Sony Discusses PS3, February Event Switch

Japan's Weekly Famitsu magazine has published an interview with Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's Corporate Executive Masatsuka Saeki, discussing both the PlayStation 3's Tokyo Game Show presence, and prospects for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 in the coming months. Elements of the interview translated by U.S. consumer website IGN reveal that Sony decided not to show playable games at Tokyo Game Show, despite Ken Kutagari's previous insistence that this would happen, since it was the first time the PlayStation 3 would appear in Japan, and the company wanted to replicate the significant buzz caused by the E3 launch of the PS3. In addition, Saeki reveals in rather non-specific fashion that a February 2006 Japanese event intended to showcase playable PS3 games has been re-arranged, but that a "secret" alternative is being readied that may surprise players. Both elements of Saeki's comments have led online analysts to speculate that most PlayStation 3 software is still relatively early in development, at least compared to many already-playable Xbox 360 titles. But it's clear, by referencing Neil Young's comments at the Tokyo Game Show, among others, that PlayStation 3 is actively being developed on at major publishers such as Electronic Arts, and at least some playable PS3 software is likely to be shown in early 2006. Sony's next-gen PlayStation 3 console is currently due for a "Spring 2006" target date, but no specific date or territorial pricing has yet been revealed, with a Sony spokesperson recently clarifying: "We have not yet announced detailed launch dates for each region." The company has also made it clear that not all of the design elements for the PS3 are yet complete, with the console's controller, in particular, still due for possible change.