PS3 is a Hit in Japan but May Be Delayed in Europe
November 13, 2006
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Sony sold 88,400 units of its PlayStation 3 game console in the first two days after the launch in Japan, leaving most stores without any stock. Sony started selling the latest version of its blockbuster game console in Japan on Saturday, and all indications point to a strong start. Sony plans to have the PS3 on shelves in North America on Nov. 17, followed by a European launch in March.
According to Enterbrain, Sony sold 88,400 units combined on Saturday and Sunday, depleting stocks at most electronics retailers that were able to get their hands on a limited supply of the console. Sony was able to ship only 
100,000 units for the launch after a glitch in blue laser diode production disrupted its output plans.
An official at Enterbrain said the sales figure could be interpreted as a promising start for the PS3, with thousands of game fans lining up for hours at electronics stores in Tokyo over the weekend to be among the first to play PS3 games. Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight, both from Namco Bandai Holdings, were the top two selling games at about 30,000 units each. Of the total sold so far in Japan, Enterbrain said 54,600, or about 62%, were of the more advanced (60GB) model.
In related PS3 news, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison, responded to the question of whether the PS3 will definitely be out in March in Europe: “Given that all of our previous statements about launching in Europe simultaneously with the US and Japan turned out not to be the case, I would not like to make any definitive statements on that. It’s not my job to comment on hardware supply issues other than to say some very smart people are working very hard to catch up. In fact, the ramp up is already starting to happen in supply and output, just obviously too late for us to have launched in Europe at the same times as the US.”
Prior to 2006, the plan was that PS3 would not launch until spring, 2007 - following the same pattern as the PlayStation 2. The announcement and then cancellation of a worldwide launch has caused a good deal of confusion amongst European consumers and retailers.
