European launch of PlayStation 3 delayed until March 2007
Sony has officially confirmed that the European launch of the PlayStation 3 has been delayed, citing "production issues with the blue laser diodes needed for the Blu-Ray drive". Originally planned for a simultaneous global release in November, the PAL territories of Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australasia will now have to wait until March 2007 to get their hands on a PS3. Plans to launch the PS3 in North America and Japan this November remain unchanged.
According to the announcement, "the PAL market is the most complicated region in which to launch the system, and is therefore the most pragmatic choice to bear the brunt of a shortage of components". Everyone outside North America and Japan is used to getting a bum deal when it comes to console launches, so this broken promise is certain to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of gamers everywhere. That price premium pill just got a little harder to swallow, too.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
