Blu-Ray shortage could halve PS3 shipments

Sony may be forced to drastically cut its PS3 unit shipments for the launch of the console in November, due to a shortage of blue laser diodes.

The manufacturing arm of Sony has reportedly suspended shipment of the diodes to its customers making HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movie players, in order to use them in the construction of its own PlayStation 3.

Manufacturers of blue laser diodes, which feature in the optical drives of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, have been unable to improve yield rates, according to a report on DigiTimes. This has led to the shortage of diodes, with the supply not expected to be back on track until Spring 2007.

Kaz Hirai, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America recently clarified that the company hopes to ship two million units of the PlayStation 3 worldwide for the console launch, with a further two million due by the end of the year.