SONY PLAYSTATION 3 LAUNCH

Sony delays the launch of Playstation 3

Sony cites copy-protection technology issues as the reason for postponing the launch of Playstation 3, much to the delight of competitors Microsoft and Nintendo.

BY A CORRESPONDENT

17 March 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

Sony has postponed the launch of its long-awaited Sony Playstation 3 to November 3. Sony blamed problems related with copy-protection technology for the postponement. 

Sony had earlier planned to release its all new Playstation 3 after the huge success of its Sony Playstation 2 which had taken the gaming world by storm. Playstation 2 was praised by gamers and experts around the world for its advanced functionalities.

The announcement from Sony gives a bit of breathing space for its main rivals in the gaming arena - Microsoft and Nintendo, since the former was expected as the main contender for the top spot in the gaming community. Microsoft offers XBox 360 console and Nintendo is also in the race in the race with its Nintendo Revolution. Microsoft had launched its XBox 360 late last year.

Though Sony has confirmed that its Play Station 3 will be available by November, analysts fear that majority of the shipments will go to US and Japan, the major consumers of games. That would mean a shortage of the product for the UK market, which will lose its major sales pre-Christmas. In UK, usually the gaming sales take a jump before Christmas.

Sony hopes to set a new standard with its blue-ray disk technology, which offers a high definition format with five times the storage capacity of DVDs. Sony attributed its problems with film companies for the copy-right protection for the postponement of Playstation 3.

The $10.5-billion-a-year industry had been in a down state either because they were waiting for the Playstation 3 or the shortage of Microsoft XBoc 360 console. 

Sony plans to produce 1 million Playstations a month. Though the number may seem huge, the fact is Sony may still not be able to meet the demands from its customers.