitch28

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 7:14 pm GMT

    well it was about the same with the 360 in America and its European release and there was no price drop if you count currency exchange. Why would them make it cheaper? If i was smart I would release it at it's launch price and if it really affected the sales and it was showing then I would drop the price......seems logical to me, I mean it's only worth as much as people are willing to pay for it.

  • badja34

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 7:04 pm GMT

    tell' you what, by this time next year EVERYONE will have forgotton about this just like they did when the ps2 launched with major problems.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 7:01 pm GMT

    that was pretty uncool

  • badja34

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:59 pm GMT

    wow!! we have to wait for 6 months until the ps3 comes out!! who cares? by that time the price may have gone down via sony making it up to the european mrket. tell' you what, by this time next year EVERYONE will have forgotton about this just like they did when the ps2 launched with major problems.

  • locomissloca

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:55 pm GMT

    oh man this just suckz, i wanted to play risastance, sony is always talking crap, there goin down just like there other hardware

  • badja34

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:49 pm GMT

    Like Sony will fail!! Do you lot remember the Dreamcast and how much earlier that came out than the PS2!!? To think that the PS3 will fail is outrageous!! You lot are just jealous of Sonys success i wonder how many of you have a Playstation!! PS2 had LOADS of problems when it came out, look how bad that turned out!!

  • schmicko

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:45 pm GMT

    I own a PSP(and rarely use it) and will be buying a wii. Last week I got a high end gaming computer instead of waiting for ps3 launch. Sony have focused too hard on the multi media facets of their new console. UMD movies failed miserably and so will the blu ray version. They have lost the battle with it's two competitors. They need a new group of managers, the wankers who are there at the moment will be creating the biggest all time flop in the gaming world.

  • i_amtrunks

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:45 pm GMT

    [sarcasm] didnt see this one coming now did we? [/sarcasm]

    I'm Very glad that I had no intention of purchasing a PS3.

    Sony have made a massive bungle now, the best chance they had of selling these for $1000 was at christmas. Instead little Bob and Susie will have an XBOX or Wii under their christmas tree this year. With the Christmas period long gone when they finally do get around to releasing the PS3's only the hardcore gamers will be getting them. Looks like Sony will have a horrible sales year in 2007, as sad as I am to say it, I think that XBOX may have such a lead come March 2007, that Sony will never be able to catch up. I hope Nintendo dont stuff up their production or distribution schedules.

  • badja34

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:38 pm GMT

    Like Sony will fail!! Do you lot remember the Dreamcast and how much earlier that came out than the PS2!!? To think that the PS3 will fail is outrageous!! People are going to buy the Playstation home console brand you know. I mean, it IS much more powerful than the 360. I can't wait for the wii tholugh!! PS2 had LOADS of problems when it came out, look how bad that turned out!!

  • stephbm6

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:30 pm GMT

    oh well i guess i'll be playing GEARS OF WAR instead.

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:30 pm GMT

    Is it just me or does stuff like this always happen to Europe?
    On a side note, shortages were expected but I think their supplies are tighter now then when they launched the PS2.

  • NathanBennell

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:16 pm GMT

    Goodbye Sony.
    Hello Wii.

  • VegetaMaelstrom

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:15 pm GMT

    Listen up Sony. Quit lying to us about how dreamy and wonderful you think things are. Your PS3 situation is precarious at best and looking like it will get worse before it gets better. The only good thing going for you now is that things can't possibly get any worse. *looking around tentatively*

    Clean it up. I was planning to get a PS3 sometime in 2007 but I am so disgusted right now that I may take this generation off from your product. I'll cool down a bit tomorrow and probably reconsider but for now you bums are making Peter "Liar, Liar" Moore look almost honest. And that is damn hard to do.

  • Bathyj

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:11 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • 3leMenT

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 6:09 pm GMT

    RIP Sony RIP.

  • abigserve

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:58 pm GMT

    BOY, I AM SO SHOCKED AT THIS NEWS

    *SHOCK ON FACE*

  • LoWpS

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:54 pm GMT

    ouch, this is bad news for sony... i also read at n-sider.com that, rumor has it, nintendo is having some trouble with the production of its motion sensing wiimote... gosh, i sure hope this doesnt happen to Ninty too, otherwise ill have to beat an old lady with a stick to get my wii at launch date.

  • Squids-Ahoy

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:52 pm GMT

    Killzone 2? Anyone?

  • Daveiops

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:48 pm GMT

    sony has messed up big time damn i dnt believe dis.i wana cry so mch lool.dis is a shocker cz i jst got n pdate frm GAME n am here 2 confirm n its so true. :'(.

  • jedinight87

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:48 pm GMT

    This is a joke. I admit i WAS a sony fan.

  • Oldjoker123

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:46 pm GMT

    Does anyone know if that rumour about the PS3 being unzoned is true or not? If it isn't, I might as well order mine from the US as opposed to waiting another four months to get mine! You whiny yanks should stop bit*hing about how many you get, in NZ we aint getting any!

  • scrubs_06

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    OK SONY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP TO THE PUBLIC BIG TIME!!!

    I work for a video games company and i just have to say, the amount of unhappy people has already this morning been beyond belief. Not only our store but many others have had cancellations and probably over 45 percent have put there deposit down on the new Nintendo Wii or Bought the xbox 360!

    People (customers) have put there time and money into paying off the new playstation 3 console ready for the worldwide playstation 3 November 17h launch...some working there merry little butts off (including me)! Only to be kicked in the teeth and told sorry its been delayed ...but only in europe and Australasia! We are the customers who believe that sony had a chance to make this machine on time and make it unbelivable! Now we are the people who get pushed to the ground and told that AMERICA and JAPAN ONLY?? I have nothing against either country but to say $*%^ off to UK, Australia etc... Im sorry its not on! Why not delay it worldwide as well? Wheres the harm in letting America and Japan wait a few extra months so that everyone can be happy that were not missing out on anything!

    SONY Im telling you Now, to make up for a major loss..you will have to either drop the price big time when it makes it to europe in march (if it does) or come out with a special bundle! You also better start commenting and apologising to the majority of the gaming public that lies in europe! ITS NOT ON! I know you probably cant help the mass production problem..but dont kick the rest of the world in the face and say that only America And Japan are fine! Even big companys like Harvey Norman have probably put over 250,000 plus dollars into advertisements for the november launch..now look what they have lost!

    Well enough rambling but ive probably gotten out what 90 percent of Europe wanted to! MAKE UP BIG TIME SONY! PLEASE! Because untill then Here i stay Microsoft And Here I Come Nintendo WII.

    Dave, NSW, Australia, Gaming Guru!

  • cmontyx49

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:43 pm GMT

    Hate to say a told you so, but, I told you so sony.
    Why wont you return my calls?

  • chutup

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:42 pm GMT

    ha! They're dead!

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