PS3 UK Launch, announced midnight tonight

[ukaskew]

A little heads up as I've not seen it mentioned...

The UK launch details of the PS3 will be announced at midnight tonight. Apparently a further delay is no longer expected as sales have slowed significantly in the US etc with plenty of units on shelves in many stores, so expect the following:

- End of March release (I'm guessing 23rd or 30th)
- £425 for 60Gb model
- Only 60Gb model available in the UK initially
- Around 25 titles at launch

 

[dk]

i will get one, purely for the blu ray drive so i can watch james bond.

 

[ukaskew]

Appears to have leaked early, my predictions were pretty reasonable...

PS3 to Launch in UK on 23rd March 2007
Over 30 Titles for Launch Period
1 Million units forecast for Initial European Launch Period

London, 24 January 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced that PLAYSTATION®3 will be launched in the PAL territories including the United Kingdom on 23rd March 2007 at a price of £425.

Responding to retail and consumer demand, SCEE confirmed that initially only the 60GB model would be available, with the 20GB model to follow later in the year dependent on demand.

An expected one million PS3 units will be made available during the initial launch period to all SCEE territories.

SCEE also announced a stellar launch line-up of over 30 game titles for PS3, including eagerly awaited titles published by SCEE such as Resistance: Fall of Man™, MotorStorm™, Genji™: Days of the Blade, FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION and Ridge Racer™ 7. An exceptional range of titles in every genre will also be available at launch from the world’s leading third party publishers, including Electronic Arts, Activision, Namco Bandai, Sega, Take 2, Ubisoft, Vivendi Universal, and Sony Online Entertainment.

In addition to games on disc, an exciting range of fully-featured downloadable games will debut on the PLAYSTATION®Network. These will include gaming icons such as Tekken®: Dark Resurrection and Gran Turismo® HD Concept; the fully-featured PS3 debut of the best-selling franchise Gran Turismo, realised with full HD (1080p) visual quality. Created by Polyphony Digital Inc and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, Gran Turismo® HD Concept has been downloaded by more than 350,000 users since it was released in December 2006 in North America and Japan.

Also available on the PLAYSTATION®Network will be brainteasers such as Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle, and innovative games such as Blast Factor™ and flOw™, designed exclusively for PLAYSTATION 3 and delivering on the promise to provide original content created by non-traditional developers and publishers.

Concurrent with the European launch, a new System Update to further enhance the entertainment potential of PS3 will be issued.

Announcing the launch details, Ray Maguire, SVP and MD of SCEUK said, “Following the hugely successful launches of PS3 in Japan and North America, we are absolutely delighted to be able to bring significant numbers of PS3 to the UK. To be able to launch with over 30 titles including retail versions and great downloadable gaming experiences across every genre shows that this is our strongest launch line-up in the history of PlayStation, and is what PlayStation fans in the UK have been crying out for.”

PLAYSTATION 3 LAUNCH TITLE LINE-UP

Resistance: Fall of Man™ - SCEE - Disc
MotorStorm™ - SCEE - Disc
Genji™: Days of the Blade - SCEE - Disc
FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION - SCEE - Disc
Ridge Racer™ 7 - SCEE - Disc
Tekken®: Dark Resurrection - SCEE - Network
Lemmings™ - SCEE - Network
Go! Sudoku - SCEE - Network
Go! Puzzle - SCEE - Network
Blast Factor™ - SCEE - Network
flOw™ - SCEE - Network
Super Rub’a'Dub - SCEE - Network
Call of Duty 3 - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 - Activision UK Ltd - Disc
Gundam – Target in Sight - Namco Bandai Games - Disc
Full Auto™ 2: Battle Lines - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Sonic the Hedgehog™ - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Virtua Fighter™ 5 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
Virtua Tennis™ 3 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
World Snooker Championship 2007 - Sega®Europe Ltd - Disc
NBA 2K7 - Take 2 International SA - Disc
NHL 2K7 - Take 2 International SA - Disc
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWll - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Enchanted Arms - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
The Elder Scrolls lV: Oblivion - Ubisoft Entertainment SA - Disc
Def Jam: Icon - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Fight Night Round 3 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
NBA Street 4 Homecourt 2007 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Need for Speed Carbon - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
The Godfather: The Don’s Edition - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - Electronic Arts Ltd - Disc
F.E.A.R. Vivendi - Universal Games Intl SA - Disc
Gripshift - Sony Online Entertainment - Network


PLAYSTATION 3 Peripherals Available at Launch

Peripheral - RRP in £ Sterling

SIXAXIS™ Wireless Controller - £34.99
Blu-ray Disc Remote Control - £17.99
HDMI Cable - £17.99
AV cable - £17.99
Component AV cable - £17.99
S Video cable - £12.99

 

[Rasclart]

I will get one or two PURELY to sell on fleabay to some mugs as I allready have one

 

[Revels]

Im buying one for Lemmings!

