PS3 to suffer shortages, Euro launch delayed till March

[Tenacious D]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/06/business/AS_FIN_COM_Japan_Sony_PlayStation.php

European sales of Sony's PlayStation 3 delayed until March
The Associated Press

Published: September 6, 2006
TOKYO Sony's upgrade video-game console PlayStation 3 will be delayed until March in Europe, but will go on sale in November as planned in the U.S. and Japan, the executive in charge of the project said Wednesday.

The sales delay is caused by a problem in mass producing a key component in the Blu-ray disc laser part of the machine, the next-generation successor to Sony Corp.'s hit PlayStation 2, Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Ken Kutaragi told reporters.

"We decided to focus on the Japanese and U.S. markets," he said at the gaming unit's Tokyo headquarters. "I am so sorry not to be able to answer to all the expectations."

The company is still sticking to its initial global target of shipping 6 million PlayStation 3 machines by March 2007. But far fewer machines will be available for the launch dates in Japan and the U.S. because of the production problem, Kutaragi said.

In the U.S., about 400,000 PlayStation 3 machines will be available when they go on sale Nov. 17. About 100,000 will be available on the Nov. 11 Japan launch date.

The production problem is causing about a one-month delay that will reduce the company's supply capacity by about a million machines from the original plan, he said. "We've been working hard to try to tackle the problem, but we see the delay is inevitable," he said.

Kutaragi said other preparation work on the machine was going smoothly, including the "cell" next-generation computer chip. Mass production of the machine is set to start end of September, he said. Although Sony had initially counted on shipping 4 million PlayStation 3 machines worldwide by the end of the year, that will likely fall to 2 million, he said. The exact European sales date will be announced later, but it will likely be in the early part of March, he said.

Blu-ray disc is the next-generation video format for the latest DVD recorders and players, but also an essential part of the PlayStation 3.

Woah... a worldwide shortage of blue-violet laser diodes means a lot of high definition players aren't going to be there for anyone. But of course the one unit this is going to hit hardest is the Playstation 3. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I'll even see mine till January...

 

[Max_DC]

Oh, that is not really what I want to hear... Hmm Although I have to say, that March/April would be a better time for a new console, only in my case, has to do with university and stuff... waiting or importing a japanese console ? We will see... I guess I can live with the delay, the launch games dond't look that promising to me anyway...
Or should I import?...Hmm....

 

[Specialized]

WOW looks like i sold my reservation for a PS3 just in time (yesterday!)

Spec....

 

[Max_DC]

WOW looks like i sold my reservation for a PS3 just in time (yesterday!)

Spec....

Well, why is that so ? I mean, the reservation is still valid three months later, so
there is not really a need to sell them... if you still want the PS3 that is...

 

[Vasco]

Great...just great. I was planning on getting this before Christmas and now I have to wait until next year...It's like the Xbox 360 Australian release all over again. Oh well, I'll just get a Wii and PSP and be happy with that I guess. :|

 

[Dave A]

I'm just thinkng that people will pay more to get one in UK now so if I import one I can sell it for even more than I would have got for a UK one.

 

[Tedehur]

Looks like good news for Nintendo.
A french video games web site posted an on-line poll, and after about 4,000 votes :

• 25% said they will be waiting a few months
• 1% that they'll buy an import one if they can
• 17% that they'll buy an Xbox 360 instead
• 43% a Wii
  
• 14% don't care

 

[TheCracker]

If it means we avoid the early problematic machines that you always seem to get on the launch of a new console then that suits me fine. It also means we'll have a better choice of games to play at launch too 👍

 

[Specialized]

Well, why is that so ? I mean, the reservation is still valid three months later, so
there is not really a need to sell them... if you still want the PS3 that is...

Well i decided to sell the reservation because i have better things to spend my money on this side of christmas, now the PS3 doesnt come out untill after christmas anyway so its kinda helped me out.

Spec...

 

[Solid Lifters]

I see this as a benefit for US and Asia. I have a feeling we'll get more than what was originally planed for. Unless, there is a very bad short supply of blue diodes are we're getting less. But, I doubt that.

I always thought a world wide release was a bit much.

 

[barryl85]

If it means we avoid the early problematic machines that you always seem to get on the launch of a new console then that suits me fine. It also means we'll have a better choice of games to play at launch too 👍

Just as i was thinking! also more time to save and by an HD TV too.

But why is Europe least priority for the launch?, we always get games last too!

 

[Solid Lifters]

Eep! I was wrong. It looks like it's worse than I thought. A new, UNRELIABLE, report is in now the US will only see 400,000 on launch and Japan will only get 100,000 units. That's it! 500,000 total. Yikes!

Looks like Sony fubar-ed another launch.

