Sony PlayStation 3 Launch Delayed Until August

Sony will postpone the scheduled launch for its PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console from this spring until August, as the company is facing several issues with its production plans, especially concerning its inclusion of a Blu-ray Disc drive in the PS3, according to Sony’s Taiwan-based contract manufacturers.

According to Sony’s company spokesperson, although the AACS LA (advanced access content system license administrator) was expected to finalize its copy protection specifications this month, members of the Blu-ray Disc were not satisfied with the level of copy protection and the release of the standard has been postponed.

DigiTimes - Sources: Sony PlayStation 3 launch delayed until August

Sony hopes that victory for the PS3 will enable it to dictate the future of more than just the video games console market. The machine will feature a Blu-Ray drive, one of two competing technologies vying to replace DVDs in much the same way that VHS fought Betamax to the death all those years ago. The rival format, HD-DVD, is being backed by Microsoft, and appears on the Xbox 360.

A delay by Sony leaves the door wide open for Microsoft to mop up market share with its own next-generation console, the Xbox 360, which hit the shops in the UK in time for last Christmas.

The Independant - Sony offers Microsoft free gift as PS3 likely to miss spring launch