Tretton: Japan Quake May Delay Sony's NGP Past 2011 In Some Regions

SCEA president Jack Tretton said production delays caused by the recent Japanese earthquake may delay the release of the company's code-named Next Generation Portable past the end of the year in some regions. In an interview with Bloomberg, Tretton cited damage to several of Sony's factories in Northern Japan, as well as shortages from other Japanese parts suppliers, in speculating on the production delay. “It may be the straw that says ‘maybe we get to just one market by the end of the year,’” Tretton said of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and accompanying tsunami that hit off the Eastern coast of Japan March 11. This is not the first time Tretton has warned the NGP may not launch worldwide this year. In a January interview, he told Engadget the "holiday 2011" target first discussed when the system was unveiled was "ambiguous for a reason," but would apply to at least one region. A number of software release have already been cancelled or delayed in the wake of the earthquake, which continues to impact daily life throughout much of Japan. Organizers for September's Tokyo Game Show say there are currently no plans to alter the massive convention, but that a reduced show is possible.