PS3 not yet in production, reveals Hirai

PS3 News | Contrary to recent reports.

In an interview with US site GameSpot, Sony Computer Entertainment of America president Kaz Hirai has said that Sony has yet to begin manufacturing its next-gen PlayStation 3 platform. The news flies directly in the face of reports last month that production had already kicked off, though Hirai also revealed that the manufacturing process would begin in the near future.

"Some of our ops guys were actually just in China, and also in Japan just reviewing the [production] lines and everything else," Hirai told GameSpot. "But they are preparing as we speak to get the manufacturing going. We've not announced and we haven't set really a specific date to say, 'As of this day we're going to start manufacturing.'"

Mercenary eBayers may also want to get their names down for one of the new consoles, as Hirai also admitted hardware shortages would be a problem for the machine. "We're going with three territories, so we haven't really come up with an allocation just yet," he said. "But even if you do the simple math you're talking about less than 700,000 units per territory, per major territory between launch and the end of the year. So even if there was some fluctuation - you give Japan more, you give the US more, what have you - you're going to end up with some shortages."

"So I think that if we've done our jobs right and if we've been able to really have the consumers become interested in this product, then, unfortunately, I think it's going to be very much of a challenge to be able to meet every single unit demand that's out there in the market. That's just a logistical impossibility."

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51 Comments

Jellyfish

5 years ago

Kaz wrote

We're going with three territories, so we haven't really come up with an allocation just yet,"

That's be Japan, North America and Europe. I see one territory missing... Goodbye "World-Wide" launch.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Thi is going to be saucy come November!

*prepares popcorn, rubs hands together*

Sin Ogaris

5 years ago

Wow, it's the XBox 360 all over again, can't wait till March then.

Spanca

5 years ago

Less incentive for Microsoft to price drop or bundle

Mr Blimson

5 years ago

Sony have already re-confirmed that ps3 will lauch november 17th in Australia. Though if you want one at lauch your best bet will be to Pre-order.

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Sony can re-confirm all they want, but, when push comes to shove, if there is a shortage it will be Australia that gets left in the cold.

Quote

"So I think that if we've done our jobs right and if we've been able to really have the consumers become interested in this product, then, unfortunately, I think it's going to be very much of a challenge to be able to meet every single unit demand that's out there in the market. That's just a logistical impossibility."

The way I see it is if they'd done their jobs right there would be enough stock to go around.

LeonJ

5 years ago

No way Europe and Oz are going to get a PS3 in November. They will delay it till March 07 for sure in PAL territories. It just doesn't make business sense otherwise.

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Wow.....if the ps3 gets in pal territories around march 07......it could potentially be argued to be launching it's own 'generation'....i mean......a year between two consoles(360+ps3)is a long time.

David

5 years ago

Jibbs wrote

Wow.....if the ps3 gets in pal territories around march 07......it could potentially be argued to be launching it's own 'generation'....i mean......a year between two consoles(360+ps3)is a long time.

There was longer between the Saturn/PS1 and the N64, or the DC and the Gamecube/Xbox.

But yeah, could be interesting. Espescially of the Xbox 720 is announced when the PS3 is only 2-3 years old.

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

David wrote

Jibbs wrote

Wow.....if the ps3 gets in pal territories around march 07......it could potentially be argued to be launching it's own 'generation'....i mean......a year between two consoles(360+ps3)is a long time.

There was longer between the Saturn/PS1 and the N64, or the DC and the Gamecube/Xbox.

But yeah, could be interesting. Espescially of the Xbox 720 is announced when the PS3 is only 2-3 years old.

Yeah i thought about that, but on the flipside, not many people(i'm not saying all) don't consider the saturn to be part of the 2nd last gen nor do many people consider the dc to be part of last gen.They both feel like consoles that didn't fit, that didn't belong.

