Report: Sony admits PS3 delay possible

Issues with mass production of Blu-ray drives could be to blame if spring system launch is pushed back to fall.

In recent weeks, speculation that Sony would not make its previously announced spring 2006 release date for the PlayStation 3 has grown after a Merrill Lynch report predicted the new console would be pushed back until the end of the year, or perhaps later. Japanese site Sankei Web is reporting that Sony has acknowledged the possibility of a delay in the system, and that such a delay would be due to problems with the mass production of the console's built-in Blu-ray drive.

A Sony spokesperson is quoted in the article as saying, "The highest quality picture is vital to the PS3. There is a possibility of delay [to the launch] if delivery of parts is delayed."

The article suggests that if Sony does delay the system, it would put the launch off until after October in order to hit the busy holiday season. It also quotes Enterbrain president Hiokazu Hamamura as saying that if Sony hasn't started taking orders for the system by now, it would be difficult for the company to launch the PS3 in May.

312 Comments

  • Ryouji_kaji

    Posted Apr 12, 2007 3:04 am PT

    I can transport media from my PC to my PS3 with a memory stick on my PSP or any other mass story device, your point? Yes it is a little slower but I also have a 360 and the amount of trouble to stream media was amazing. Also unless you have media centre (which again you have to pay more for) you cannot play everything, only pictures and music.

    Also I can download media from the internet to my PS3 directly, yes I admit it is a little slow with web browsing I will admit but its nice to at least have the option to do that.

    HDDVD does not look better than Blue-ray, in fact they're extremely close in quality. And here's the kicker Blue-ray is not just about movies. Maybe like many of the people out there you need to look beyond your own nose.

    The whole point of Blue-ray is for the games, you can fit a hell of a lot more on a blue-ray than a DVD OR a HDDVD. Because you can fit more it means higher resolution texture, high pixel counts, higher resolution sound, bigger game levels, more extras. In total a bigger game. The fact that movies can be played is a bonus to the PS3 but like I said the whole reason was for the bigger storage space.

    Also I work in a games shop and usually for my own interest tour the games shops in town and inquire to current sales for games etc, most have said the blue-ray is selling more.

    Why? Because the blue-ray is already in the system for use with the games and you have the opportunity to play movies with great quality especially on a HDTV. Where as with HDDVD you either have to buy a player (excluding 360 although) or...by a separate player to connect to the 360. And guess what it only plays movies, it does not improve player games in any way so an extra £150 just for a DVD player.

    As for multi-platform games, Enchanted Arms, which I have played, looks different but just as good as 360 and even has exclusive content. Personally I think is more of a difference in visual style like Japanese Manga and American comics. 360 has its graphical look and PS3 has its own graphical look too.

    Motorstorm is a real enjoyable multiplayer game and single player game. I experience no problem with the frame rate or game play. Sure the single player could do with more modes but this is a launch title.

    Resistance is another great game, interesting story, great physics and graphics and mad when playing online with so many people. Also of note the online community tends to be a lot more pleasant than what I have seen on 360. And like I said these are launch titles, I've had a 360 since launch about over a year now, and there still aren’t that many great games. Call Of Duty 3, great online player, Dead Or Alive, fun but not the greatest game. I admit there are games coming out that are good, Fable and Halo for example. However it is nice to have a wider selection of games which Sony have always had a wider selection.

    Yes not all games will be to everyone’s taste but that’s the thing, everyone has their own taste in games however that is not the debate at the moment. It is the way in which 360 and PS3 sell their system.

    The only extra I had to buy with my PS3 was a HDMI cable for £12.00 and an extra controller for £34.99. And now I have everything I need for my PS3. With my 360 I had to buy an extra controller and a plug and play kit, and I’ve gone through two headsets in under three months. Plus they’re the online fees of £30+ a year. And if I want a bigger HDD it'll be around £140 for the 80GB. As for PS3 it’s a simple case of buying a laptop HDD of 100GB for about £20 of Ebay. Then if I do want HDDVD I have to pay £150, which as I say is just for movies, unlike blue-ray that helps the games.

    The 360 Elite will have extras attached to compete with the PS3 and I admit it does look really nice in black. However what about all those people that have already paid out for a 360? They’re losing out and aren’t going to have their system exchanged for something they should have had at the start?

