North American, Japanese PS3 launch limited to 500,000 units

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Sep 6th 2006 at 6:15AM }

Apparently the blue laser diode shortage that has delayed the PAL launch of the PS3 will also be affecting the North American and Japanese launches of the console. Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Ken Kutaragi told reporters that far fewer units will be available for the U.S. and Japanese launches, with the U.S. to be allocated 400,000 units, and Japan getting 100,000. As a result, Sony has now lowered its estimate of 4 million PS3s shipped by the end of 2006 to a more realistic 2 million.

Kaz mentioned this exact estimate reduction a couple of weeks ago in a Gamespot intervew (which was quickly retracted), so it appears as if the company has known about the production issues for a while. Thanks to these production issues, trying to bag a PS3 at the suggested retail price before Christmas is going to be game in and of itself.

Tags: Delay, Playstation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

potato @ Sep 6th 2006 6:20AM

I'll get the PS3 when it's a "slim" version.

Billy @ Sep 6th 2006 6:22AM

WOW....only 500k Units.

Looks like this console war is over, even before all the systems are launched.

Can I crown Microsoft?

hohoho @ Sep 6th 2006 6:24AM

I took back what I said earlier about putting ample supply of hardware for us and japan. hahaha... of all to learn from, they learn from ms. well, at least they come clean.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

David @ Sep 6th 2006 6:25AM

That shouldn't be called a launch.

Game over man.

Marky @ Sep 6th 2006 6:27AM

tis a day for celebration my nintendo and microsoft breathen. ;o) so raise your glasses and let us toast to sony, and their propaganda train coming off the rails

Jecrell @ Sep 6th 2006 6:30AM

Blueray has failed Sony.

CheapyD @ Sep 6th 2006 6:30AM

Only 100,000 in Japan? It's gonna get ugly!

hohoho @ Sep 6th 2006 6:30AM

to be honest, it's about time krazy ken stepped down just like the yamauchi chap for nintendo. Letting someone younger, better energy level and better ideas takes over. It showed a clear lack of oversight and leadership. Unless, god forbid, natural disasters that destroyed factories and delayed shipment, the shortages should have been forseen and rectified. Over promise and under deliver is becoming Playstation new pr line. The new pr chief would have his plate full. pity the guy.

jd @ Sep 6th 2006 6:33AM

400k for the US and 100k for Japan? I think there must be a typo somewhere in there... 'Cause I think Japan has a stronger market for new machines than the US and to give the US 300k more machines doesn't make any sense to me.
Seems to me that Nintendo and Microsoft will be raking in sales after the initial 500k PS3s are gone. I'm sure that Nintendo and Microsoft will have way more than 500k units available when the PS3 launches(especially Microsoft since the X360 has been out for a while).
File this under "wtf/are you kidding"...

Jon R @ Sep 6th 2006 6:36AM

how many did the 360 have at launch guys?

Scott @ Sep 6th 2006 6:42AM

*places crown on Nintendo's head.*

This is a massive massive blow for Sony, i almost feel sorry for them. It seems Blu-Ray is set to be the next Betamax for sure now. Who wants to bet, within a week we see half a dozen movie studios jump ship to the HD-DVD era. It seems the Wii60 combo platter is going to be the most delectable this christmas season. All i need to see now is a simultanious worldwide Wii launch with 4 million units shipped by christmas. Then we can watch Sony try to justify thier price after thier shortages are remedied with the failing blu-ray. For those Sony fanboys who swore sony wouldnt hit third-spot this gen, open your eyes. I wouldnt be surprised to even see a Wii pricedrop in time for the PS3 European Launch. That would hurt even more so.

With such a strong Wii lineup, and, at least within PAL territories, a lineup of SSBB, Mario Galaxy, Zelda: TP, Metroid Prime 3 and Battallion Wars 2, perhaps nintedo can win bakc the lost PAL territory. I remember back in the day (i live in aus...pal territory) when the n64 stomped on the ps1, and the gamecube in as didt recever ANY respect. So hopefully Nintendo can get some down-under recognition.

Lou D @ Sep 6th 2006 6:42AM

Nintendo FTW!

Jecrell @ Sep 6th 2006 6:42AM

"@10. how many did the 360 have at launch guys?"

http://www.nforcershq.com/article4495.html

Ashley Allen @ Sep 6th 2006 6:47AM

At this rate buy the end of the day sony will have announced they'll only have 1 game ready for launch, a power brick so big you'll need to build a new house and it'll only work with sony brand TV's.