EDIT: No, it looks reliable... http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14695665/

 

[slackbladder]

Well, it looks like Sony's determination to get Blu-ray into the mass market is costing them. Kudos for trying but it's hurting them.

I don't see myself getting an import. I'd guess you'd be looking at £600+. As much as I want a PS3 I'm not paying that. Even if I did import quotas will be low if there are only 500,000 PS3's for launch (Sony did say that 2 million would be launched by the end of 2006).

I'm not too bothered. I was cutting it close with finances for this year. But by next March things will be better for me.

It's a shame that Europe get's it in the head as usual. There will be a percentage of consumers and fans who will opt for the 360 or Wii in the meantime. Sony will lose sales.

It'd be nice if the PS2 has a slightly lower price on its EU release, but it's unlikely. But something to take the sting out of the 4 month delay would be appreciated.

Anyway, I'm sure there will be plenty of vitriol aimed at Sony. And though I'm personally not that bothered, I can't blame those who feel that way.

 

[Max_DC]

Oh well, what should Sony do anyway? It's not that they want to ship a small amount of consoles / skip Pal launch. The shortage is fact and nobody can change it. No need to to flame Sony imo... these are the risks that come with new technologies, but 3 months isn't that bad...

 

[Famine]

If it means we avoid the early problematic machines that you always seem to get on the launch of a new console then that suits me fine.

Oh, if only it did mean that. *sighs wistfully*

 

[DuckRacer]

Well, this is great news for eBayers. Buy a PS3 for $600, sell it for $1500.

But anyway, for me, I plan on getting one in June at the very earliest, so I have nothing to stress me out.

 

[Marouan]

well nice .. europe getting screwed for the second time

 

[FoolKiller]

I wasn't going to buy one until GT5 came out anyway. That way I can probably catch a sale or cheaper price of some kind and avoid the release model problems that seem to plague the systems.

But seeing as how only 400,000 will be sold in the US I will probably pop some popcorn and head down to Wal*Mart to watch the fist fights. This should be great.

 

[magburner]

Damn Sony, damn them! I had my heart set on a PS3 for xmas, now there is no chance of that - BUGGERATION! Oh well, I might get one before next xmas!

 

[jimihemmy]

While I'm sorely disappointed in the shortage of launch units (I was planning on getting one), there is one thing I would like to know:

Why are they sending the US four times the amount of machines than thay are releasing in Japan?

 

[FoolKiller]

While I'm sorely disappointed in the shortage of launch units (I was planning on getting one), there is one thing I would like to know:

Why are they sending the US four times the amount of machines than thay are releasing in Japan?

Japan has half the population and Christmas in the states is celebrated differently than it is in Japan.

That is the best that I can figure.

 

[Tedehur]

If the consoles are produced in Japan, the cost of shipping containers across the Pacific Ocean probably doesn't change much whether they ship 100,000 or 400,000 units.
So they ship the biggest part of the initial production to the US, and they keep for Japan a smaller part that they can easily increase while new units are produced.
And they don't ship to Europe because it's a looooooong way, which means a loooooooot of money, so they'll have to ship bigger amounts to make it cost effective.
Just my 0.02 €.

 

[FRED SIMÕES]

I live in Portugal and I will go buy one PS3 on USA in November, because I don`t want to wait till March.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

US > World.

That's all I can think.



(ps, joke only)

 

[GJB93]

Apparentally, Halo 3 is coming out in march too. Wonder if it will make any difference?

Hmmm...............

 

[slackbladder]

The 400,000 PS3's for the US and 100,000 for Japan is unofficial. But if units are that low then I wonder if it was lower than the 360's inital shipment?

I think it's reasonable to question Sony's strategy. New technology often falls short of inital hopes due to complications in development, design or production. It would seem Sony was unable to forsee this and did not take into consideration any hiccups that may appear. But Sony should have forseen this as they are pioneering this technology and are the primary backers of Blu-ray.

And I wonder what developers are thinking? They are losing Xmas sales. And though the PS3 may sell just as many in March as it would have done at Xmas I wonder if game sales would be just as high? Also with more games on sale by March a game will ultimately sell less if there are other games that could be bought instead of it. Good to have that choice for us, not so good for them.

Anyway, I'm still eager to see what happens at the Tokyo Games Show. But it's going to have to be a very, very good showing to convince a growing sceptical audience.

 

[fasj6418]

they can do that because they own japan. 360 is a nonfactor there. wii will be huge, but people will not buy a wii solely.

in the us, they have to fight because MS is strong.

i still think it would make better sense for them to ship 100 to japan, 300 to us and 100 to europe, because it would show a little more commitment.

personally this does not affect me, since i will only be getting one in 2007, but i fear because of the bad press generated. madia will go hard like they did at E3.

sony need TGS right now. and they need a very. very good showing because PS3 lost its hype after E3. just when news were starting to get better, this happens... now we wait for TGS...

