Playstation 3 US release delayed until Q1 2007.

Journey · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:17

Mmm just read this.

"The high cost to make the PlayStation 3 games console - around $900 per unit, initially, for parts alone - could force Sony to delay the US launch until components become more affordable, something that could take three month or even six, according to a report by financial analyst Merrill Lynch.

And that could mean the PS3 missing its expected Q3, 2006 US launch and not even being in US stores for Christmas 2006. Where such a delay would leave the UK launch date is anyone's guess.

Merrill Lynch reckons that four new and novel components are having an especially big impact on the high build-cost, with the PS3's Blu-ray optical drive ($350) and IBM Cell processor ($230) the biggest factors. The others are the Nvidia RSX graphics processor ($70); and XDR RAM ($50), use of which, ML says, is unique to PS3. Three years down the line, it's estimated, the cost for that quartet will have fallen to $240, with the total components bill being just $320."

Source CNET.

What you reckon fact, or more guessing?

bingham67 · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:20

Probably correct i dont see it this year the console anyway im not to fussed when its released i can wait.

Phil99 · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:27

$350 for the bluray drive alone?! They must be joking :eek:

Mic · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:29

To be honest I dont see a console war anymore. Except between the 360 and the Revo.
When the PS3 comes out it will be like its own little 'next gen' kinda thing.

Psyk · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:31

Either way it doesn't bother me. I get excited by the games that will come out for it, not the console itself. Since I doubt the games I'm interested in would be affected by the console being released a bit later, I couldn't care less.

Emlyn_Dewar · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:35

Yeah, aside from forum posts and speculation I haven't seen much of the PS3, by the time it's out surely MS will have cheaper costs, increased reliability and a much larger games library with improved graphics?

2007, that's so late to the table it might aswell not turn up...

NokkonWud · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:37

-Mic- said:
To be honest I dont see a console war anymore. Except between the 360 and the Revo.
When the PS3 comes out it will be like its own little 'next gen' kinda thing.

Exactly how I felt about the Xbox, it was PS2 vs GameCube. Xbox was next gen. The same will be said about PS3. Shame they can't keep the costs down.

Journey · 19 Feb 2006 at 22:03

Yeah but as far as everybody knows there is not much between 360 & PS3 so it's not gonna be a little Next Gen revolution of its own.. The first XBOX was much more powerful than the PS2 so it was the case then. Sony will have 1 year old hardware and no 1st, or 2nd generation games, while the Xobx will be as said cheaper to build, more reliable and have a large installled user base, with (hopefully) some fantastic second generation games on the way.

McManicMan · 19 Feb 2006 at 22:07

but you have to remember that if its delayed so late after MS and its xbox360 IT WILL BE MARKETED BY SONY as the all new best and most powerful console to GRACE THE EARTH and millions of 10year olds will all agree and only a minority like us who know that there isn't actually much in it.

Mic · 19 Feb 2006 at 22:31

Journey said:
Yeah but as far as everybody knows there is not much between 360 & PS3 so it's not gonna be a little Next Gen revolution of its own.. The first XBOX was much more powerful than the PS2 so it was the case then. Sony will have 1 year old hardware and no 1st, or 2nd generation games, while the Xobx will be as said cheaper to build, more reliable and have a large installled user base, with (hopefully) some fantastic second generation games on the way.

No no, i meant

Swinehog said:
but you have to remember that if its delayed so late after MS and its xbox360 IT WILL BE MARKETED BY SONY as the all new best and most powerful console to GRACE THE EARTH and millions of 10year olds will all agree and only a minority like us who know that there isn't actually much in it.

Pretty much^^^^
It will be so long after both competitors have been out that people will think OMG ITS EVEN GONNA BE BETTERZ CAUSE ITS NEWER! :eek:

McManicMan · 20 Feb 2006 at 00:02

yep, could be another clever marketing ploy by Sony. They know the score with MS now and know how popular its becoming and has a nice slice of the market and could find it difficult to release in such close proximitity its own console at a much higher price and hardly much better, by delaying the PS3 it may go in Sony's favour for the usual Joe Blogs on the street who think newer is always better than something thats been out for over a year already

Ultra_Extreme · 20 Feb 2006 at 02:21

Swinehog said:
but you have to remember that if its delayed so late after MS and its xbox360 IT WILL BE MARKETED BY SONY as the all new best and most powerful console to GRACE THE EARTH and millions of 10year olds will all agree and only a minority like us who know that there isn't actually much in it.

