Release of the PlayStation 3 could be delayed several months to a year, according to a report issued by Merrill Lynch last week.
The cause for the delay lies in the Blu-Ray discs which still have no established standards for digital rights management (DRM) technology. Though Sony has indicated that the highly anticipated console would hit shelves this spring, until such standards are set in place, production may be delayed until this fall or as far back as 2007.
“Every day that Sony waits before bringing the PS3 to market means that Microsoft is selling more of its gaming consoles,” said Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman.
The report notes that the final production cost for PlayStation 3 would likely approach $800, but Sony is expected to sell it console at a loss.
[i]-Keith C. Smith[/i]