    You may say Sony have done it several times with the PSone and PS2 slim but these were not changes to the actually system just appearances except the network card in the system on the PS2 but the online feature wasn’t up to scratch then so it wasn’t too big a deal and you can get the old network card cheep of Ebay.

    Well I have waffled but am sure my point has been made.

  • ziutek2

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 6:38 am PT

    To price of PS3 you need to add 200$ for external media extender.
    I can stream movies , audio , etc from my network on X360 .

    You NEED to buy EXTERNAL MEDIA EXTENDER TO PS3.

    And 400$ for HDDVD player because picture quality of blu-ray movies suxx!

    What do you need Blu-ray in PS3?
    It has uber crappy quality.
    You NEED to buy HDDVD to watch real next gen video.

    And of course you also have to add 360 PS3 mulitiplatform games SUXX.
    They are choppy , FRAMERATE SUXX on PS3 , and X360 versions looks BETTER!

    So buying PS3 is like buying paperweight.
    USSLESS until some exclusive games comes....

    So PS3 will cost you 1500$!

  • Ryouji_kaji

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 3:41 am PT

    I admit when I first heard of this today I was royally pissed. How America is getting 400,000, Japane 100,000 and Europe nothing until March 2007. How I think Sony are making a good call making sure all the bugs are worked out. I work in GAME and the amount of faulty 360's we've had back in stupid, much more than any of the other products we sold. Although admitidly the PSP came a VERY close second to it.

    I have a 360 and I havn't had trouble with it, except when playing motoGP online it crashes. But I do despise the XBOX emulation, hardly any of the XBOX games I have work... Luckily I still have my origanl XBOX but that's not the point. Also with the 360, yes its cheaper than the PS3. However has anyone worked out the price with all the accessories that would bring it upto a PS3 standard? PS3 with the 60GB HHD and everything comes to £425 (est. atm). That is with out anything else extra. As for the 360

    System: £279.99 (Prem' with wireless controler etc.)
    Plug and play kit: £14.99
    Wirless network card: £69.99
    Upcoming HDD with 80BG: Probably around £120 est. (20GB=£69)
    Year internet: £39.99

    That comes to... £524.96. So if you get all that to get everything you get from a PS3 prem' pack (excluding if there are any offers), including as far as we know FREE net play with web browseing aswell as the abilty to use the PSP with the PS3, I.E. download content from yout PS3 to PSP anywhere in the world and play PS1 games on your PSP. I think that the SONY PS3 outranks the 360. And not just because of that, also the number of games availble atm. The 360 barley scarps around 20 titles. The PS3 will have 14 titles on lauch (more now with the delay). So intotal even though Sony have delayed, this does not make the PS3 lesser than the 360, I think they did great working out the bugs first and although I WANT ONE NOW!!! I would rather wait than deal with another bunch of angry customers with defective consoles due to overheating or red flashing Systems that crash.

    (although as a personal note, I seam to notice it seams to be the 360 core system that have the most problem, imo)

    laterz

  • awesomesonicfan

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 2:21 am PT

    Sony lives a in dreamland. They talk so much about how they are better and they can't even produce the PS3 console and they make up a date when they "think" they would have it ready by and now it's ****

    I bet alot of people who pre ordered the PS3 are going to be pissed. Not that I care....Looks like I'll be getting a Xbox 360 for Sonic and sticking with it.

    The longer Sony takes to release the PS3 the longer it'll take for it the win the competition.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 11:31 am PT

    still the best

  • ThE-SiK-OnE

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 7:56 am PT

    METAL GEAR SOLID 4, nuff said. Just wait for it.

  • hildegain

    Posted Mar 16, 2006 9:04 am PT

    i hate you morons who say the xbox 360 has no faults, bet none of you have been near them, you just WANT one, let me tell you, i have got one, my mates got them too, it constantly ****s up, it crashes often, it's slow, the gameplay becomes glitchy, the ai is pathetic but the graphics are fairly good.
    i don't care how long it takes for the ps3 to come, i notice that most of the people who say "sony is ****" or "sony are doomed" are american. come to europe and see how many people like the xbox.
    then see just how many are pleased that sony work out their problems before selling you a console that has been pieced together from different pc bits that is defective in many ways, mine isn't physically bad, BUT IT'S NOT NEXT-GEN.

