Sony may delay PlayStation 3 launch to fall or later+
(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)
TOKYO, Feb. 25_(Kyodo) _
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. may delay the launch of PlayStation 3 game consoles to this fall or later from this spring, as originally scheduled, because Blu-ray DVD makers have been late in finalizing specifications for the device, a key part of the new game consoles, industry analysts said Saturday.
A group of about 80 Blu-ray DVD manufacturers, including Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., failed to set specifications for the advanced DVD format by the end of last year. Mass manufacturing is finally set to begin at the end of the month, they said.
The Blu-ray DVD technology is "indispensable" for PlayStation 3 consoles featuring high-definition graphics that match the image quality of large-screen movies, a spokesperson at Sony Computer Entertainment said, admitting the launch could be delayed.
Sony Computer Entertainment has been seen to be behind schedule in taking orders for the new PlayStations from retailers.
"Sony has not begun taking orders early this month, that means that it would be difficult for the company to begin sales in May," said Hirokazu Hamamura, president of computer game-related publisher Enterbrain Inc.
Sony is now likely to shift its focus on product sales from the spring to the year-end sales period, promotion for which begins in October, industry analysts said.
The global market for home-use game consoles is estimated at more than 100 million units and Sony Computer Entertainment is the market leader.
The Sony group, recovering from a setback in fiscal 2003, has raised earnings projections for the 2005 business year through March 31. But this delay could keep it from attaining the group's consolidated sales goal of 8 trillion yen for the 2007 business year, the analysts added.
-..it's not related to this kyodo report which seems less than clear.