You can imagine all the people walking into the game shops and learning there aren't any PS3 available then seeing the demo units for PS3 and 360 next to each other, one running gears of war and one running F1... and the possibility of walking out of the shop with some spare change.

Jon R @ Sep 6th 2006 6:48AM

Jecrell thanks i think Sony just handed over the market to MS with the delay in the Pal region and now this. Sony they are turning into polticians. False promises, do you know how hard it was to get a 360 last year at day one, I stood inline for 8 hrs, then i had to go to work after that, while i was inline i had to pay someone to work for me, then i had to go to work after that. Thanks Sony

Vancaeyzeele @ Sep 6th 2006 6:49AM

Come on the DS sells like 200k units/week. I even wonder if 2 million units will be realistic.
In the meanwhile sony's stock continues to drop, and the PS3 continues to fade into vapourware.

It will be a miracle if they will even be able to sell all preorders. But one thing is for sure, the Nintendo DS will continue outsell all other consoles this fall.

Vancaeyzeele @ Sep 6th 2006 6:49AM

" The electronics maker also said it would start commercial production of the PS3 in late September. " Reuters

They have yet to figure out how to match all those pieces together. hahaha...

JJ @ Sep 6th 2006 6:49AM

MS only had 400k units at launch? I swear they had more than that...

So does this mean the PS3 and 360 will be neck and neck in terms of sales upon release?

Good for MS i guess. But neither exactly would come out of the gates swinging hard.

Still if this is true i'm a bit dismayed Sony cant exceed MS's launch numbers. Even with the problems for the bluray they should have had at least 1mil units out at launch.
That way they could of at least spun it to say they had a better launch than 360.

rosemeyer1939 @ Sep 6th 2006 6:53AM

If the DS has yet another good week, we might see the launch of the PS3 fail to take the number 1 hardware sales spot in Japan, and that has got to hurt.

Jecrell @ Sep 6th 2006 6:55AM

I had to drive to another town to get my Xbox 360 back in the day.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Hammer @ Sep 6th 2006 6:56AM

Worst System Launch Ever.

I think the Xbox 360 might just start to take off in Japan now. I also expect more developers to jump ship and announce PS exclusives on other consoles.

SG evaNERV @ Sep 6th 2006 7:02AM

I just hope that Nintendo is just stockpiling Wiis right now. They could run away with the console race if they can stock 4+ million for the holidays. Xbox360 sales have been less than brisk since this spring.

Schpyder @ Sep 6th 2006 7:02AM

MS had ~400k units in the US at launch, and about 300k each in Japan and Europe. About 1M total, or double what Sony's putting out there, although they look to be the same in the US.

The real question is how quickly Sony can get *more* PS3s on retail shelves after the launch. If it's a tiny trickle for 4 months, they'll be in trouble.

Gianni Gotti @ Sep 6th 2006 7:05AM

Past time for some high profile resignations & firings at $ony...

Riiiiiiiiiiidge Raaaaaacer my ##$!!!!

The current leadership team is failing the fans and has seriously damaged the companys credibility...

Time to give the X-cast a spin...

Zach @ Sep 6th 2006 7:06AM

The article that says that MS had only 400k units for launch is interesting in this light, huh? Maybe Sony isn't as screwed as it seems...

However, I do think that they're making a major blunder by only having 100k in Japan... I guess you have to choose your battles and they're probably counting the 360 out already in that territory (not an entirely faulty assumption). But, when nobody can buy the PS3 and the Wii and DS Lite are all sold out, PSP is dead in the water, and the only thing on the shelf is a discounted 360, there might be a chance for MS in Japan. You know, if they can come out with any games that people want to play over there (hint: enough sports and racing games already).

Zero_ @ Sep 6th 2006 7:09AM

Everyone, welcome to the death of Sony.

George S . @ Sep 6th 2006 7:16AM

500,000 are the numbers that the PS2 launced with.

Xbox 360 lanched with 400,000

Mirage @ Sep 6th 2006 7:17AM

WOW, biggest.sony.mistake.ever. They just handed Nintendo this generation in a plate. Nintendo will sell atleast 3 million of these babies before year end in Japan alone, and just like the PSP, it's see you later from then on.

theGreenGrunt @ Sep 6th 2006 7:18AM

Wheres the sony fanboys to put a positive spin on this as that would be comedy gold!

Zozart @ Sep 6th 2006 7:24AM

"The article that says that MS had only 400k units for launch is interesting in this light, huh? Maybe Sony isn't as screwed as it seems..."

However, the Xbox 360 wasn't competing with two next-generation consoles at the same time. And they had Europe.