No that would be a poor ploy. The market is not 10year olds anymore, its 20 somethings. Unfortunately we, as tech-forumites, are not indicative of the general publics awareness, they might aswell be ten year olds, playstation is an important brand and will sell regaurdless.

This is sony's way to offset the success of the 360, by delaying and creating a mini-next-gen, they get a market of fresh consumers to themselves because i simply doubt that they could compete with the 360 currently.

Oh and there will be no console war between 360 and the rev. Dont be stupid they are only barely the same thing.

JBeck · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:25

Swinehog said:
IT WILL BE MARKETED BY SONY as the all new best and most powerful console to GRACE THE EARTH and millions of 10year olds will all agree and only a minority like us who know that there isn't actually much in it.

If it is the most powerful then Sony have every right to market it as such, why wouldn't they?

by delaying the PS3 it may go in Sony's favour for the usual Joe Blogs on the street who think newer is always better than something thats been out for over a year already

But you've already said that it's better, so they'd be right in 'thinking' that?

But of course, it's all a marketing ploy by Sony, a conspiracy even! It has nothing to do with the fact that the technology going into it is so damn expensive and that they themselves have, at this time, bitten off more than they can chew.

dirtydog · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:30

I don't see any urgent need for Sony to rush the PS3 out just because the 360 is out, and I would rather they took as much time as they need and get it right. From their point of view the PS2 is still selling in large numbers and games will continue to be made for it for some time to come with its huge userbase.

Fusion · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:31

Rather than being a shrewd marketing ploy, I believe that Sony have dropped a cobbler in making the PS3 a little too technologically advanced. They're experiencing big problems. If they could get it on the shelves for 2006, they would.

dirtydog · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:35

Fusion said:
Rather than being a shrewd marketing ploy, I believe that Sony have dropped a cobbler in making the PS3 a little too technologically advanced. They're experiencing big problems. If they could get it on the shelves for 2006, they would.

I daresay you are probably right. So long as they release it within 18 months or so though, I don't see it harming them much.

JUMPURS · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:38

tbh i wont believe anything about PS3 release dates until Sony put out a press release either saying 'its delayed until autum' or 'here if a final release day'
until then i am presuming its still on course for there vague Spring launch

Wyrdo · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:49

JUMPURS said:
tbh i wont believe anything about PS3 release dates until Sony put out a press release either saying 'its delayed until autum' or 'here if a final release day'
until then i am presuming its still on course for there vague Spring launch

Spring launch is never going to happen, the machines haven't even gone to manufacturing yet and there's only two months to go. They need to be producing them now for a spring launch.

Edit: Unless you mean Spring 2007?

Manlove is my forte · 20 Feb 2006 at 10:21

JUMPURS said:
tbh i wont believe anything about PS3 release dates until Sony put out a press release either saying 'its delayed until autum' or 'here if a final release day'
until then i am presuming its still on course for there vague Spring launch

Yeah thats what the article said Spring 2007.

If you honestly think the PS3 will be out in spring 2006 then you are delusional. They have not anounced a price or a date. They need to have both down 2-3 months in advance to allow the consumers to budget and to get them excited.

I honestly hope that the Games reviewers go to town on the PS3 if it is nothing more than a 360 with a BD player. I really hope it gets slated to high heaven if they put a huge price tag in it. If it comes out at reasonable price without the consumer being fourced to buy bundles then I wont mind so much

Smit · 20 Feb 2006 at 10:32

Sony have already stated that they have to wait for specifications for the BluRay drive which hasn't even been decided yet, although they have not completely dismissed the Spring Launch.

A few analysts in Asia are now saying Summer 2006 in Japan is likely which I would image is about correct seeing as the hardware isn't even finalised as of yet