SCEE Officially Announces March 23rd Europe PS3 Launch

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has officially unveiled its PlayStation 3 launch date and prices for the UK, revealing a 60GB-only March 23rd launch at £425 ($842). The continental European price for the console is 599 Euros ($778), and the Australian price is set at $999 Australian ($791 U.S.) As previously rumored, the UK launch will only include the 60GB model -- 1 million units of which are being made available the first day -- rather than the choice between the 20GB and 60GB models launched in Japan and the USA. SCEE says the single model launch is in response to 'retail and consumer demand.' The 20GB model, says SCEE, will be offered later in the year. SCEE has also announced that more than 30 games will be available at launch, including Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7. In addition, SCEE has said that the European PlayStation Network will offer a full selection of downloadable titles, including Gran Turismo HD Concept and a localized version of Tekken: Dark Resurrection, previously only available to Japan and Hong Kong. Go! Sudoku, Go! Puzzle, Blast Factor and flOw are also promised for day one availability. The full game list supplied by SCEE, including both network and Blu-ray disc based games, follows: Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition, Ridge Racer 7, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Lemmings, Go! Sudoku, Go! Puzzle, Blast Factor, flOw, Super Rub’a'Dub, Call of Duty 3, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Tony Hawk’s Project 8, Gundam – Target in Sight, Full Auto 2: Battle Lines, Sonic the Hedgehog, Virtua Fighter 5, Virtua Tennis 3, World Snooker Championship 2007, NBA 2K7, NHL 2K7, Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII, Enchanted Arms, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Def Jam: Icon, Fight Night Round 3, NBA Street 4 Homecourt 2007, Need for Speed Carbon, The Godfather: The Don’s Edition, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, F.E.A.R., and Gripshift. SCEE has also made available pricing information for peripherals and accessories, as follows: SIXAXIS Wireless Controller - £34.99 ($69), Blu-ray Disc Remote Control - £17.99 ($36), HDMI Cable - £17.99 ($36), AV cable - £17.99 ($36), Component AV cable - £17.99 ($36), and an S Video cable - £12.99 ($26). SCEUK SVP and MD Ray Maguire commented, “Following the hugely successful launches of PS3 in Japan and North America, we are absolutely delighted to be able to bring significant numbers of PS3 to the UK." He added, "To be able to launch with over 30 titles including retail versions and great downloadable gaming experiences across every genre shows that this is our strongest launch line-up in the history of PlayStation, and is what PlayStation fans in the UK have been crying out for.”