Analysts Predict Significant PSP Delays

Two separate business analysts have predicted that Sony is likely to delay the PlayStation Portable’s launch in Japan until spring 2005, and delay the U.S. launch until November 2005. American Technology Research’s PJ McNealy has suggested that a lack of progress with launch software is one possible reason for the delay, with another projected issue being potential technical problems, particularly relating to power usage. Piper Jaffray & Co. has been particularly pessimistic in a recent report, citing the rumored overheating of transistors, an unpalatable ninety minute battery life and Sony’s historical inability to launch new products on time as reasons for estimating a November 2005 launch – timed to interfere with the launch of the next generation Xbox. Although consumer reaction to the PSP has been nothing but positive, Sony has suffered noticeable criticism from analysts and industry figures concerning the lack of information about pricing and battery life, as well as the slow arrival of dedicated development tools. The company now risks launching the new console less than twelve months before the arrival of the PlayStation 3, which could theoretically create a dangerous lack of focus, potentially splitting priorities across the whole of the video game division.