PS3 may not make year-end 2 million production mark [update 2]
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 20th 2006 at 2:40PM }
Bloomberg is reporting that the PS3 year-end shipment projection of 2 million units (with 1mil to 1.2mil tagged for North America) may not be possible. Sony says there is a parts shortage for the Blu-ray disc drive, so production is running behind previous forecasts.Our favorite Sony exec, Jack Tretton, chimes in saying, "Sony Playstation 3 is in full production and our target quantities for North America remain unchanged. Sony Playstation 3 will launch on November 17, 2006, in the U.S. with 400,000 units on store shelves. We plan to have more than one million systems in North America by December 31, 2006 and six million units shipped worldwide by March of 2007."
This news comes on the heels of Sony's statement of financial issues resulting from battery recalls and price cuts of the PS3 console in Japan. Those who made pre-orders shouldn't be impacted, but gamers trying to get the console for the holidays may have an even tougher time than anticipated.
[Update: 1) Sony's Kaz Hirai told Gamespot yesterday, "All the [production] issues have been ironed out, now it's just a matter of being able to replicate the process to as many lines as possible -- which is going to help you, obviously, get as many units as possible [emphasis ours]." So what Jack meant was that earlier production issues, which have since been ironed out, may have impeded their abilities to make the initial launch "target." Thanks, Miniboss!
2) Looks like Bloomberg screwed up the "production issues" quote. According to Sony, "The reference to production issues is to the previously announced delay of shipments in Europe from November 2006 to March 2007."
3) We will restate that this has no impact on the 400,000 launch day number.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MED @ Oct 21st 2006 7:18PM
seriously does this surprise anyone
Hachi_Roku @ Oct 20th 2006 2:49PM
Biiass. Most people assumed this already, I mean they cut-back Japan to 100k. This was obviously coming,
unimental @ Oct 20th 2006 2:48PM
Parts shortage! It's the 80's chip shortage all over again. ;)
BlindsideDork @ Oct 20th 2006 2:49PM
This is sad new but I never expected them to get more than a million out by end of 2007.
Miniboss @ Oct 20th 2006 2:50PM
And over on GameSpot, Kaz just got finished saying that they worked out all of their production issues. :)
Ash @ Oct 20th 2006 2:50PM
I dont understand why these kinda things even make news...
its not like the first time sony promised something and didnt deliver!
TwilightKnight @ Oct 20th 2006 2:55PM
Because Sony backtalks on itself so many times it is amusing to watch.
->Sony claims that the blue ray player in the PS3 is just for games. Then they bundle a Blueray movie with the PS3.
->All games will be in 1080p. RFOM will be in 780p.
etc etc...
BlindsideDork @ Oct 20th 2006 2:59PM
780p? since when has that been a standard? :P
What only Sony brand tvs have the signal?
Pete C @ Oct 20th 2006 2:59PM
Just FYI, a news article or person cannot be BIAS...they can only be BIASED. How many people out there don't know this shit by now? Learn some grammar...I see this mistake in practically every thread on every forum.
Kestrel @ Oct 20th 2006 2:59PM
Facts = BIAS! I HAT FAX! I M SONY FANBOY!
JOYSTIQ IS BIAS! OMG WTF IMHO LOL GG KTHXBYE
n2 @ Oct 20th 2006 3:27PM
There have been signs. That Sony still hasn't introduced a stand alone Blu-Ray player is HUGE. I hope they can produce a good numbers of PS3s this year, but if for some reason they can't, I can't say I wouldn't be surprised.
What I do predict however is that the PS3 will be a hard item to find at least this year.
x876543 @ Oct 20th 2006 3:01PM
"Good things cost good money. have you even heard of the Blu-Ray!?! High-Definition Experience like you've never seen!"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ljZOHnZNaBc
DojoRacoon @ Oct 20th 2006 3:05PM
"Clearly we've had production issues." It's statements like that that Sony needs to be making more of instead of denying every bad piece of news. It seems that the whole Blue ray thing has really bit them in the ass so far. Hopefully they learn from this.
PSWii360 Fanbot @ Oct 20th 2006 3:05PM
No way!
This news falls under the "O RLY?" category. This was indicated long ago when Sony's stock plummeted, the PS3 launch was cut short and the blu-ray diode shortage was announced. What next?
Was this statement made by Captian Obvious himself?
SecondChance @ Oct 20th 2006 3:05PM
Dear Sony,
I f'ing hate you.
