Sony has indicated that its PSP handheld will miss its expected pre-March 31 European release date and will not hit shelves until sometime before the end of June.[br]According to a report on business news outlet Bloomberg, Kenichi Fukunaga, vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment International, has stated that the Japanese electronics giant will delay the European launch because of a chip shortage.[br][br]Sony's PSP launched in Japan on December 12, and the company announced yesterday that it would roll out 1 million units for the North American launch on March 24. According to Fukunaga, the combined effect of these launches means Sony will not have enough chips or PSP units to launch in Europe until later in the year. [br][br][br]No specific European release date was offered, although Fukunaga mentioned the end of the first half of the year - anytime up until the end of June - as a target. [br]Speaking to our contacts at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe this morning about this news, we were simply offered the usual company line: "Sony has not made any announcements on the European PSP price and release date and until Sony makes those announcements official we cannot comment on speculation."[br][br]No official confirmation then from SCEE, but if true a PSP delay would be a significant kick in the teeth for European gamers eager to get their hands on the handheld.[br][br]News agency Reuters has also carried the story, quoting a 'company source' as saying, "There's a possibility that the launch could be delayed," and suggesting that an official statement would be made in the coming weeks.[br][br]Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi has always insisted that the handheld would be available worldwide before the end of the financial year on March 31, and set a global sales target of 3 million by that date.[br][br]Given that over 800,000 units have been sold to date in Japan, 1 million will hit shelves in the US and Canada on March 24 and 1 million units were scheduled for a European launch, any delay could jeopardise Sony's ability to hit its sales target.[br][br]Sony has struggled with PSP component shortages since the handheld launched in Japan last year. Only 200,000 units were available for that launch.[br][br]But recently Sony signed a new deal with electronics giant Toshiba to produce PSP chips, and upped PSP production to 2 million units a month. It seemed these developments would ease the shortages, but Fukunaga's comments are contradictory.[br][br]Earlier this week we reported that the European launch of the PSP could slip into April, but a delay into mid-summer would be extremely disappointing.[br][br]The fallout could also be potentially damaging to Sony's plans for handheld gaming in this territory. Nintendo announced last week that the DS would hit European shelves on March 11 for 99 or 149 Euro. A significant delay to the launch of PSP could ensure the DS gobbles up a large market share early. [br][br]As ever, we'll keep you posted on 'PSP Europe' developments as they happen.