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Mar 15, 2006 10:47 am PT

    work out the bugs sony good job

  • SaiyanGoku24

    Posted Mar 14, 2006 5:38 am PT

    It has come full circle. These are some of the same kinds of issues Nintendo had before the launch of the N64 and it cost them a huge amount of user base. In essence, Sony has become the very thing they set out to destroy.

  • Chief_Rocka

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 10:35 pm PT

    Best to hold it back until all problems are fixed, i know we would rather have a flawless ps3 then have problems later on. If the ps3 had problems when released we will let Sony have it and the last thing they want to do is do what Microsoft did.

  • swanlord

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 7:40 pm PT

    my x360 since launch= no problems and rockinb games

  • mcgrawgamer

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 7:03 pm PT

    good point elmuchoguapo. If burdenfan hand done his research like he so falsely displays in his comments he would know that the 360 has in fact broke an industry record with the lowest percentage of defective hardware of any console to date, but back to the matter at hand. The problem Sony is facing is that they went to gung ho with hardware selection be it stable or not. The system is just to dang hi tech for a console. Bluetooth, blue ray, cell processors. They have surpassed even the most high end gaming pc's. Aside from a fanboy what financial alert, casual gamer, possible family man or woman is going to put the kind of projected cash into a console system? Personally I'll have my 360 and my revolution handy and when they get a better game selection my psp. IMO Sony has done too much with the P.U 3!!!!

  • burdenfan

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 11:46 pm PT

    Perhaps, both ways, it is unclear ?

    Is there a national percentage which we can refer to?

    Because if your doing well with selling your 360's...MS really needs to work on getting some working 360's over here.

    And from the news I read, the thing about ten for one xbox was not brought up...so if your case is true, then ok I am wrong of that.

    But essentially...is it not better to wait either way?

    I just don't see the 360 as that much of a big system worth going after...if the final specs go on target for ps3, and the rev has its sparks...what does 360 really have?

    Most of the games are cross overs to the other consoles...the only two games I see for me on the xbox 360 that are only for it would be halo 3 and guilty gears (I think that is the name)

    For the ps3...there are like 6 I can see of yet.

    Just to insure I aint being a butt or anything....what IS good about the 360 vs what is BAD about it?

    What is the news saying that essentially is just yellow journalism?


  • elmuchoguapo

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 7:26 am PT

    Burdenfan, let me hit you with something. All consoles are computers, essentially. The idea behind them is to provide consumers who can't pay for a bleeding edge PC with something to enjoy interactive entertainment on. Or how about this? When the PS2 lauched, when it was ready, Sony was hit with a 40% defective rate. 40%!! You also have to factor in how many lenses/consoles break each day. Trust me, I work in the industry and I'll see 10 PS2's come back for every Xbox. And I think the Xbox 360's defective rate right now is a whopping 4%. Yeah. As for Nintendo? They make some fantastic products. I haven't seen a defective GameCube in over a year. You can say you aren't bsing about the 360's being sent back, but I sold over 200 360's on launch night and had one come back. That's what, less than .05%? Just something to think about. I've gotta go play Ghost Recon.

  • frenchise

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 4:33 pm PT

    i think this is a good thing now a can save more money to buy it.

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 6:57 am PT

    HAHAHA!!! NO SURPRISE THERE!!! IT FIGURES!!!

  • burdenfan

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 3:26 am PT

    Just add a few modifications to your computer...and you got a 360 standing in your computer room....

    Seriuously...That is all I see in the 360 as far as I am concerned.

    Also the fact that, for my taste, Sony's line of games for their PS consoles are better for me then that of the Xbox line with MS.

    If anything, it all rounds down to REV or PS3.

    The reason I go against MS is the fact that not only do they have lots of problems with their computer software...they also tend to screw up their gaming consoles.

    Do you know how many Xbox 360's have been sent back because of over heating? Its sick.

    People here in South korea (there is a base here) who purchased the 360 were happy. Then from the 2500 people who purchased it, over half sent theirs back because of overheating, system failure, or the system being glitchy.

    Sony usually releases their products WHEN ITS READY!!!! Meaning...they actually expand the time even if their buyers don't like it just to make sure their products are as good as possible.

    Same with Nitendo, who is great with coming up with new things for a range of people.

    Might see most of my stuff as bs, but I aint really bsing about the 360's being sent back.