SG evaNERV @ Sep 6th 2006 7:25AM

Keep one thing in mind... Sony's image is on the line here. Even if they matches the Xbox 360's launch numbers, it would still be "perceived" as a failure.
Sony has to come out big on this launch...and this isn't showing it. When the videogame MAKERS are even pushing off their titles due to perceived poor early sales of the PS3...that is big time trouble.
Perception...think of the Sony perception!

John Lucas @ Sep 6th 2006 7:25AM

This is no doubt a reflection of the buzz of Nintendo's Wii.

These guys probably already had it lined up to launch in the Spring but they were worried about the impact of that new system from Nintendo which looked to be strong.

But I would think after a whole summer that their plans would be solid & AT LEAST production will start definitely by now.
I REALLY think it's more than just the Blu-Ray issues.
They are trying to make legit that high asking price & are stumped on how to do it.

I just talked to someone in a game rental place yesterday in my town about the machines of the next generation. She was sort out of the loop even though she did play games. Didn't even know the companies had new systems to come out!
When I told her the price of the PS3 both versions she was stone cold stunned. Disbelief colored by a look of "I ain't paying for THAT!"
I told her about the Wii & what it was proposed to do. The controller possibilities & the virtual console service & she was delighted & amazed.

To me that says it all & I think Sony knows this.
I think they are privately worried that they bit off more than they can chew. And are scrambling to make this price point seem legit. I think they are looking for that final selling point feature to take it over the top.

Everyday it's something going wrong with the Sony camp & it sort of hurts me to see it. You DO begin to feel sorry for them because they can't seem to get it together.
When I heard production hadn't even been started yet I begin to wonder if it would even *launch* in this year which if true would be a disaster. Can't miss the holiday selling season not with XBox 360's year long headstart & a Wii on your back.

Like somebody else said 100,000 units in Japan??? What?
I can't shake this feeling of doom that seems to be emblazoned on the Sony company.
More & more it looks like this PS3 project is going to be an abject failure. And if so, what will that mean for Sony's future in the business. 3rd party will shift if Sony doesn't get the userbase. And if that happens where will that leave Sony?

John Lucas

Optimus Prime @ Sep 6th 2006 7:26AM

We new this was coming. 360 is essentially a non-player, non-factor in Japan, so it makes sense that it gets the fewer units. Peole buying Wiis wont be buying PS3s, so thats not really competing against that either.

JimmyHACK @ Sep 6th 2006 7:29AM

ahh was an ambicious goal,

silly new technology has made them had to do a normal number launch, og well just means all the more easier for me to sell a second and get mine for free :)

bring it on, only 10 weeks left

Epic @ Sep 6th 2006 7:29AM

I love it. An arbitrary number is posted, and every Joystiq reader becomes a market analyst. This launch actually has more units than the 360 did worldwide at launch. It seems to me there's a real eagerness to "crown" Nintendo's last-gen console the winner of the next-gen. Will it happen? Maybe, but I don't like what that says for gaming. If the Wii is the face of console gaming, imagine the discrepancy in size and quality of PC versus console games in a couple years, when the Wii technology really starts to show its age.

J B Cougar @ Sep 6th 2006 7:29AM

Everybody duck! It's a 3DO!

insane_cobra @ Sep 6th 2006 7:35AM

Microsoft's 400,000 units at launch and Sony's 400,000 units at launch are two different things. At the time of Xbox 360's launch there was no next gen competition on the market.

doobiwan @ Sep 6th 2006 7:35AM

In reference to why "400k to America" and only 100k to japan, I suppose Sony know's it's got the Japanese market sown up, so it doesn't need to rush product into the market. The US is a stronghold of the 360, and those in the US unable to get their PS3 fix for Xmas will most likely jump ship to MS out of frustration.

bladev1 @ Sep 6th 2006 7:39AM

I almost feel bad for Sony **walks over and kicks Sony while its down** Awe much better, Wii60FTW

Vancaeyzeele @ Sep 6th 2006 7:40AM

The PS3 was originally meant to launch last year (another promise of Sony). And while Microsoft only launched 400k of a new technology, they had almost 4million before the end of the year.
Sony has had another year, and while selling and already aged technology they still can't delever some goods. In comparision: If the DS keeps selling like it does now, it will sell more then 2 million units before the end of the year.

Oh in the meanwhile Sony will ship some other million doorstops (some call them PSP's). Besides where are the fanboys yelling joystiq only gives bad news. Or did Sony promised to pay its blog-farmers and...

