Sony Sets Back PS3 Launch in Europe

By Colleen Taylor -- Electronic News, 9/8/2006

The holidays could be less than happy than expected at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE).

The company has pushed back the launch date of its Playstation 3 entertainment system in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia from the previously announced November 17 date to March 2007.

Launch dates for Japan and North America will remain the same, which are November 11 and November 17, respectively.

The company said the revision of the launch date in the SCEE territories is caused by the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, which will be used to include next-generation Blu-ray capabilities in the console, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components of the PlayStation 3.

This marks the latest in product woes for the company. Sony's stock took a hit last month, as the company was the provider of the malfunctioning laptop batteries that literally sparked the massive Dell and Apple recalls in August. Sony's lithium ion batteries posed an overheating risk and were labeled fire hazards by both companies.

Sony plans to stay on track with its shipment forecast, as the company said the previously announced PS3 shipment forecast of 6 million units globally within the fiscal year ending 2007 has not changed.