  • b2345

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 2:49 pm PT

    for all you ps3 bandwagon jumpers,step off.The 360 is amazing and we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.The delays are probably because sony had to back up off a bit like snoop dog and set there cups down.GO MICROSOFT!!!!!!!

  • b2345

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    for all you ps3 bandwagon jumpers,step off.The 360 is amazing and we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.The delays are probably because sony had to back up off a bit like snoop dog and set there cups down.GO MICROSOFT!!!!!!!

  • b2345

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    for all you ps3 bandwagon jumpers,step off.The 360 is amazing and we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.The delays are probably because sony had to back up off a bit like snoop dog and set there cups down.GO MICROSOFT!!!!!!!

  • mraj21

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    It was expected but thats ok. I want the system launch done RIGHT!!!!! I don't think that 360 is gonna have a much bigger advantage. They will have a pretty good amount of games but if they are not any better than what I have been seeing and playing then it won't matter. I though a lot to own a 360 and it really been for nothing the good games are just now starting to make there way out. If SONY have to delay to make sure they don't make the same mistakes as microsoft then I say delay it.!!!!!! Next Gen starts with PS3!!!

  • PazUSA

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 11:16 am PT

    The longer you wait, the more you lose out. Sony fanboy loyalty is really pathetic. People like you are like the Taliban - brain washed! You can smell the panic at Sony right now.

  • rbranma

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 9:53 am PT

    haha...its a...SON$

  • Crysterio

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 8:31 am PT

    The longer we wait, the more we'll appreciate the PS3 when it comes out, so stop crying and be patient!

  • PazUSA

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 6:10 am PT


    DaMiGi22863 - here is a FACT for you to consider. SONY of America employs 25,000 people in America. Microsoft employs over 61,000.

  • DaMiGi22863

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 2:48 am PT

    "Looks like a win, win for what!!! an American company. Hey its ok! You people who love sony so much and hate microsoft an american company can always move to Japan."....LMAO.....Well, I had my laugh for the day, let me let you in on something, check the bottom of your X-Box or 360, and read where it's made, "Taiwan or Japan".. Micro$haft maybe an "American Co." per-se, but where do they have their products produced, they outsource it overseas, only the hardware is "designed" here.

  • piano_pimp

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:01 pm PT

    meh

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 7:26 pm PT

    ps3 delay= good for revolution and if it dont play on standard tvs itll lose as well

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    It's not there faults if there is a delay in orders, is it?

  • Socomnewbie

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 4:11 pm PT

    Lol alot of he said she said going like always. Dont know there need to be so many Rumors floating around. But i know that i wont make the same mistake again. For some reason when the PS2 first came out I NEEDED it. Near around the Holiday season it was scarce, i tracked one down and found more than i needed and ended up buying 3 of them, For $600 a piece. Stupid huh? yeah i think back on this alot. PS3 looks nice and all but i refuse to buy this as soon as it comes out. Price is an issue, im not dirt poor, but im not rich either. So i do have other things to worry about. I'll wait for a price drop even if it takes a year if i still even want it... as you get older you realize that you dont need to spend hours of your time playing a video game.

  • Go0pynose

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    oh come on wo didnt see this coming?

  • FrankSoul

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 2:05 pm PT

    what i cant stand is people who will blast a product not even out yet. the xbox 360 is out and yes its a good console BUT,1: the succes of this console is bad so bad in fact that it sold less then the first 1( please dont give me that stock problem). 2: the games line up..... lets not even go there. 3: developper support ? dev who???. 4: customer service.... good luck with that.I am not a sony fanboy, my main gaming system is my pc. i own and still use all my old console from the old nintendo to snes , sega, gamegear, n64, ps 1, ps2 psp. gameboy. gameboy color , etc. the only 2 console i do not own are the xbox and xbox 360 why? well i tried them and didnt like them, not enough game that appealed to em or if they had any it was already out on the computer years ago ... bottom line sony is not even in a rush to release the ps3 since the 360 is a world wide flop. in terms of sales and hype . ONLY in the USA does the xbox 360 sell even in canada its not working at all.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 1:58 pm PT

    ahhh, i remember waiting for the PS3, that was 1000 years ago....seems like only yesterday...good times, good times...to help pass the time i bought a 2005 Black Tribal Honda CBR and taught mahself to ride......sure i ended up in ICU but that was AFTER the release of the PS3. And what a wonderful hospital stay it was.....sure i had broken hands but that didn't stop me from trying to play it with every extremity imaginable....sure i could only play very early in the morning, or when the sexy nurse was around-but i wouldn't trade my experiences with my PS3 for anything. it's worth the wait ppl...it is so worth the wait

  • adrianchan56

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    Y'know people love speculating because the whole point is to generate an accurate guess. (Posting here, talking with friends, and etc.) I have no problem with that since everyone enjoys speculation and on a rare occasion their guesses are correct (or close enough...). I don't mind critcism too as long as it's backed up.

