Playstation 3 launch misfire: Europe delayed to March '07, 500k total for Japan & US
If you were planning on buying the Playstation 3 for gaming or as a "cheap" Blu-ray player you may want to get in line now for the November 17th launch --- not so fast Europe. Due to the shortage of blue laser diodes, there are so few that the PS3 launch in Europe and other PAL territories has been scratched for 2006 and pushed back to March 2007. According to a report from the AP, there will only be 100,000 units available in Japan at launch, and 400,000 in the US. As a result, they only expect to ship 2 million total by the end of 2006, down from the 4 million expected previously. We all remember how hard it was to get the Xbox 360 last year, which launched worldwide and had approximately 400,000 available in the US. Sony still thinks they can hit their target of 6 million Playstation 3s available by March 2007 which should be approximately the same time they are available for less than double the MSRP on eBay.[Via Joystiq & thanks to all who sent this in]
Read - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces New March 2007 date for European Launch of PLAYSTATION 3
Read - European sales of Sony's PlayStation 3 delayed until March
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve J @ Sep 6th 2006 9:15AM
I probably wouldn't have bought a PS3 till around March time anyway, but it'll be a disappointment to a fair few people who were planning on getting one on launch day.
All I can say is, I hope Sony do a good job on the European launch when they finally get around to it... if they expect us to pay a price premium AND wait a few more months, it'd be nice if they can ensure good supply on the March launch day.
Parris @ Sep 6th 2006 9:49AM
Well this just about kills any advantage Blu-Ray would have had over HD-DVD this holiday. Im sure Ben will spin this into something positive but facts are facts and the fact is HD-DVD will be easy to find this holiday at a reasonable price and if you want a Blu-Ray player get ready to take out a 2nd mortgage on Ebay.
Lynn @ Sep 6th 2006 10:09AM
Of the 500,000 units how many will be the non-hdmi $500 version?
Larry @ Sep 6th 2006 10:24AM
Parris, the market penetration of HD in Europe is tiny when compared to the US and Japan. All they would have done would be play their old dvds in the machine anyway.
jpg @ Sep 6th 2006 10:29AM
This will hurt BR adoption in the US. I bet the majority of available consoles will be sold as bundles.
Those interested in the PS3 as a BR player primarily will likely have to spend $1000+ because they'll be forced to buy the console, 2-3 games, plus some irrelevant accessories.
Also there's no indication how many of those units are the HDMI capable one.
Parris @ Sep 6th 2006 11:57AM
Larry Im talking about having only 500k units in Japan and the USA at launch. The prices will be so inflated on these consoles well into 2007 so why would anyone who wants this console for BR only even bother trying until next summer. Yes Sony is in trouble
TJ @ Sep 6th 2006 12:17PM
Maybe I WILL be getting the BDP-S1 Blu-ray player after all...
MikeS @ Sep 6th 2006 2:27PM
The Samsung player will be cheaper than the PS3 since the demand for the PS3 will outstrip demand and prices will be skyrocket on ebay from profiters. Heck, if you can get a PS3 at the store price, I'd sell it on ebay for a profit to buy the Samsung and some movies. I bet prices on PS3's will double on ebay.
Franssu @ Sep 6th 2006 3:46PM
#9 : Personally, I'd rather buy the PS3 to sell it on eBay for a profit to buy the 360 HD-DVD drive and a shitload of movies. Or better still, buy a crate of blue-laser diodes to decorate my Xmas tree.
biohazard @ Sep 6th 2006 7:33PM
Didn't Sony reprioritize most if not all of the BluRay laser diodes for PS3 production from supplying them to dedicated BluRay players?
This bodes ill for the availability of not just PS3's by also standalone players unless there are other laser manufactures who could pick up the slack (and why wouldn't Sony just purchase from them in the first place)...
Crosius @ Sep 6th 2006 8:48PM
Amazing how they always launch in time for Christmas, and they always have a shortage that reduces the fans to slavering hoards of e-bay shoppers, and adds a digit to the market price of a unit.
It's the PS-3, you think they'd have ironed out the kinks in the supply lines by now. (Or developed techniques to compensate for them)
Unless, of course, its just a ploy to drive demand. (Or chart the maximum price people are willing to pay?)
But that would mean Sony would have to be intentionally trying to manipulate its customers.
hmmmm.
Harry @ Sep 6th 2006 9:34PM
I did not know the Ford family was running Sony into the ground as well as the FoMoCo and the Lions.