Sony Europe sez PS3 still coming in March, not April

Sony execs have been known to say a few less-than-recommended phrases in the past, and while usually it's all fun and games poking fun of their blunders, things get serious when the giant starts talking delays. In a recent interview with CNET, Sony's latest CEO -- Sir Howard Stringer -- somehow got his wires crossed up and proclaimed that "the European launch [of the PS3] would be in April," and that this momentous occasion "is very important to us." As expected, more than a few minor uproars ensued, but apparently March is the new April, as a SCEE spokesperson has now stated that the official PlayStation 3 European launch is "still on track for March, despite suggestions from the CEO proclaiming otherwise." Of course, no actual day in March has been officially selected, but that number could come as early as next week, and if Mr. Stringer is to be the one delivering the news, please, somebody get the man a cue card.

[ja$on @ Jan 18th 2007 11:52AM]

Don't we, in US and A, have plenty of these things collecting dust on store shelves that could be sent to Europe right now?

[Anthony @ Jan 18th 2007 2:10PM]

for the first time ever, i am not getting excited over the launch of a new gadget

[Mark G @ Jan 18th 2007 5:14PM]

And who says they are gathering dust? There are stocks, yes, but it's stock that's moving. How do you think Sony shifted 2 million in 2 months?

[Vince @ Jan 18th 2007 11:53AM]

I'm sure it will arrive in March - they can ship all the PS3s sitting on shelves in the US and Canada.

[Vince @ Jan 18th 2007 11:55AM]

WOW! almost the same comment Jason.

[tgernon @ Jan 18th 2007 12:05PM]

i just sold mine... i was going nuts trying to get one, i eventually got one but i lost interest in it... it sat around collected dust... sony really needed to step it up during launch... maybe they'll do better for europe

[Nate @ Jan 18th 2007 12:06PM]

"The next generation doesn't start until we say it does" -Hirai

[Bombaclott @ Jan 18th 2007 12:12PM]

Wow its just coming out in europe?? I sold it the first chance I got for $4000 on ebay and thats all that thing was good for, a profit!!

[SemiLOOSE @ Jan 18th 2007 12:50PM]

march 28... might aswell be april

[Steve @ Jan 18th 2007 12:57PM]

you guys are stupid for getting rid of your PS3s and 85% PS3s on store shelves are being sold so STFU fanboys.

[Inspired @ Jan 18th 2007 1:37PM]

I'd venture to say 85% sell thru rate is too kind. The most recent numbers out of Japan have the PS3 selling 60% of stock, and the NPD numbers from December suggest about 70% sell thru rate in NA. Combined, that would give them 65%, at best, worldwide.

Which is weird, cause the PS2 sold over 500,000 its first week of release in Japan, while the PS3, having been on the market in Japan for 11 weeks, has just about sold 600,000.

[Eric Leung @ Jan 19th 2007 11:43PM]

are you crazy?? 85%?? flip it around from being sold to being left on the shelf for another 3 months

if any of you have been to sony style in metreon in sf, youd know that there are plenty of ps3s just lying around, saw 1 person buy a ps3, 5 people returning a ps3 (no questions asked by salespeople either as if they expected the returns)

[DigitalFury @ Jan 18th 2007 1:17PM]

I have an Xbox 360 and even though I might get a Wii for the games and the controller, I fail to see what this rather expensive PS3 has to offer aside from the Blu-Ray drive. Not to mention that Xbox Live is rather awesome.

[Mark Gillespie @ Jan 18th 2007 1:28PM]

The only people reporting that consoles are sat on shelves, are xbox180 fanboys, and people that believe them...

The reason EU launch is not here already, is because of the US demand..

[BrettB @ Jan 18th 2007 1:40PM]

Actually, I don't even own an xbox 360, but I stopped in a GameStop store the other day and the employee asked me if I'd like to buy 6 PS3 consoles. I said, do you actually have them. The guy said, yep, and I can't seem to sell them. Sounds like there may be a few of these hanging around out there.

[jakep_82 @ Jan 18th 2007 4:47PM]

"The only people reporting that consoles are sat on shelves, are xbox180 fanboys, and people that believe them...

The reason EU launch is not here already, is because of the US demand.."

