PS3 still on track for May '06 launch?
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jan 4th 2006 at 8:00PM }
Despite earlier, dubious rumors claiming the
PS3 would be delayed until 2007, GameSHOUT is reporting they have been contacted personally by Sony to reassure them
the system is on track for a May '06 launch. Sony's CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, said as recently
as September that the sytem would launch this Spring in Japan, with the US following "later in the year" and
Europe settling for a late '06/early '07 launch. So, nothing's changed then? [Thanks bd and Ravi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Grindstone @ Jan 4th 2006 8:09PM
"GameSHOUT is reporting they have been contacted personally by Sony to reassure them the system is on track for a May '06 launch."
Seems a little circular. So GameSHOUT is reassuirng Sony that Sony will release the system in May of `06? Oh, you mean Sony contacted GameSHOUT and reassured them that the PS3 is coming out in May of `06. Gee, why can't they assure the rest of us with a press release at CES `06 instead of going through channels like a coward? Stupid 'buzz' industry.
Oh well, I guess whenever it gets here will be fine. But seriously, May is in 5 months, just make a definitive announcement already, we'll count the days for you.
Todd H. @ Jan 4th 2006 9:14PM
And this is why I'll wait on the 360, oh, and because no stores have them in stock.
Microsoft is really dropping the ball, not a hater, I have an Xbox and would like a 360 if it had more than a couple "COMPLETE" games.
Now that the hype has calmed down, I don't feel the need to make purchase anytime soon...
Nodnetni @ Jan 4th 2006 9:28PM
1. Grindstone - Im not sure how you are reading it but to me it says Sony contacted GameSHOUT and told them that they(Sony) are on track for a may launch.
2. The Xbox 360 started production in late aug 05, so about 4 months is what it took to underporduce the systems. So sony better be gearing up to start mass production soon, or there is no way its going to happen.
3. On an unrealated point, all the CES blue ray DVD players coming out seem to have a price point between $1000 - $1800. So again how much is sony going to be losing on each system? $1000 for each DVD player, it cant be cheaper to make it in to a gaming system.
AbleJames @ Jan 4th 2006 9:44PM
The last console to come out in May, with a launch without any publicity or forehand information, was the Saturn, which, based on those details, failed in the most logical and predictable manner possible. However, Sony is even worse off, since the Saturn was first--no XBox 360 to drain all the built-up energy out of the hardcore market just 6 months before launch.
I can't say I would put it past Sony to try to spit in the face of every trend on pure we're-Sony-nothing-can-hurt-us ego, but if they launch in May without some absolutely must-have games (and, cough, with the boomerang) they will flop spectacularly.
Jake @ Jan 4th 2006 10:09PM
Ummm... haven't all of Sony's consoles come out in the Spring in Japan? The same thing is happening here. The United States more than likely won't get it until September, just like always.
eric @ Jan 4th 2006 10:26PM
I still wonder if the PS3 is going to be drastically less expensive than a stand alone Blu-Ray player or just several hundred dollars cheaper?
If it is drastically cheaper, just how good of a Blu-Ray player will it be? I was never expressed with the PS2's ability to play DVDs, although it did improve over time. So will the PS3 be a viable Blu-Ray player or just a servicable one?
PINION CORPORATION @ Jan 4th 2006 10:50PM
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Australia, screwed again. But that is assuming they release the thing in May anyway... For such an important event for sony (The successor for its PROFITABLE department) one would think they would be creating more hype and improving their exposure.
Nodnetni, you make a very valid point: Unlike the xbox360 which uses almost standard computer parts, the playstation 3 will be more difficult to produce due to the cell processor and the blu-ray drive. So when it released over there in the US, you'll be lucky to bag one at launch.
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David Carty @ Jan 4th 2006 11:18PM
I don't see it happening. Even if he consoles ready, I have one question, wheres the games? (Trust me I'm very excited over UT2007.) They've announced several but how many will actually make launch? If it only launched with a game or 2 then its gona have some trouble fighting the 360 with all the games out for it. I think its gona be the same with the PSP, they'll release a few months after what they had originally said.
bd @ Jan 5th 2006 3:17AM
"On an unrealated point, all the CES blue ray DVD players coming out seem to have a price point between $1000 - $1800. So again how much is sony going to be losing on each system? $1000 for each DVD player, it cant be cheaper to make it in to a gaming system."
Yes, if we assume the following:
*That the Blu-ray players cost sony $1000-$1800, which is false
*That Sony will sell the Blu-ray players to the retailers at that price point, which would be false considering that would be their cost (Which is false, again)
*That retailers will sell the Blu-ray players at the same price they paid, which would be ridiculous.