 

[Robin]

If Sony is not careful they will seriously jepordise their console market share and the sucess of blue ray technology...... It was really stupid of them to go making claims of plenty of units for everyone at a world wide launch..... Microsoft at the time said they were silly to say they would have millions of units ready and they must be laughing there heads of now!

Sony really have messed up th entire process of this launch from day one... everything looks like it has been rushed at alot as been promised and not alot delivered, as far as I can see the developers have been working harder than the people producing the console the games are supposed to run on!!

'Ken Kutaragi blamed the European delay on problems in mass producing elements of the high-definition Blu-ray disc drives in the machines.'

'The delay is due to a problem with the mass production of the blue laser diodes needed for the Blu-ray DVD player in the machine Sony said.'

Im sure its hard to sort that drive seeing as its really new technology at its good that they sort it out so theres no problems after lanuch... BUT most people apart from devoted fans are not going to hang around any longer for it.. I can just see loads of people that were sitting on the fence saying screw this... for xmas i'l get a 360. Plus Nintendo will be comming out before march aswell..... Jeez this is the worst thing for Sony!

As for the european lanuch I will probably (seeing as the console is region free) go to asia and pick one up when im on holiday it will also be a hell of alot cheaper than here because of VAT and rip off Britian in general!..... Asleast I will have one for the start of next year.... I dont really mind the BR DVD movie region thing because now Japan, US and Asia apart from China are now all region 1.

Oh and heres the BBC News link.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5319190.stm

Robin

 

[YSSMAN]

The 400,000 PS3's for the US and 100,000 for Japan is unofficial. But if units are that low then I wonder if it was lower than the 360's inital shipment?

Microsoft said last year that they would have 1.5 Million units ready for the worldwide launch in that three-week window. A 1 Million unit shortage for Sony is going to be dire-straights for sure, and I simply cannot imagine how much these things are going to go for on eBay...

All I can do is laugh, and I'm sure I would be flamed for it; But I don't care. Problem after problem seemed to be stacking up, then late last month there was the news that production hadn't even started, not to mention the low Cell yields and issues with Blu Ray drives...

Well, when you push it, there are going to be problems. Sony promised too much and are giving out to little, and it is going to be the consumers worldwide that will decide what happens next. I don't know if this will be enough to make Sony fans "jump ship," but it certainly is news that I presume will not sit well with most.

Who stands to gain here? Microsoft and Nintendo, especially Microsoft in this situation...

-------------------------

EDIT:

Microsoft had 750,000 units ready on day-one for the launch, and had 1.5 million units shipped by the end of 2005... My bad

Good stuff from GameSpot:

[UPDATE 1 & 2] When contacted by GameSpot about today's PS3 news, Sony reps said only that the company had "not announced specific ship numbers for Japan or North America." They also said that, despite the European delay and the reports of reduced shipment numbers, the previous estimates still stood. "[We] have announced that 2 million will be available in the world come November 11 and 17 and 4 million by the end of the calendar year," said a spokesperson.

[UPDATE 3] If that wasn't confusing enough, a third set of numbers has entered the mix, courtesy of MTV News. Dave Karraker, SCEA's newly appointed head of corporate communications, told the youth network that around 1 million PS3s will be available at retail during the holiday shopping season.

"People shouldn't fixate on the day-one allocation number," Karraker told MTV. "They should instead be more interested in the overall units available through the holidays, which will be 1 million to 1.2 million, which are significant amounts that will provide retail supply week over week with no dips in available stock."

Karraker also said that consumers shouldn't compare the PS3 launch to last year's Xbox 360 launch, which was also plagued by massive shortages and the occasional scuffle. "The supply we have at launch is comparable to what was available for the PS2, not Xbox 360," said Karraker. The PS2 launched in October 2000 with just a half-million units at retail--causing near-riots at some stores.

It was unclear which "holidays" Karraker was referring to when he spoke to MTV. Traditionally, though, the last day of Christmas shopping is December 26--meaning Sony would have to sell between 800,000 and 1 million PlayStation 3s in five days to make its 2 million-unit US target. If he meant through New Year's Eve, then the 2 million-unit target is no longer valid. Requests for clarification sent to Karraker had not been returned as of press time. [END UPDATES]

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

as we all laugh at you YSSMAN (substitude the Y for A).

Seriously, it's not any different than the 360 launch, as MS might as well have delayed every single region with no consoles. THey had the same problems, but said screw it, and launched very few consoles to the world, and had people waiting for nearly 5 months until they could get one...what's the difference? Oh that's right, you're a fan of one and not the other, hence your blind devotion.