PlayStation 3 launch

The Japanese PlayStation 3 launch on 11 November 2006 marked the second major seventh generation video game console to be released (the first being the Xbox 360).

NTSC Regions

Japan

The PlayStation 3 was launched in Japan on 11 November 2006 at 07:00. There were reports that many of the initial consoles were obtained by businessmen who paid mainly Chinese nationals to buy the console without any software to resell on eBay, [cite web |url=http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/foreigners-and-fights-ps3-jpn-launchs-dark-side-214130.php |title=Foreigners And Fights, PS3 JPN Launch's Dark Side |publisher=Kotaku |date=November 12 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-02] as a result of this there were more hardware units sold than there were games, Ridge Racer 7 was the highest selling game on launch day. 81,639 PS3 systems were sold in the 24-hours of its introduction in Japan. Sony has opted to go with an open pricing scheme for the 60 GB model, allowing retailers to set a price point themselves.

North America

The PlayStation 3 was launched in North America on 17 November 2006. Presales on eBay reached a high of just over US$3000 on November 17. During its first week of release in the United States, PlayStation 3 consoles were being sold on eBay upwards of $2000. The following day, no units were posted on eBay, none of them sold. It was originally announced that there would be 400,000 units available, however less than a week before launch reports emerged that Sony did not meet its shipping quota in time, resulting in about 40% of consoles not appearing at launch. It is not known exactly how many consoles were available on launch day.

As of 16 January 2007, nearly two months since the US launch, at least 1,000,000 consoles have been shipped to the US, and a further 1,000,000 have been shipped to Japan, plus more elsewhere in Asia.

North American launch titles

fnb|1 The 20 GB version of the system has been discontinued in the US as of April, 2007. Sony stated this was due to lack of consumer demand for this console configuration.

fnb|2 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves has stated that there are currently no plans for an 80 GB console to be released in PAL territories, and that a 20 GB version is "highly unlikely". [cite web |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5930&Itemid=2 |title=Reeves: No PAL 80GB PS3 Plans |author=Tom Ivan |publisher=Next-Gen.biz |date=2007-06-10 |accessdate=2007-06-12]

fnb|3 Sony is no longer producing the 60 GB model of the PlayStation 3 for the US market. When all the product stock remaining is sold, the only available model of the PlayStation 3 in the US will be the 80 GB, $499, version of the console. [cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6175011.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0 |title=Hirai: 60GB PS3 "no longer in production" |author=Tor Thorson |publisher=GameSpot |date=2007-07-13 |accessdate=2007-07-13]

fnb|4 In July 2007, Sony announced a new retail configuration of the console for Europe. It will include all accessories and items with the 60 GB SKU, as well as the 60 GB unit itself, but will also include an extra wireless Sixaxis controller and the two bestselling first party games: and MotorStorm. This new pack, called the "Starter Pack" will replace the 60 GB stand alone version, but will retail for the same price (EUR599, GB£425). In August 2007, the "Starter Pack" has been released in the UAE at AED2499.

fnb|5 In October 2007, Sony announced a new version of the console for the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle-East and Australia/New Zealand with a 40GB hard-drive, 2 USB ports instead of 4, no card readers & PS2 backwards compatibility removed, but still PSone backwards compatible. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7030164.stm |title=Sony offers cut-price PlayStation |publsher=BBC |date=2007-10-05 |accessdate=2007-10-07]

fnb|6 In January 2008, Sony announced to discontinue the 20 GB and 60 GB model of the PlayStation 3 for Japan market. [cite web |url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/080110ae.html |title=SCEI TO DISCONTINUE SHIPMENT OF 20GB HDD AND 60GB HDD PLAYSTATION3 IN JAPAN |publsher=Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

References