PS3 European launch still on schedule?

9th November 2006
Source: Eurogamer.net

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrison has decided to keep tight-lipped as to whether the PS3 is still due to hit European stores in March.

Speaking to the Official Playstation Magazine, Harrison said, "Given that all 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," he continued.

"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 time as in the US."

In the same interview, when asked if the PS3 browser will let users visit any site and download files, he said, "No. It has to be done through the store. Although it's built on the same technology as the open Internet browser, it's a special version. That's completely understandable from a DRM point of view. But some streaming sites, such as music on MySpace, will work."

He also stated he was "delighted" that the PS3 is launching with a stronger first party line up than there was for the company's previous consoles, adding, "Bearing in mind that we launched PS2 with Fantavision as a first party title - great game though it is - it's by no means the game on which you would rest an entire format."

He confirmed that the PS3 will launch in North America with Resistance, Genji, NBA and Motorstorm, and revealed that a downloadable demo for F1 will be available from day one.

"That's a pretty compelling line up," Harrison concluded. 

Dan Gill