More bad new for the PlayStation 3's prospects today, with news reaching us that won't be including the appropriate cables to take advantage of high-definition visuals in their premium package - despite the HDMI port being one of the system's major selling points.

The premium system includes a larger hard-disk, built-in wi-fi connectivity, and the afore-mentioned HDMI port. It has often been a point of criticism that only the premium console will boast the HDMI port, since Sony have been so vocal in describing the forthcoming as the definitive high-definition console. Now further scorn seems likely, with the admission that the cable for HiDef visual connectivity won't be included.

This news was unturfed via the small print on the official PlayStation 3 website, which reads: "Video output in HD requires cables and an HD-compatible display, both sold separately. Copy-protected video discs can only output at 1080p using an HDMI cable connected to a device that is compatible with the HDCP standard. HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector."

As far as we can tell this isn't the end of the world, standard HDMI cables retailing for less than 10 GBP often, and most HiDef sets actually coming pre-packaged with the appropriate wires to support the PS3 HDMI port. That said, Sony could none the less do without the publicity surrounding this, especially on the day the PS3 slipped to March 2007 everywhere barring North America and Japan...

By Luke Guttridge