Sony delay PS3 until November

[j^aws]

heh....I agree that if it happens there will be implosions. I just think it is highly unlikely that blu-ray alone could push the Japanese launch to November. To me, it seems more likely that the PS3 will get delayed more heavily in Japan to get it out in the US first.

I agree. It's a sound theory and it's been thrown around before, which is why I'll wait for some official info tomorrow. Would be both smart and hilarious if true!

 

[nelg]

Why can't they use a Firmware upgrade? Maybe it has to be hard coded to prevent hackers??

AFAIK the firmware has to be non-flash-able.

 

[London Geezer]

Ok so let me get this straight, Sony will sit on potentially millions of completed PS3's, just for finalisation of the AASC crap? Or will they keep updating things here and there? Seems strange that a console that's pretty much done NOW will basically be sitting in warehouses waiting for this tiny AASC aspect of it to be sorted out...
Won't go too well with the "Sony will release 1 year old technology!" kind of discussions we'll be seeing shortly...

 

[dukmahsik]

i knew it was due to BR issues

 

[ROG27]

Che, formerly from 1up.com, says this:

Xbox fans, don't get your hopes up yet.

I'm hearing Oct. 2006 launch window for PS3.

The PS3 event tonight/tomorrow will announce official release dates so we'll see then I guess.

In the context of the discussion, he's speaking of a NA launch. This might mean Sony is pulling a Nintendo and launching in North America before Japan (albeit only 1 month...Oct - Nov)

Link

 

[expletive]

Remember the rumors about how MS told some studio person we don't really care about optical disc that much unless we get our way?

Maybe what they wanted, besides VC-1 and iHD, was to screw up the PS3 schedule since they are a central player within AACS. Here they were blaming Blu-Ray for using BD+ to defeat MC and it turns out even AACS may not have MC sorted out.

Well MCs are critical to MS' 'home media server' strategy, so if they could put their weight behind one of the formats and guarentee it made it into the spec, i htink thats their #1 priority. However, i think its likely that they wouldnt mind holding things up in the meantime. They only need HD-DVD in time for Vista so my guess is they are more than happy to drag the whole thing out until then.

 

[expletive]

Che, formerly from 1up.com, says this:



In the context of the discussion, he's speaking of a NA launch. This might mean Sony is pulling a Nintendo and launching in North America before Japan (albeit only 1 month...Oct - Nov)

Link

FWIW, Che now works for MS, working on a 360 game. (According to the 1up show 2 weeks ago anyway) Are you sure this is really him?

 

[Titanio]

FWIW, Che now works for MS, working on a 360 game. (According to the 1up show 2 weeks ago anyway) Are you sure this is really him?

It's definitely him. But who knows where he's getting his info, and he may just be trying to lull people into a false sense of security to watch the disappointment unfold tomorrow, now that he's at MS and all

edit - he's added this - don't bank on his info, for now:

Sorry to fan the flames with my earlier post. I just got back from lunch.

So yeah, word through the grapevine on my end is that PS3 might hit U.S. first (in Oct) with Japan in Nov. Although this info comes from a good source, I wouldn't say it's very dependable. Nobody except a small handful of inner circle folks at Sony know right now.

So everybody chill out, and play Xbox 360 until tomorrow morning.

 

[expletive]

It's definitely him. But who knows where he's getting his info, and he may just be trying to lull people into a false sense of security to watch the disappointment unfold tomorrow, now that he's at MS and all

edit - he's added this - don't bank on his info, for now:

Hehe, yes thats in chapter 2 of the "Evil Empire Handbook".

You know i think the bigger question is what about EU? Oct/Nov in NA doesnt really matter imo, the fate is sealed with either month (whatever that fate is). Japan is what it is. But EU is a region where i'm sure MS planned to gain marketshare this gen and these dates point to a holiday season with MS (and possibly Nintendo) all alone in EU. To me, that's a bigger deal.

Interesting how an Oct 2006 launch in NA is now 'good news' for Sony.

 

[Titanio]

Interesting how an Oct 2006 launch in NA is now 'good news' for Sony.

It'd be a lot better than Nov in Japan and the rest in 07..

