Howard Stringer has given the clearest indication yet that the PS3 games console won't be making it to the shops any time soon.

In an interview with Variety magazine, the magazine has quoted the new chairman-CEO saying:

“Sony will roll out the PS3 by year end, in time for the holidays. If PS3 delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up, Stringer boasts”.

The news is likely to mean that it is doubtful that the company's next generation console will be coming to the UK before 2007 if as suggested the company plans a Christmas 2006 US launch.

Microsoft launched the Xbox360 over the course of 6 weeks and was severely hit by stock shortages.

The news while disappointing for gamers hoping to get their hands on the new console will be good for Microsoft and its Xbox360 console. By 2007, the next generation console will have been in the shops for a whopping 15 months at least.

Sony is hoping that the games console will have a major effect in pushing its next generation DVD format Blu-ray. The console is tipped to feature the drive to boost circulation and popularity of the format that promises high definition movies and 50GB of storage.

However with Toshiba expected to launch its competing High Definition format, HD-DVD this month, the ramifications of delaying the console will affect more than just gamers.

You can read the full article on the Variety website at variety.com

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