Reeves dismisses talk of PS3 delay

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss David Reeves has told GamesIndustry.biz that suggestions the European launch of PS3 will be delayed once again are nothing more than 'speculation without foundation'.

Rumours of a delay began to emerge when consumer site CVG published a report quoting an unnamed source as saying the PS3 won't be arriving in March, as planned. The report went on to claim that a September launch date is now likely.

But speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Reeves said, "We're still on schedule to launch PS3 in March throughout the PAL territories. All speculation otherwise is without foundation."

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter agreed with Reeves that talk of a delay is "all speculation", telling GI.biz, "I think that the logic behind a March European launch was that demand would subside in the US sufficiently to allow Sony to divert supply to Europe.

"It's unlikely that supply will outstrip demand any time before June, but Sony could decide to have a soft launch with limited quantities in Europe."

According to Pachter, a delay is only likely to occur if Sony introduces a price reduction for the console. "Now that they have added HDMI to the US$ 499 SKU, they could decide to launch at a lower price point in Europe, and could explain away the delay that way - as in, 'We have to ramp manufacturing of the new and improved SKU.'"

However, Pachter concluded, "It's impossible to know what Sony is up to" - so any suggestions of a delay are merely guesswork.