 

[ukaskew]

I will get one or two PURELY to sell on fleabay to some mugs as I allready have one

Best to do it right at release imo, as mentioned above sales have slowed significantly in the US already so demand isn't as strong as anticipated. Not sure what that means for Europe but I'm guessing a similar situation.

 

[sneeks]

I'll be ordering one so that I can play F1

 

[dk]

do you get a wireless sixaxis with it? is it wireless networked as standard?

 

[tommyboy]

Getting one...

 

[dk]

I will get one or two PURELY to sell on fleabay to some mugs as I allready have one

Best to do it right at release imo, as mentioned above sales have slowed significantly in the US already so demand isn't as strong as anticipated. Not sure what that means for Europe but I'm guessing a similar situation.

when has there been a launch of a console in recent years when its been in plentiful supply, they have to make it hard to get to increase the buzz about the product.

 

[@Spoonie]

Nothing would have been leaked, Sony are trying every trick in the book to hype up the PS3, no doubt its a good console and the bluray is a massive selling point but it could be too little too late. Great for gamers though as the competition is going to really heat up in the next few months.

I'm really interested in HD-DVD vs Bluray as apparently HD-DVD is cheaper and the p**n industry is looking at that as the preferred format. It was pron taking on VHS that ended betamax as a format.

 

[Rasclart]

do you get a wireless sixaxis with it? is it wireless networked as standard?

I have the 60GB and got Wireless Six Axis and Wireless built in!

 

[Mark J]

the ps4 will be out before the ps3

 

[dk]

do you get a wireless sixaxis with it? is it wireless networked as standard?

I have the 60GB and got Wireless Six Axis and Wireless built in!

cool, cheers, not a bad price really, shame you don't get the bluray remote and hdmi cable though. is that buggy racing car game they always showed off any good?

 

[KyleB]

do you get a wireless sixaxis with it? is it wireless networked as standard?

yes you get a wireless sixaxis with it, and the 60gb model is wireless integrated, 20gb isnt.

 

[ukaskew]

Best to do it right at release imo, as mentioned above sales have slowed significantly in the US already so demand isn't as strong as anticipated. Not sure what that means for Europe but I'm guessing a similar situation.

when has there been a launch of a console in recent years when its been in plentiful supply, they have to make it hard to get to increase the buzz about the product.

True, although I thought Nintendo were just trying to create a buzz at first with the Wii, but 2 months in and they still can't make them remotely fast enough even for the US...and not only that but they have hardly ever really managed to get a plentiful supply of DS' available worldwide, especially over Christmas.

That is why I'm genuinely surprised that the PS3 is (relatively) widely available without pre-ordering already. Lots of interesting articles about it on Google News already. Lots and lots of talk of PS3 price cuts already as well, Japanese retailers have started doing it themselves but there is strong rumour of official cuts in the US and Japan already.

Wii60 looks like the future of gaming

 

[TheCake]

Will no doubt get one. lol.

 

[James.]

Wont be getting one.

 

[Graham Gooch]

I may get one based on how good Gran Turismo is lol.

 

[@Spoonie]

when has there been a launch of a console in recent years when its been in plentiful supply, they have to make it hard to get to increase the buzz about the product.

True, although I thought Nintendo were just trying to create a buzz at first with the Wii, but 2 months in and they still can't make them remotely fast enough even for the US...and not only that but they have hardly ever really managed to get a plentiful supply of DS' available worldwide, especially over Christmas.

That is why I'm genuinely surprised that the PS3 is (relatively) widely available without pre-ordering already. Lots of interesting articles about it on Google News already. Lots and lots of talk of PS3 price cuts already as well, Japanese retailers have started doing it themselves but there is strong rumour of official cuts in the US and Japan already.

Wii60 looks like the future of gaming

Nintendo pushed out a load of DS's over Xmas to the Japanese market which is why the US is probably suffering. If you look at the sales figures for the first week of the year for Japan its mental..

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7406

 

[Caramel]

what sites are gonna be giving pre orders then? and when? except play.com

 

[ukaskew]

Nintendo pushed out a load of DS's over Xmas to the Japanese market which is why the US is probably suffering. If you look at the sales figures for the first week of the year for Japan its mental..

