Sony Europe just announced a release launch delay for the PAL version of its PS3 console. Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia can now expect the system to launch in March of 2007.

The push back of the launch is related to the usual shortage of consoles available, via a "delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PlayStation 3." The diode is a key element of the Bluray drive used in the machine.

It's a big bummer for those of us who have been waiting patiently, but there are two slight advantages to this. 1) A larger software launch lineup once it comes our way and 2) Any problems discovered in its early life in Japan and the US will be fixed up (hopefully) by that time via software patches.

I was wondering what kind of (if any) impact there would be on the PS3 as I read about this apparent laser production issue with regards to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray stand alone players as well.

Fuck you, Sony, fuck you very much. Please forgive us for existing. We will wait to the end of time, as we always will.

How come I'm not surprised that the launch is delayed in Europe, and not somewhere else?

Wow, AGAIN Sony is screwed by the Blu-ray player at the expense of the loyal consumer. If I was going to buy a PS3 I would be pissed! You have loyal fans wait for the launch only to delay it 2 months earlier. Of course, I guess I shouldn't blame Sony as comapnies always do this I guess.

But there is an upside, as Kart mentions with a better lineup of games and bugs being fixed. Also, there could be the fact that you may get more shipped units than expected, so more units per store is better than being forced to camp outside just for one.

They should just scrap blu-ray. :D

Blue-Ray is the only thing I am using to justify the purchase. The games I saw/played at E3 were pretty bad. Assassins Creed looks awesome but it will be on Xbox 360 so there is really no reason to buy the thing other than to watch HD movies.

How can zero units be more units than expected?

Isn't that typical for many companies though? Seems the pecking order has often been Japan->North America->Europe?

You could think that after letting Europe wait a year to get the PSP, they would compensate us this time around.

Iggy, what I meant was that because of the delay in shipping, the wait would allow Sony to have more units manufactured by March 2007 for Europe/Austrailia.

And also, the Blu-ray is both keeping the PS3 up and brining it down. I mean, come on, its one of the mains reasons for its high price and now this delay. But on the other hand, its really the only unique feature of the PS3. Most of the games are going to the 360 and the multimedia functions,you can get there as well.

I also think they're in big trouble because ever since the 80's Sony has tried to make their own new media types and all of them pretty much failed. Look at the most recent UMD media attempt. It was too expensive and too small. Now look at the Bluray. It's too expensive and its too high tech for most TV's. See any similarities? I'd say Sony is in BIG trouble.

Yes, how thoughtful of Sony to think of us all the time and not just rush things out like in the rest of the civilised world.

The problem really isn't that Europe gets it later (we are used to that), it's that Sony broke their word.

E3: Shipping worldwide, November 2006.

September: Uh, yeah, shipping worldwide, except Europe.

Nice of you all to forget Australia :p Seriously, we get it worse then Europe.

You should come to Brasil.