And more in line with expectations before, maybe even slightly earlier than most might have expected.

I don't know what to expect any more though What comes, comes.

edit - oh and to be clear, I love che. I'm only teasing about the baiting expectations thing..just take everything you hear with a massive grain of salt until tomorrow.

 

[ROG27]

It's definitely him. But who knows where he's getting his info, and he may just be trying to lull people into a false sense of security to watch the disappointment unfold tomorrow, now that he's at MS and all

edit - he's added this - don't bank on his info, for now:

Ironically, though, even though he does work for MS...I would say he is one of the least biased people on the board there. He does have strong connections in every area of the industry, too. For now it's speculation...but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true...being so close to an official announcement and all.

Edit: I wouldn't be surprised if part of "the surpise" was the uncharacteristic launch schedule...NA out before Japan. Also, SCE were quick to play down Europe getting a launch in '06, even though they said they'll do everything they can. This was probably because of an extremely tight schedule getting the other 2 territories out before Christmas.

 

[Tap In]

I don't know Qroach. The reduction to 65nm on the intial systems would save them quite a bit of money and lead to profitability of the system much quicker.

My personal theory on the whole system is that heat issues are also a factor in the small box.

Am I correct in assuming a 65nm process would alleviate some of that?

 

[superguy]

It wont be on 65nm.

Only Intel has that in a big way.

It's too risky to go to a new process for a large launch. And I dont think it gains in cost at first either. Only after it is smoothed out..

 

[Carl B]

Intel having it doesn't have anything to do with anything though. They had 65nm ready for mass production late last year. It would be naive to think that no one else is going to get there sometime this year. Though whether they actually go that route or not, or whether they're close ot not, well that's all a guess.

But obviously Intel's good to go on 65nm. It's when IBM, Sony, Toshiba, TSMC, AMD, etc... get there that's of concern for this theory.

 

[expletive]

Intel having it doesn't have anything to do with anything though. They had 65nm ready for mass production late last year. It would be naive to think that no one else is going to get there sometime this year. Though whether they actually go that route or not, or whether they're close ot not, well that's all a guess.

But Intel doesn't have much to do with anything here. Obviously they're good to go on 65nm.

Regardless of the actual launch DATES i think a critical factor is when these things start rolling off the assembly line. An Oct/Nov launch with 500K units for 2006 is a LOT different than one with 2 million units.

When production begins and what the capacity is, are key factors to determine how much this delay 'hurts'. If 65nm jeopardizes quantity at all or production start date, it may not be worth it.

 

[superguy]

I mean everybody had a hell ofa time getting to 90nm.

People underestimate how hard it is to switch processes I think.

It's naive to expect PS3 to initially use 65nm IMO.

If they did, why wouldn't MS be switching over soon as well?

 

[Carl B]

Regardless of the actual launch DATES i think a critical factor is when these things start rolling off the assembly line. An Oct/Nov launch with 500K units for 2006 is a LOT different than one with 2 million units.

When production begins and the capacity are key factors to determine how much this delay 'hurts'. If 65nm jeopardizes quantity at all or production start date, it may not be worth it.

I agree... but at the same time if they keep the specs the same, they can keep (and use) all 90nm produced parts in the interim. And then when 65nm starts up, even if they only have half the time, well they'd yield double the chips.

I'm not a proponent of the theory per se, but a late 2006 launch makes it plausible where it absolutely wasn't before.

 

[rabidrabbit]

Are you being serious, or sarcastic here?

Serious

 

[superguy]

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/8139/bombzaldroppenton7wy.jpg

LOL.

 

[Carl B]

I mean everybody had a hell ofa time getting to 90nm.

People underestimate how hard it is to switch processes I think.

It's naive to expect PS3 to initially use 65nm IMO.

If they did, why wouldn't MS be switching over soon as well?

I don't think anyone here underestimates the difficulties, but they've been on 90nm (successfully) for a long time now, and 65nm was the original target. Though they missed that, it's going to be coming on line at some point in the not too distant future.

And as for MS, absolutely. As soon as TSMC has their mainstream 65nm process ready to go, I expect a full switch on MS' part.