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7406

psml, got to love those crazy Nintendo loving Japanese...

ALL Format Chart, Japan 1-7th January 2007

1. NDS - Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker - Square Enix - 266,827 (860,820) - 2nd week
2. Wii - Wii Sports - Nintendo - 166,011 (732,719) - 6th week
3. Wii - Wii Play - Nintendo - 141,702 (664,512) - 6th week
4. NDS - New Super Mario Bros. - Nintendo - 128,211 (3,986,506) - 33rd week
5. NDS - General Knowledge Training DS - Nintendo - 109,752 (1,063,093) - 11th week
6. NDS - Brain Training 2 - Nintendo - 99,320 (3,805,787) - 55th week
7. NDS - Animal Crossing: Wild World - Nintendo - 94,917 (3,843,832) - 60th week
8. NDS - Pokemon Diamond - Nintendo - 94,370 (2,479,819) - 14th week
9. NDS - Kirby Squeak Squad - Nintendo - 93,522 (836,588) - 10th week
10. NDS - Pokemon Pearl - Nintendo - 78,398 (2,054,443) - 14th week

 

[WILLIE]

I may get one based on how good Gran Turismo is lol.

same here :approve: if Gran Turismo's any good then ill be defo getting one.

 

[@Spoonie]

GT isn't due for release until 2008 apparently..

 

[Graham Gooch]

GT isn't due for release until 2008 apparently..

Which gives me time to save and play my xbox 360. lol.

 

[sneeks]

It's only the playable demo, GT HD Concept, that's available for now and hopefully GT5 will be out within the first 12 months.

 

[@Spoonie]

GT isn't due for release until 2008 apparently..

Which gives me time to save and play my xbox 360. lol.

From what I've seen of Forza Motorsport 2 there may be no need to buy GT.

 

[Graham Gooch]

Which gives me time to save and play my xbox 360. lol.

From what I've seen of Forza Motorsport 2 there may be no need to buy GT.

Thats exactly what I was thinking.

Plus GT has a rep for no damage, no engine swaps lol.

 

[FiXX]

expensive paperweight

 

[Billy]

I played on a PS3 at autosport International 2007 not impressed with it at all, I've always had the ps from the start but not this time.
I'll get one as mentioned above by rasclart just to sell on fleabay but will be sticking with the Xbox 360.

 

[Iain C]

shite is anyone really gonna pay out £425 for a console?
I thought the 360 was steep, almost a rip off but £425!! feck off sony.
Blueray will prob be dead by the end of the year any way.

 

[sargey]

£425 is a fooking joke.

There's no way I'll be spending that on a console.

By the time I bought a game and extra controller, be looking at £500 + , I'd need to re mortgage the house!

 

[Rasclart]

I have the 60GB and got Wireless Six Axis and Wireless built in!

cool, cheers, not a bad price really, shame you don't get the bluray remote and hdmi cable though. is that buggy racing car game they always showed off any good?

If your talkign Motorstorm then YES it is VERY good!

 

[tomdbomb61_djtj]

I need to re mortgage the house!

Give me a shout then, interest rates set to rise again in Feb

 

[Chris n nic]

Everyone rants about how much it costs but Xbox + Hddvd isn't much different to the PS3 price. I was going to wait but I opted for a Xb360. More than happy with it and once the newer games come out (like PGR4 and Forza 2) I think I will still have made the right choice for me. Maybe ina year or so the real power of the ps3 might be getting used but up to now I haven't seen anything running that the xb can't do...and before you say it I'm actually a sony fan boy really...just took to long to come out for me

Chris

 

[puk_kai]

425quid that is pure day light robbery.
retail $3799HKD (not even 250pounds)
Got one through work 60gb, 3 games (ridge racer 7, gundam & genj) and an extra controller - $4900HKD (bout 320pounds)

 

[bigmouk]

When you can get a simliar pack to the 360 - console + 2 wireless controllers + Game (PGR) for about £280 then i will be interested, until then im quite happy with the 360, does everything i want from a console - except it needs a damn web browser grrrrrrr......

 

[Andy.]

I may get one based on how good Gran Turismo is lol.

That has been the deciding factor for me in the past on the PS & PS2.

 

[spirez]

Everyone rants about how much it costs but Xbox + Hddvd isn't much different to the PS3 price

I'm glad i'm not the only one who realises this!

 

[sneeks]

I'd rather buy an import PS3 as some people are getting these for close to £320. Need to find a reliable source first, preferably one that can avoid import tax.