Not true at all. I bought a 60GB model last week at a Circuit City in Portland, OR (i.e. a decent size metro area). They had 6 more on the floor and 2 other local Circuit Cities had multiple units in stock as well. And if you look on Craiglist you can find used PS3's (or even new, still sealed) for $50-$100 below retail. People are doing anything they can to dump them.

In other words the PS3 is not doing very well, but I don't regret buying mine.

[Mark Gillespie @ Jan 18th 2007 4:45PM]

Funny, anyone can say anything without the need to back it up.

I own a Xbox360, and the other day I went to get a game, but could not get into the store, with all the people packing it out queueing for PS3...

See easy..

[Christopher @ Jan 18th 2007 1:37PM]

LOL.. Steve must be one of those guys who paid for your $4K PS3 and is sitting there wishing people would buy it like he did.

Give me a PS3 so I can play that one cool game I keep hearing about.

[Paul @ Jan 18th 2007 2:06PM]

Wow it is true, using "sez" all the time really DOES make you look like an ignorant twat!

[Foamator @ Jan 18th 2007 2:08PM]

Arrghh... when I opened up my RSS Feed live bookmark, it read "Sony Europe sez PS3 still coming in March, not...". I thought it was one of those "not" jokes like the ones in Borat. Except that would have been really sick, ya know, teasing us like that.

[Angel @ Jan 18th 2007 3:43PM]

Well I live in the Philippines...maybe it's because of our close proximity to Japan but PS3s are being sold here albeit limited but very few are buying- if ever that is since I haven't heard of any buyers yet and of the 3 stores that I saw it at, when I ask how it was selling they said lots of inquiries but no takers yet. Mainly because its darn expensive I guess and no one knows about the wii...yet...The only ones that knows about the wii are those who work in the tech business. Still the few that know about the PS3 are a little wary of the price. 1 ps3 = 1 Wii + 1 360. OR 1 ps3 = mac mini or an Acer Laptop or 2 Acer laptops or a really good high end gaming desktop with the works...or O.o even a good server pc...I mean at P60K - P70K! Or a small HDTV from one of Sony's competitors. And I kinda feel a little wary too of buying it-I only have a normal TV so even if I can afford the PS3- I wouldn't be able to fully enjoy its graphical prowess... ^^jjj unless I can also afford the HDTV. Then again if I do have P60-70k to spend-I might just use that as a downpayment for a new house...or a new luxury car.

[Mario Mejia @ Jan 18th 2007 4:25PM]

damn,
you guys beat me to the jokes about the inventories gathering dust here in the US.

They should just launch it February and get it over with.

I am so glad i didnt get one. My Wii is gathering dust but that was only $250 (minus the 10% discount from Target for signing up for a credit card) and a very fun night camping out.

[Edd Mills @ Jan 18th 2007 5:11PM]

According to Play.com the Ps3 is going to be released on the 7th March.
http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/HP/3-/1032615/Sony_Playstation_3_PS3_Console_With_60GB_HDD_3_Games/Product.html

[Brent @ Jan 18th 2007 6:29PM]

I have a PS3 and an XBox 360. I have played the Wii. Here are my thoughts:

Wii has a novelty factor, but I suspect that will wear off within about a year. I suppose it could be a good system, but honestly it seems like it was made for kids (like all Nintendo products).

PS3 is a great piece of hardware, and I think Sony will (hopefully in March) release new firmware that really expands its capabilities. Additionally, once the developers start really learning how to program for it, I think we'll see some of the most beautiful games ever on a console.

XBox 360 is also pretty slick, but so far I've been fairly disappointed in the game selection. There are quite a few good games on the horizon, though.

My prediction: I think the people who are selling their PS3's will want them back in a few months.

[Tom @ Jan 19th 2007 10:49AM]

When the Sony CEO said that Europe was happy waiting, they were wrong, I went out and bought an xbox 360 on the back of those remarks. PS3 is the new dreamcast, I just hope Microsoft gets a decent competitor (other than the amazing wii) soon...

[Rune @ Jan 29th 2007 5:37PM]

I just bought a PS3 in Houston and are gonna use it in europe (norway). I was told by mail from Sony USA that it would not work in europe. Does anyone know if this is the fact. The US have the NTSC system and in northern europe it is PAL.

[Bob Whaler @ Apr 16th 2007 4:02PM]

Given they couldn't sell them in the US and Japan outside of the ebay speculators, I am sure they have plenty of inventory to launch Europe early.

No kidding.