Not all territories will get PlayStation Store, says Sony

Sony has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that some PS3 owners will have to wait until they can visit the PlayStation Store - adding that some territories won't get access at all.

PlayStation Store is billed as "an integrated and streamlined online storefront" which "allows all PS3 users to browse and download available entertainment content".

Along with downloading high-definition game videos and playable demos for titles such as Motorstorm, users can purchase full games such as Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection.

But since PS3 went on sale in Europe last Friday, some PlayStation.com forum users have complained that they can't access PS Store. The service is reportedly unavailable in territories including Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia.

Speaking to GI.biz Nick Sharples, SCEE's director of corporate communications, confirmed that there will be a delay to the arrival of PS Store in some countries.

"There are more than 102 territories in the region, and each Store has to be made unique for each territory due to different currencies and languages," he explained. "Stores will reach some territories in due course."

However, Sharples continued, some countries "won't get a store at all" due to factors such as lack of broadband penetration. "The PS Store may not be accessible in Azerbaijan, for example," he added.

Sony has yet to announce timings for the arrival of PS Store in other territories.