A spokesman has officially countered claims from several prominent analysts that the has been delayed, and will no longer hit a spring launch window, as previously promised. For most of 2005, Sony had a promised a spring launch, at least in Japan, a debut which analysts appeared to concur with given other rumblings on the grapevine.

With March almost upon us however, and Sony remaining quiet as a mouse surrounding their ambitions for the system's launch, at least in Japan, spring is looking increasingly impossible - if taken as the traditional March, April, May window. Indeed, with no news forthcoming, even the summer looks like a stretch. This said, "There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006," argued Sony's Kei Sakaguchi in a press conference this week. So who can say...

In contradictory news, another Sony spokesman reportedly told the that spring was still the aim, but that this could be held-up whilst certain technical specifications are decided upon ahead of mass-producing the new console. A launch sooner rather than later is increasingly important for the PS3, if Sony are to head-of the lead the is rapidly developing. This is especially true in western markets, hence why at least some word on the new system could be vital to reign-in the several million the new will have garnered as 2006 ploughs-on. More as we get it.

Source: Eurogamer.net

By Luke Guttridge