Thanks
sizer @ Oct 20th 2006 3:05PM
This isn't really 'news' in that it's evident to anyone that they couldn't make that target (they were going to produce another 1.5 million units in December?) but I guess it's nice to see they're finally admitting it. And reporting them admitting it is not 'biass'.
Eggman @ Oct 20th 2006 3:06PM
Wow and I've read multiple interviews over the past few days with sony execs confirming that their on track with their target shipments... these guys r so full of themselves, u'd have to be retarded to take them at face value anymore.
Twilightknight, good point with the bundled blue ray movie with the ps3. If their so adament on blue ray being necessary for games... why not instead pack in a game that really takes advantage of the technology. I bet a majority of their first 500,000 customers would've been way more excited about that than some movie (which probably won't be used for its HD content by many anyway, given the low HDTV adoption rate still). However, R:FOM is actually 1080p (last i checked anyway)... unless something changed recently?
Cardinals Will Win World Series @ Oct 20th 2006 3:09PM
What do you guys expect? Its Sony, everything that they say is complete and utter bs.
John Lucas @ Oct 20th 2006 3:10PM
You know I'll STILL be surprised if they even make that paltry launch by November.
I still expect them to announce another delay on that front.
Boy you guys better get your warranties. They hadn't even started production at the last of September. You KNOW this stuff is rushed.
Sony bit off more than they can chew.
Only heaven knows if they can recover.
John Lucas
Oro @ Oct 20th 2006 3:25PM
Watching the PS3 launch is like watching a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Maybe THIS time the Blu-ray powered rocket roller skates won't end up sending him over the cliff!
Scott @ Oct 20th 2006 3:27PM
Who wants to start putting money down on the actual number of units shipped during launch?
I'm sure Vegas can start giving odds.
TwilightKnight @ Oct 20th 2006 3:29PM
17.
That is going to be another interesting factoid about the PS3 launch: exactly what percentile will be defective out of the box?
Even at a very modest assumption of 5% that is 20000 units and 20000 pissed off people. Especially if they bought it off of Ebay for several thousand.
This is going to be be so much fun to watch.
SP @ Oct 20th 2006 3:33PM
Sony is trying to give away the console lead much harder than Nintendo was with the N64. Can they just let me run the company? Maybe I'm underestimating the impact of riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidddddddge racer.
voghan @ Oct 20th 2006 3:42PM
R:FOM dropped to 720p and is mentioned in the gamer's day article. I really don't see myself buying on till next year anyways. I already figured it be impossible to find till next spring.
epobirs @ Oct 20th 2006 4:01PM
If they cannot readily replicate the functionality of their most effective production line to the others, would that not suggest the problems have not all been ironed out?
It could come down to training of the factory personnel. You can only train so many at a time while keeping the line running and you never know until the time comes whether an individual will be up to the task or must be reassigned.this is a much less predictable process than documenting machine performed operations and duplicating them.
Wes @ Oct 20th 2006 3:59PM
I'm not sure if anyone cares, but if I remember correctly, 360 only put out about 350,000 unites or so at launch, and sold 900,000 by years end.
Say what you want about ps3 production issues, but my math shows they are still ahead of the game.
potato @ Oct 20th 2006 4:00PM
how about we don't do any more reporting on the PS3 until it comes out.
If you do make another captain obvious segment.
ejflex @ Oct 20th 2006 4:08PM
Would everyone shut up with the "biass" crap. The bottom line is that SONY has F'd up more times than you can count with the PS3. The Blue Ray formatt is going to PHAIL, and so is the system. Why would anyone(but hardcore sony extremists) buy the ps3.. when it has no graphical advantage over the 360? I'm just curious. VIVA la Wii60
Biggie @ Oct 20th 2006 4:20PM
Is anyone truly surprised? Seems blue-ray is giving Sony a lot of trouble. The question is can they do to MS what they did to Sega... keep people from buying the other guys system. This will only really hurt Sony if another one of the big 3rd party tiles decides to go multi platform.
Korexz @ Oct 20th 2006 4:34PM
This is the death knell. Nintendo will surely deliver quantity and quality on time.
Good bye Sony, you were only here because of Nintendo anyway.
Take a trip in the way back machine kids. SNES was supposed to have a CD add-on that became the Playstation.
Walt Jay @ Oct 20th 2006 4:36PM
Mr. Left Hand, meet Mr. Right Hand.
