Europe Won’t Get PS3’s Until March 2007

Sony announced today that it will delay the launch of its PlayStation 3 gaming console in Europe from November 2006 to March 2007, citing blue laser constraints.

In a move sure to frustrate gamers on The Continent, Sony Computer Entertainment hastily called a news conference today and announced it is delaying the launch of its forthcoming PlayStation 3 gaming console from November 2006 to March 2007, citing limited supplies of the blue laser diodes used to power the unit’s integrated Blu-ray disc player. Sony games chief Ken Kutaragi, known as the "father of the PlayStation," told reporters "I feel sorry. I think there are so many people out there who hold such high expectations for PS3."

The European delay means Sony will miss the lucrative end-of-year holiday buying season in Europe, and calls into doubt Sony’s ability to capitalize on the holidays in the North American and Japanese markets, where supply constraints may generate a negative backlash against the console. The PlayStation 3 has already been officially delayed once (with a launch moved from March 2006 to November 2006 earlier this year) and, with suggested prices of $499 and $599, is priced higher than any console system in the history of the industry. Sony is now saying it hopes to ship two million PS3 units by the end of 2006, but still plans to ship 6 million units by March 2007.

The delay also gives Microsoft’s Xbox 360 system a full year’s head start on Sony in the next-generation console wars; it also gives Nintendo a change to launch and establish its forthcoming Wii console in the market ahead of Sony.