    360 isn't crap. It's very expensive "crap" considering the money you're paying for is technology that isn't ground-breakingly beyond today's current PCs'. (My point stays until publishers utilize the rest of the hardware.) I do agree that it is overrated.

  • mpg

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    Well , I own a 360 and a ps2 and even if you don't admit it you know sony has lied in the past, especially about specs. I belive they can't produce a system to be as powerful as 360 so they are returning to the point A. Looks like a win, win for what!!! an American company. Hey its ok! You people who love sony so much and hate microsoft an american company can always move to Japan. I say, I like sony and their system but lets give the good ol us some love.

  • ShadowB33

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    I am getting tired of people saying Sony will not get the PS3 out this year... Sony delayed the PS3 so it didnt have all the BS errors the 360 has(and severe lack of games). Sony WILL get the PS3 out this year. All you 360 fans(that are in denial) can go enjoy the piece of crap Microsoft hyped you into buying (that only has had 2 games out this year!)

  • abelmaestro

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 1:02 pm PT

    PS3 or nothing ,I hate the XBOX"everything on it EVERYTHING! ,the pads, the console,how the games look on it and nintendo is just tooo weak for a real player like me so its Sony or nothing

  • WPack911

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    I loved and still love the PS2, but wow first the PSP and now all the problem's with the PS3, with the delay's and price, it make's me wanna puke. The only console I know I am getting for sure right now is the Revolution and then it is pretty much a toss up right now between the 360 and PS3 depending on the price. That is crazy because I absolutely hated the original Xbox and like I said loved the PS2, just goes to show you how much SONY has dropped in my book.

  • maktoum

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 12:24 pm PT

    noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
    *taking very deep breath* noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • arjnav

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 11:57 am PT

    I'm not suprised. There has been no hype generating, building up to their launch date and with no pre-ordering I can't imagine Sony releasing the PS3 now. It would be a bad move.

  • dukerav

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 11:45 am PT

    This isnt very big news since you consider the article Gamespot put up earlier about a possible PS3 delay. Sony Japan said that the spring launch was on and Sony America wasnt as optimistic, so yeah like I said big news...

  • boolow407

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:54 am PT

    Just read on another site that Sony stated they cant afford to push back the launch date because that would just about give MS and Nintendo the console war. I wont post it here because it might conflict with gamespots policy's. For more info on it, message me.

  • dw8ball

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:53 am PT

    Its gonna be awile before the PS3 comes out. 25% chance it'll be out before Christmas, 75% next spring. Have a nice YEAR LONG WAIT. If you need me i'll be playing my 360....

  • DrKill09

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:41 am PT

    6 months ago I knew a spring launch wouldn't happen.

  • umaque

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:36 am PT

    Man,I'm thinking of buying another platform

  • qwikqik

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:28 am PT

    You're on the money jamesb22. The release date is important, but not as important as price point. Take the time you need to make a QUALITY product. I plan to get a Rev and a PS3 if the price is right. $400 is my cap. I don't care if the thing can program a Betamax player! >$400=NO DEAL.

  • owen666

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:06 am PT

    Bloody sony! Yet again delaying everything. Hurry up! I NEED a PS3!

  • The_Fat_Zebra

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 10:05 am PT

    That's a good thing for the ps3's price!

  • anthonydavies

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 9:54 am PT

    no suprise - sony are c*ck juggeling thunder c*nts

  • Ryze

    Posted Feb 28, 2006 9:50 am PT


    "pspmad1
    sony have always stuck to their word thats a bit of a shock but not a huge one"

    What a pile of b0ll0ck5 - like when Sony said that the PSP would be launching in Europe last spring - it got here in September... then there were no stock.

    And like when Sony said that PS2 would be like 'plugging into the Matrix'

    OK then, thanks alot, goodnight.

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