Sony seriously need one person as their PR go-to guy. There are so many mixed messages, I don't put any merit behind what they're saying. I know all companies hype their products and stretch the truth, but Sony is setting records here!
clo1_2000 @ Oct 20th 2006 4:40PM
For everything everyone says about Sony, I don't wish the company ill will. Personally, I don't think they deserve to be at the top, but I don't want them to go bankrupt either. Having 3 console makers is good competition and if Sony dropped out, that would make Nintendo a good target for Microsoft to buy out.
SetupWeasel @ Oct 20th 2006 5:11PM
[Update: Sony's Kaz Hirai told Gamespot yesterday, "All the [production] issues have been ironed out, now it's just a matter of being able to replicate the process to as many lines as possible -- which is going to help you, obviously, get as many units as possible [emphasis ours]." So what Jack meant was that earlier production issues, which have since been ironed out, may have impeded their abilities to make the initial launch "target."]
Who the hell is taking Kaz Hirai's words as law? This is the man who "confirmed" the 4 million 2006 shipping total a week before they delayed the European launch and cut estimated shipments in half.
As with any Sony announcement, I'll believe it when I see it on the shelves.
PeteL @ Oct 20th 2006 5:12PM
"If their so adament on blue ray being necessary for games... why not instead pack in a game that really takes advantage of the technology."
Because there are none?
Steve2 @ Oct 20th 2006 5:18PM
It's this simple. You don't know how many you'll make until you're done.
For example, if their blue laser diode supplier doesn't deliver on their committments, they can't make enough PS3s.
So production targets are always targets. That doesn't mean they won't make the targets. It's possible if their suppliers do better than expected and they get the production lines up and going quickly that they might even exceed the targets.
voghan:
R:FOM didn't fall to 720p, it was never a 1080p game. Search for the articles, they are unattributed and listed 1080p only as a goal.
bearattack79 @ Oct 21st 2006 2:10AM
I like games, movies suck these days.
John Lucas @ Oct 21st 2006 3:23PM
clo1_2000 says:
[[31. For everything everyone says about Sony, I don't wish the company ill will. Personally, I don't think they deserve to be at the top, but I don't want them to go bankrupt either. Having 3 console makers is good competition and if Sony dropped out, that would make Nintendo a good target for Microsoft to buy out...]]
Microsoft will NEVER buy out Nintendo. No need to worry about that.
Microsoft will get Nintendo when they pry it from Nintendo's cold dead hands. (insert "Yamauchi" "Iwata" "Miyamoto" before the "cold dead hands" line if you wish)
People always want to lump Nintendo in with other companies as if they're only in it for the money.
They're wrong. Nintendo has pride in itself & its productions & if it ever came to a point that they couldn't make games anymore they'd go out of business first before they allowed someone else to overrun them.
It's not in Nintendo's blood to "pull a Sega".
They said they'd be out of the hardware industry as soon as they were out of the software industry. I admire that. They value the worth of the name they've built up. Too proud a company to be bought out.
And competition IS good. PSP lit a fire under Nintendo & now we got the DS. Even though Nintendo advances even WITHOUT competition such as with the GBA. But competition DOES make Nintendo better there's no doubt about that.
But who's fault is that if Sony is not a worthy competitor? It's up to THEM to maintain that competitive status & so far it looks like they're throwing the fight.
Believe it or not I'm with you, either Sony OR Microsoft at the TRUE top of the industry spells bad things for gamers. I like them IN the industry but I do NOT like them *running* this industry. Nintendo has never STOPPED running the industry contrary to popular opinion. That's why everything they do is copied. Follow the leader. All Nintendo has lost is the image of dominance with Sony running on adrenaline to best the "Deku Tree" of the game industry. That's why Sony's profits in the game sector with their console market dominance don't compare to Nintendo's console & handheld representations. Sony's overextending itself just to be seen as the leader. Microsoft is following a similar strategy.
Microsoft & Sony serve their purpose as the companies to keep Nintendo on their toes & to curb any Nintendo arrogance so 'the N' can continue to make their legendary products. If Sony falls, Microsoft will leverage that money power to dissuade new competitors & that is worrying but never fear Nintendo will be alright.
Korexz says:
[[29. This is the death knell. Nintendo will surely deliver quantity and quality on time.
Good bye Sony, you were only here because of Nintendo anyway.
Take a trip in the way back machine kids. SNES was supposed to have a CD add-on that became the Playstation.]]
Amen, brother!
Sony has always been living on borrowed time.
Sad that they psyched themselves out to think that they could run the Gameworld. Third time will NOT be a charm. Nintendo takes back their territory very soon with Wii AKA The Future of Gaming.
John Lucas