Honestly though, if a Blu-ray player costs like 1000 dollars, Sony will probably sell them like at 400-500 dollars to the retailers. And if PS3 will cost 400-500 dollars (when sold by retailers), then sony will be selling PS3 at 250-350 to retailers, which makes sense considering that Videogames always/usually have the same price anywhere, because the retailing competition for videogames is a lot more, so the rate of revenue is much less.
" The last console to come out in May, with a launch without any publicity or forehand information, was the Saturn, which, based on those details, failed in the most logical and predictable manner possible. However, Sony is even worse off, since the Saturn was first--no XBox 360 to drain all the built-up energy out of the hardcore market just 6 months before launch."
Well, the Saturn sold more than the Dreamcast anyway so... By the way, hype (or momentum as you try to put it) for 360 is dead already. Since it's not such a novelty except in somewhat better graphics and a relatively better online service (which should be a given anyway), it's just another console with no killer app yet.
" Sony's CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, said as recently as September that the sytem would launch this Spring in Japan, with the US following "later in the year" and Europe settling for a late '06/early '07 launch. So, nothing's changed then? "
This is not true. Howard Stringer clarified that he has never talked about a PS3 launch date, nor that he did that "interview" anyway. It was a not so highly ranked Sony employee at best, and a fake interview at worst.
Deth @ Jan 5th 2006 6:29AM
OT- test
Mephy @ Jan 5th 2006 8:21AM
"Honestly though, if a Blu-ray player costs like 1000 dollars, Sony will probably sell them like at 400-500 dollars to the retailers. And if PS3 will cost 400-500 dollars (when sold by retailers), then sony will be selling PS3 at 250-350 to retailers, which makes sense considering that Videogames always/usually have the same price anywhere, because the retailing competition for videogames is a lot more, so the rate of revenue is much less."
WHOA, dude, you really over-estimate how much Sony and retailers actually pocket from a sale. If you honestly think that retailers make $500 per Blu-Ray player sold, then you need to take a business and economics course, because that's highway robbery, plain and simple. Their take isn't NEARLY that large. It'd be more like retailers are taking $200 each AT MOST, putting the wholesale cost at $800.
And that's just in the consumer electronics market, where electronics units HAVE to sell at a profit for most stores to make any money.
In the video games market, consoles can be sold at a loss by companies all the time due to the nature of hardware-specific content giving them the option to recover this money in game sales.
For the sake of argument, though, if PS3, a machine that is far more complex than just a standalone Blu-Ray player, sells at the retail price $500, and a standalone Blu-Ray player costs $800 wholesale (if you remove Sony's take, the manufacturing cost averages in at $500 at the lowest)... BIG differential there.
And to think, people were naive enough to think that PS3 would sell for under $400.
SuicideNinja @ Jan 5th 2006 11:46AM
What will be great is if Sony can't ship many units, but Microsoft has plenty of 360s available. I hope Sony loses some of its customer base. The 360 will probably have a few good titles by then, and Sony won't have any until 2007 anyway (remember the PS2?). 2007 sounds like a good time to get a PS3. Have to get the Revolution before that though.
As far as the bluray, Sony may take some loss on it with the PS3, but probably not as much as you think. The players have to start out high to make up for design and initial production costs. Once demand rises then they can start lowering the price which results in them pushing even more units. HD really is only a minor improvement, and really isn't worth all this stupid hype.
Tsietisin @ Jan 6th 2006 7:56AM
The price a retailer pays for something like a playstation console is near enough what they are sold on the shop floor for.
I would expect that if the PS3 was on sale in stores at $499. Then the retailers probably paid about $470 for it. Possibly even more.
TezChi @ Jan 8th 2006 8:32AM
LOL, late 06 early 07 for the UK!!! I seriously doubt Sony would be so ridicously stupid as to give the Xbox 360 more than a full years head start, they must think us UKers are stupid or something. If they really think that anyone is gonna wait until 2007 then they need their heads checking, if they release in 07 here, I will be IMPORTING.
Paul B. Sheerer @ Jan 11th 2006 1:58PM
That's outrageous !!! I, Paul B. Sheerer have been contacted personally by the president of Sony to reassure that gameshout's article is a lie !!! The PS3 will be released in US now in January 2006 ! :-) Hey, at least we can dream, can't we ?!!! How I wish it was true !
Gamester @ Jan 13th 2006 6:32PM
OTC Microsoft had made a big mistake with the annoucment of the 360 being a world wide release while in reality they had issues to deal with including the tendency of the game console over heating. Right now all we see are X360 accessories in retail stores but the main unit is still "unavailable." What good will the accessories do without the main unit? IMO I think Sony is careful regarding the release of the PS3. I think they will be introducing the PS3 core console with the existing line of PS2 games with Japan as the primary target in March, follow by various new PS3 games and accessories release in stages to the rest of the world starting in May. History is a good teacher. I think Sony had learned the lesson from the PS2 when it was introduced back in early 2000.