PS3 problems now resolved - Sony

Sony Computer Entertainment America has admitted that day one shipment targets for PlayStation 3 were not met - but says all manufacturing problems have now been resolved.

According to an official statement from communications boss David Karraker, the company is still on track to ship one million PS3 consoles by the end of the year, with new stocks being supplied on a constant basis.

"While initial day-one launch shipment goals werenât achievable due to early manufacturing issues, those problems have been resolved and we do remain focused on having one million PS3s in the pipeline by December 31, 2006," Karraker said.

"We will continue to utilise airfreight delivery for PlayStation 3 to assure a steady stream of systems for North American consumers through the end of the year."

Karraker's comments come after research firm NPD published a new report showing that 197,000 PS3 units were sold during November - and since the console quickly sold out, that means the number of units shipped was less than half SCEA's target of 400,000 for launch day.

The report also said that 476,000 Nintendo Wii consoles were sold during the same period, with the only next-gen console not in short supply - the Xbox 360 - shifting 511,000 units. However, Sony's current-gen machine is still going strong; 664,000 PS2s were sold during the course of the month.

With regard to handhelds the DS was clearly in the lead, with 918,000 units sold compared to 412,000 PSPs. However, Karraker said, that number is almost double the figure for the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Game Boy Advance continues to sell well, shifting 641,000 units.

"The six year old PlayStation 2 continues to dominate the market, outselling all other computer entertainment systems in November, including much newer systems from the competition," Karraker said.

"These figures clearly demonstrate the strength of the PlayStation family of products in the US... [They] bode very well for SCEA as it offers a computer entertainment system for every taste and budget this holiday season."