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September launch for PS3

by Nick Haywood on 15 February 2006, 22:01

Tags: PlayStation 3, Sony Computers Entertainment Europe (NYSE:SNE), PS3

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A well placed source has seen the schedules...



Industry news site, Next Generation reckon that the Sony PlayStation 3 will launch in Japan and the US this September.

In an article on the site, their source claims that Sony’s next-gen console, the PS3, will hit Japanese and US shelves this September along with the launch of Sony’s online service, titled PlayStation HUB.

Apparently, PlayStation HUB is modelled along the lines of Microsoft’s successful Xbox LIVE service and will offer chat, downloadable demos, games and online multiplayer gaming. The service is also purported to support PSP use as well as PS3. It’ll be interesting to see if PlayStation HUB will open up Sony’s online content delivery service too, something that they’ve been pushing for a while.

AS for the launch date, this appears to be based on software release schedules seen by the source, which would suggest a 16th September for Japan with the 21st for the US. So it looks like Sony are looking to copy Microsoft’s admittedly flawed ‘world wide launch’ strategy. One wonders if they can pull it off?

When contacted, a SCEA spokesperson said that Sony does not comment on rumours, but it is understood that Sony are preparing an announcement about PlaySation Hub for the PS3 in the next few weeks.

Read the full article on Next Generation here.

HEXUS.comment

Steven Williamson of HEXUS.gaming writes:

Tetsuhiko Yasuda, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, told reporters at the Taipei Game Show that the company is not yet ready to begin marketing the PS3.

"We want to be completely prepared when we bring PlayStation 3 to the marketplace," Yasuda said. "Our No. 1 competition is not other companies but counterfeiters. We want to work with governments to stop this."


HEXUS Forums :: 22 Comments

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It's interesting news, but I think we'll have to wait for E3 to get anything concrete.

Sony will be itching to get the console out there, to gain ground back on the 360, and I think they won't be bothered about the lack of decent launch games. Once the consoles are out there, they will sell, regardless of what games are available. People will buy based on their expectations of the games that are in the works.

I'll be getting one. I might even pre-order if the price is right.
I'm not a Sony fanboy (although i've only had Sony consoles), but in the last ‘next-gen’ console war between the PS2 and Xbox, I sat on the fence for a while, before ultimatly deciding that the Xbox had nothing to offer me but Live, whereas the PS2 had more of the games I wanted, and it wasn't a “PC in a box” (This was an issue for me as games could be easily ported to the PC, which I already have).

For me, it's the same this time around.
The PS3 offers me more in terms of games I want (I can't actually name one 360 game I want), and if this PS3 HUB is going to happen, then I'll have written off nearly every reason to choose the 360 over the PS3.
Silent Shark…you are the definition of a fanboy.

I don't own a 360 yet but I plan on getting one when I can just walk into a store and pick one up. I have a feeling this rumor is designed to keep fanboys “sitting on the fence.” Well, sit and enjoy. Meanwhile I'll be having a blast on a kick ass system.
i think sony need to finish designing the bloody thing before they can speak about release dates…


PS3 is sooo crap like OMG!!!£$onetwothree! sexbox 3shixtahh will rule allz!!()£threesixty1



Well now that i've added something vital to the conversation…

Silent Shark, as was said above, that's the opitomy (sp) of fanboyism.
I've owned all the consoled i've liked, and never owned a Sony console (and never will). That now sounds exactly like you, but i've owned a Megadrive, and N64 (which was killed by the PS1, even through it was superior), a Dreamcast (which was killed by the PS2, even through it was superior), a Gamecube (which killed itself, but thats a different story, oh, and it was superior), an xbox (which is still a damn good console, great games, and, guess what, superior), and finally a 360 (which, designers say, is no different specs-wise to the PS3).
It'll be one hell of a console war this gen, and i'll be getting myself a Revolution too… But i think sony have lost this time, overhyped a console which has no concrete evidence of it existing as a running machine as yet, all they've produced is some FMV's rendered on PC's, and perhaps if you're lucky, the same running on a dev kit *shock-horror*.
Sony won't be winning third time in a row without a damn good fight.

Plus it still looks like a George-Foreman Grille :p
in the last round, i went XBOX for the superior visuals. I don't agree with Silentshark that it's just a PC in a box. the XBOX fills a specific gaming need for me - high-speed fixes that i can pick up and put down in 10 minutes. racing (burnout etc.)), fighting (soulcaliber II etc.) and sport (EA's line up, Pro evo etc.) are the sort of games that a console and big-screen TV are made for, while deeper RTS & RPG games seem to give a better experience on the PC (as do FPS, mainly down to the enhanced control offered by mouse & k/board).
This time round- likely to choose the PS3 once all the dust settles.. ..reason? from what little we know, the two systems are likely to have visual & sound parity, online parity- so PS3's likely to have more game/developer support which will pull it out in front for me. however, only time will tell.