SG evaNERV @ Sep 6th 2006 7:40AM

As for 100,000 in Japan...personally that makes sense to me.
1) The US is a bigger market in general for Sony. Read any of the sales numbers for the PS1 or PS2.
2) They MUST make a strong showing in the US or the Xbox (and possibly Wii) will entrench in and Sony will have a VERY hard time breaking it.
3) If they come up extremely short in supply in US, 100k instead of the 400k, they might think the people would rather go buy the Xbox 360 than the PS3.
4) And when you see people in the US eBaying Xbox360 for 4 times the sale price...I'm sure Sony see the feeding frenzy of the launch.

I just wonder if after the initial shipments...and the normal freaks that pay 3 times for a console on eBay are sated...you just see Sony's on the shelves and crickets chirping.

Martin @ Sep 6th 2006 7:42AM

# 35, good to know you learn somthing new every day. Thank god 500,000 is more than 1 million!!! You should be elected for Secretary of Math!!!!! HOOORAH!!!!

Kevin @ Sep 6th 2006 7:43AM

wow this is awesome news!!

Now I can sell my PS3 on eBay for 1,200 dollras now!1
/sarcasm

xbox360dsPSP @ Sep 6th 2006 7:47AM

This is incredibly bad news for Sony. Many a 360 and Wii will be purchased this holiday when "Santa" can't get their hands on a PS3. The 360 was launched in a space with no next-gen competition other than the threat of a spring PS3 launch. Limited availability hurt Microsoft, but at least there was no competitive product to buy.

I watched my EB Games 360 pre-order turn into a "March-ish" timeframe. I waited in line for 14 hours at Best Buy only to leave empty-handed. If not for notify360, I wouldn't have had one for the 2005 holidays at MSRP. Retailers learned their lesson from the 360 launch. Consumers did as well.

Worldwide console launches don't work. Period.
What happened to all of this trash talking by Sony about availability?

Rocco @ Sep 6th 2006 7:50AM

Doesn't matter how many Microsoft had at launch, they were the only player around at that time. Not having consoles available in stores before Christmas this year means having customers walk out the store with one of the other products.

Jeffler @ Sep 6th 2006 7:51AM

Sales for PS3 Launch Week If The Status Quo Continues, will make the PS3 at best #2 at launch in Japan, with the DS Lite being ahead, likely the wii too if it comes out.

Ouch!

epobirs @ Sep 6th 2006 7:51AM

The Xbox 360 launch numbers were cut in half by the decision, late in the design finalization, to go with 512MB of RAM rather than 256MB. There was only one factory in the world producing GDDR3 then and no way to make up the doubled chip consumption. But that deficit was easily overcome as GDDR3 production ramped up and more vendors began offering it.

Things may not be so easy with the PS3. The only major component that hasn't had production issues is the RSX GPU but that may only be for lack of info rather than lack of problems. Everything should come together eventually but this is obviously an opportunity for Microsoft and Nintendo.

When the PS2 hit the Japanese market with .25 micron chips that were terribly expensive and slow to produce due to poor yields, there was only the Dreamcast to offer any real competition for those consumer looking for something new. Sega simply couldn't afford to put up much of a fight, so Sony had little to worry about while impatiently waiting for .18 micron production to get going.

The choice to go with low numbers in Japan is interesting. Do they feel there is less concern about competitors gaining ground there? Valid for Microsoft, unless Blue Dragon becomes the Second Coming of Dragon quest but might not Nintendo manage to not only sell more Wii and also sell so much software and accessories that those consumers are no longer in the market for the PS3 for a good while?

Might it also be that the software most likely to ship during the launch period is mostly titles geared to the US market?

I have to wonder if they didn't consider putting off the Japan launch until 2007 also, just to focus on securing their US base. Some in Japan might take this as an insult, so some fraction of the production must go to Japan, even if it makes the launch cost more than those units are ever likely to earn back.

I had conversations months back in which the consensus had Sony in a position to easily dominate another generation because nobody could screw up that badly so as to squander the position they enjoy. But now that we're getting down tot he wire, it starts to seem entirely possible, if not probable.

Did Microsoft see the possibility of this and weigh the strategic potential? Did they consider putting far more money in financing Xbox projects from well regarded Japanese developers? The most valuable projects are also the ones that take the longest. Namely, epic RPGs like Blue Dragon. But might it have been worth talking Bill out of another $100 million or so to get a few more such projects lined to assure a steady pace of must-have releases. Perhaps along the way it might hae been worthwhile to get a few existing big name titles remade for the 360, since that can be performed much more quickly than an entirely original project. Giving the market a taste of the platform's promise might have come in very handy this coming Fall.