I'm sure the same won't happen with the 360 as it's already got a pretty big installed user base but having that much of a time gap between the two(again, the 360/ps3) could cause lamens to wonder if the 360, after already being a year old in comparison, could ever possibly go toe-to-toe with the 'lastest' playstation.

chriharr

5 years ago

Good News for Wii, Im betting on a November 12th Launch for Australia, PS3 Will be delayed for sure, Sony's President takes No Pride in Sony at all, I mean just what He said and the way it was said will now potentially loose customers, to promise a worldwide launch and then break it angers "Loyal Customers" to the Max, PS3 fans it's time to look forward to something else this november, as sony definately won't deliver the goods in time for Christmas

The Wreckoning

5 years ago

All I can say is...
"No soup for you!"

David

5 years ago

Jibbs wrote

I'd say mainly because of their premature deaths. The Saturn was released only 10 days before the PS1 in Japan (3 months in the US), and the DC was released only one year before the PS2 - the same ammount of time the PS2 was released before the GCN/XB.

Quote

I'm sure the same won't happen with the 360 as it's already got a pretty big installed user base but having that much of a time gap between the two(again, the 360/ps3) could cause lamens to wonder if the 360, after already being a year old in comparison, could ever possibly go toe-to-toe with the 'lastest' playstation.

Once again, IMO not really. The DC had a far bigger install base when the PS2 launched, then teh 360 will when the PS3 launches. The difference is that Sega was broke and MS loves the sound of money flushing.

...and that Sony's hype is failing this time after after it proved to be false last time.

I do agree withh your theory though - although I'd say it would help MS and NIntendo more then Sony.

Echo

5 years ago

Well this has certainly stirred up some people... Lol

I doubt we will get it in November, and it will be interesting to see what escuse they make, but i dont really care. I want a Wii instead

The Brett

5 years ago

We'll get it in November, but we'll get almost no units and definately be the last region to be distributed a share. Remember, we are viewed as part of "Europe" so that's always somewhat encouraging.

Klawrence

5 years ago

i think its amazing that sony expects to sell 700,000 PS3's in 3 main teritorys around launch. I know like, 2 people that will get it at launch so as long as sony can push hmmmm???? 50 units our way i think sony will be fine for the next 6 months in AUS.

Spanca

5 years ago

The Brett wrote

Remember, we are viewed as part of "Europe" so that's always somewhat encouraging.

As long as they remember we have a different postal address

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Wii man wrote

If Wii man only knows 2 people that want it there must only be 2 people that want it!

The 2 million units will be eaten up in days by Sony fanboys alone.

Dave_L

5 years ago

Hah, this doesn't surprise me in the least. I've already decided on not getting one till at least mid-07 (Yes Spence, i have

), but i've been telling people at work (who've been saying they can't wait to get one) that if they haven't pre-ordered now, they're likely not gonna get one this year - and i'm certain that'll be the case. It's gonna be worse than the 360 launch imo, in terms of units available.

You'd think by now, with major launches of the PS2 and 360 not exactly all that long ago, these companies might think about getting into production of units a month or two earlier...
I know it's a massive task to undertake as it is, but the fact is - launches have always been a disappointment for a huge number of fans. However, from a marketing point of view, they're keeping demand high and probably doing the right thing for themselves as far as that goes.

Spanca

5 years ago

Dave_L wrote

Hah, this doesn't surprise me in the least. I've already decided on not getting one till at least mid-07 (Yes Spence, i have

)

Midday December 7th?

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

Dave_L wrote

Hah, this doesn't surprise me in the least. I've already decided on not getting one till at least mid-07 (Yes Spence, i have

Much to my surprise, there still is hope. See, I started my new part-time job at GAME yesterday, and we STILL haven't started taking pre-orders for the console yet (or, for that matter, for the Wii). So technically, at least at GAME stores in the UK, the list of pre-orders is zero.

sonicwired

5 years ago

Chris-Leigh wrote

Much to my surprise, there still is hope. See, I started my new part-time job at GAME yesterday...

So what kind of discount does that come with?

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

10% on hardware, 30% on software.

Dave_L

5 years ago

Oh ok! That's good news then (no Spence, i'm not changing my mind!). Do you think you'll post in here when you find out what the date is that you'll be starting to take pre-orders?

I imagine you'll need to get in quick and be within the first 10-20 orders of each store to be guaranteed one (ofcourse this is pure speculation on my part... And i've already been wrong once in this thread!).

Will you be getting one at launch Chris?

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