Blu-ray delay pushes back PS3 launch

Those of you awaiting the next generation Playstation console will have to wait a little longer. Tech magazine, Variety has reported a delay in the new console. Chairman-CEO of Sony, Howard Stringer, had this to say, "Sony's new PlayStation 3 was widely expected to be introduced this spring, but will be delayed as the company fine-tunes the chips that are crucial to the success of the console's Blu-ray function." Rabid gamers won't have to wait too long though, Sony expects the PS3 to be ready for the holiday shopping season.
Stringer is betting that the Sony PS3 will outmatch the competition (XBox 360). He's hoping to do that with <a href="http://www.blu-ray.com/info/">Blue-ray technology</a> which has been developed by Sony to view the next generation of high-def DVDs. Does this signal another possible format war between HD DVD and the more advanced Blue-ray? Only time will tell.

Variety Magazine

I heard that there was money problems, too. That it would be just too expensive to mass-produce PS3s.

IMO Sony bit off more than they can chew with the PS3. I forsee component shortages and the manufacture cost is too high ($800). In the mid 90's the 3DO was released at $700 and even though it was technically superior to the other consoles at the time, no one would pay a price that steep. By the time it hit a decent price point, it was already dead. A few other factors to consider if Sony delays: The xbox360 will be on its 2nd generation of games and be a full manufacturing capacity and Nintendo's new system will be released in the $200 range.