4,000 PS3 dev kits shipped – Stringer hints at retail slippage

Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday, Sony heavyweight Howard Stringer failed to assert the previously published spring release date for PlayStation 3, furthering expectations that the highly-anticipated console won't be on sale in the early part of this year.

Stringer simply said that Sony's new machine will debut 'later this year', leading many to believe that SCE has abandoned its original launch plans. Indeed, there is the belief emerging that Sony never intended to launch in spring, merely offering the period to consumers in an attempt to distract them from Microsoft's frenzied Xbox 360 launch.

Stringer was joined on stage by Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Kaz Hirai who also avoided making any mention of a ship date for the PlayStation 3. Hirai's appearance consisted of outlining the support program in place for developers of PlayStation 3 software, announcing that around 4,000 development kits for the Cell-powered monster have been shipped.

However, the resounding note of the somewhat lacklustre presentation came from Stringer's words, 'later this year'. We contacted Sony yesterday in the wake of the CES address with a simple question - When is the PlayStation 3 expected to launch in any territory? We received no response at time of press.