Sony has confirmed it is putting the European launch date for its PS3 console back by 4 months to March, US and Japanese customers will still get the console in November.
Head of Sony's Game Unit Ken Kutaragi Spoke to Reporters at Sony's global headquarters in Tokyo this earlier today, He announced that Sony still aim to ship 6 million PS3 units worldwide by march.
Production problems have been blamed for the delay of the PS3 specifically the blue laser diode, a key component in the built in Blu-Ray player. Mitsubishi UFJ Securities last month cut by half its PS3 shipment forecast for the current business year ending March 31 to 3 million units, citing difficulties in procuring enough cutting-edge parts.
Analysts suggest the global video game market is worth œ16 Billion (GBP) annually, Sony have decided to focus on the US and Japan for the holiday season showdown with Nintendo and Microsoft.
Ray Maguire, senior vice president and managing director of Sony UK said: "We are extremely disappointed at news of this delay, and can truly empathise with everyone who was looking forward to PS3's imminent release. We will however be working tirelessly to ensure that the March 2007 launch, is the biggest & best in the company's history."