Report: Variety Claims PlayStation 3 Delay

A new interview with Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer by Hollywood trade magazine Variety has indicated that the PlayStation 3 will be delayed until later in the year, due to complications revolving around the consoles’ complex chipset. The Variety article attributes the delay to the company “fine-tuning” the console’s technology, referring to the PlayStation 3 as a “the poor man’s Blue-ray [sic]”, and suggests that the console will be released before the end of the year, but does not include a specific comment from Stringer confirming this. The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up", presumably referring to rival consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo. Regarding the Blu-ray format in general, Stringer is quoted as saying, "Once Microsoft picked sides it was clear we were going to be in a battle royale." He also added, "We won't be stampeded" by Microsoft into rushing decisions "that are there forever." The article does not mention a specific territory when discussing the date of the console’s new launch, but it is implied that it is referring to North America. Few analysts have ever expected a Western launch for the PlayStation 3 in spring, although it is now looking increasingly likely that the Japanese launch will also not take place until this summer at the earliest.