Ps3 Worldwide Launch In November

PS3 will launch simultaneously in Europe, Japan and North America in early November 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has announced.
Finally, finally confirming a release date for its next-gen console in Tokyo earlier - to much rejoicing around the globe, no doubt - SCEI claimed that it has a monthly production capacity of 1 million PS3 units. The company "will push forward a powerful product launch to spread the platform rapidly throughout the world, together with a strong and attractive lineup of PS3 game titles," it stated.

A November release for PS3 might be later than Sony originally planned, but the company unsurprisingly wants to ensure it gets things spot on with its next-gen console. "Instead of rushing it, we want to make sure we execute a solid launch... We wanted to make the Thanksgiving sales," Sony big wig Ken Kutaragi has said.

David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has added: "We are absolutely delighted that we will be able to bring PS3 to gamers in Europe and Australia before Christmas. This is an exciting first for Europe, and is a huge endorsement and vote of confidence in the strength of the European market and its importance globally."
PS3 in Australia too then before we bid farewell to 2006? Feel the Sony love, all you folks 'down under'.

Meanwhile, no doubt in an effort to rob Sony's launch announcement of some of its thunder, Microsoft was happy to fire off a warning that a late arrival into the next-gen console war could cause significant problems for the Japanese giant. Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief technical officer, is quoted as saying that if "they [Sony] slide too far [with PS3's launch, we assume] they'll find themselves in the same situation as the Xbox did when they launched the PS2 a year before we entered... That's a hill to climb.''

Anyway, SCEI went on to say in its announcement on launch plans that PS3 incorporates the final specifications of the Blu-ray disc format and that it will be compatible with standard definition and high definition TV sets. It additionally mentioned that consumers will be able to connect PS3 "to high-speed broadband network through Gigabit Ethernet and comfortably enjoy a wide-range of rich and exciting content and services over the network."

Well, we've got launch confirmation, so what we need now is pricing information. It's highly possible we'll be slapped with this at GDC next week, where Sony's Phil Harrison is delivering a keynote speech entitled 'PlayStation 3: Beyond the Box'.