PlayStation 3 launch

The launch of the PlayStation 3 into the Japanese market on 11 November 2006 marked the second major seventh generation entertainment system to be released. The system was released seven days later on 17 November in the United States. Introduction into other world markets was delayed by a shortage of diodes for use in the Blu-ray disc player; the device was launched in European and other world markets in the first half of 2007.

NTSC region

Japan

The PlayStation 3 was launched in Japan on 11 November 2006 at 07:00am. There were reports that many of the initial systems were obtained by businessmen who paid mainly Chinese nationals to buy the system without any software to resell on eBay,[1]and, as a result of this, there were more hardware units sold than there were games. Ridge Racer 7 was the highest selling game on launch day. 81,639 PS3 systems were sold within 24 hours of its introduction in Japan. Sony has opted to go with an open pricing scheme for the 60 GB model, allowing retailers to set a price point themselves.

Japan launch titles

Title Publisher
Blast Factor Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Target In Sight Bandai Namco Games
Ridge Racer 7 Bandai Namco Games
Miyasato Miyoshi Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golf Club Sega
Resistance: Jinrui Botsuraku no Hi Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Genji: Kamui Souran Sony Computer Entertainment Japan

[2]

United States

The PlayStation 3 was launched in United States on 17 November 2006. Presales on eBay reached a high of just over US$170500 on November 17. During its first week of release in the United States, PlayStation 3 systems were being sold on eBay upwards of $2000. It was originally announced that there would be 400,000 units available, however less than a week before launch reports emerged that Sony did not meet its shipping quota in time, resulting in about 40% of systems not appearing at launch. It is not known exactly how many systems were available on launch day. As the initial release price topped $300, the PlayStation 3 console was sold out during the first day.

As of 16 January 2007, nearly two months after the US launch, at least 1,000,000 systems had been shipped to the US, and a further 1,000,000 had been shipped to Japan, plus more elsewhere in Asia.

United States launch titles

Title Publisher
Call of Duty 3 Activision
Genji: Days of the Blade Sony Computer Entertainment
Madden NFL 07 EA Sports
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Activision
Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire Namco Bandai
NBA 07 Sony Computer Entertainment
NBA 2K7 2K Sports
Need for Speed: Carbon Electronic Arts
NHL 2K7 2K Sports
Resistance: Fall of Man Sony Computer Entertainment
Ridge Racer 7 Namco Bandai
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 EA Sports
Tony Hawk's Project 8 Activision
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom Sony Online Entertainment

Singapore

The PS3 launched in Singapore in March 2007, with the price of 60 GB announced as S$799, without games. Singapore, although using PAL for broadcasting, uses NTSC for gaming.

The 80GB model was released in Singapore in September 2007.

South Korea

The South Korean launch took place on 16 June 2007. The only version sold is the 80 GB version, equipped with IPTV.[3] This is the first time that the PlayStation 3 released with an 80 GB hard disk.

Mexico

PlayStation 3 20GB and 60GB models (NTSC-UC Zone 1) were released in Mexico in 2007. The 80GB model bundled with Formula One Championship Edition is now on sale in Mexico for $7,990($750 USD) as well as a 40GB version with Formula One Championship and Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction for $6,990(MXN).[4][5] Local PS3 game standard price is $899 (MXN).[6]

PAL region

Europe

Sony announced on 6 September 2006 that the PAL region (European and Australian) launch had been delayed until March, 2007 due to a shortage of diodes used in the Blu-ray Disc drive. At midnight on January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.

Sony stated that there would be 1,000,000 PS3s in Europe for the launch period, including at least 220,000 in the UK.

The high launch price of the PS3 has been subjected to criticism from analysts, developers and consumers. Sony executive Phil Harrison has defended the price by citing its Blu-ray Disc support and overall value. The production cost at launch was estimated to be above US$800.00 per unit, with a projected decrease to US$320 per unit three years after.[7]

Sony announced that first party games (which were released a year after) would retail for £40/€60.

The PS3 was released in the UK & Ireland, the rest of Europe, and Australia & New Zealand on March 23, 2007 with a retail price of £425 €599. According to the Financial Times, The PS3 sold 600,000 units in the first two days of its release in Europe .[8] It became the fastest-selling home system in the United Kingdom with 165,000 units sold in two days, and became the second-fastest-selling system in the UK overall, the fastest being the PlayStation Portable .[9] Some British retailers claim that the PS3 was subjected to as many as 20,000 pre-order cancellations,[10] while others cited a "huge demand" for the system.[11] System sales for the following week were down 82%, selling 30,000 units, with a 60% drop in sales of the two most popular titles, MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man.[12]

In continental Europe, Sony sold over 600,000 systems in two days estimating that about €400 million revenue was generated by the hardware and software combined on opening weekend.[11] According to Sony, France PS3's sales were "around half of the UK, with Spain and Portugal slightly behind that. Germany, too, saw strong sales of around the 50-60,000 mark."[13]

Despite Sony asking retailers to wait until 23 March to sell the PS3, Italian retailer Datel started selling the PS3 earlier. Datel said in an ad that they would start selling on Wednesday 21 March. Sony's reaction was: "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is deeply disappointed by the unilateral decision of some Italian retail chains to commence the sale of PlayStation 3 to consumers before this official launch date."

Australia

The 23 March 2007 midnight launch of the Australian PlayStation 3 system was considerably less impressive than expected by retailers and media alike. Media flocked to shopping centres and retailers expecting to catch a media extravaganza and flurry of activity as anticipated PlayStation 3 gamers were to buy their systems. However, very little in the way of such activity occurred.

Around 2,000 people turned up at the Sydney CBD Myer store on Pitt St where Casino Royale was playing to entertain the crowds before the launch.[14]

Gamers and media arrived hours before the midnight launch period and were able to get front positions in what were small queues for the system. Several media outlets, including 2Day FM, asked the few gamers who did turn up to feign enthusiasm and excitement over the system.[15][16]

Over 27,000 units were sold over the course of the first ten days of sales and nine of the top ten best-selling games, including systems and handheld, of the week were for the PS3; overall, software and hardware sales resulted in A$33 million netted for Sony.[17] One analyst called it "a spike in retail spending not previously witnessed at the launch of any other system in Australia".[18] In New Zealand, over 4,800 units were sold in the first week generating "over NZ$6.8 million dollars in hardware and software retail sales."[19]

Middle East

Sony Gulf announced that Jumbo Electronics and Carrefour stores in the Mall of the Emirates would open their doors at midnight on March 30, 2007 to sell the first PlayStation 3 in the UAE.

The PS3 retailed for AED2499, a price slightly less than Europe.

As an added incentive, the first 100 customers who bought a PlayStation 3 were rewarded with a pair of tickets to see Shakira live in concert at the Dubai Autodrome.[20]

Ukraine and Russia

Official sales in Ukraine and Russia started on 20 April 2007. All of the games that were released were based on PAL launch titles.

India

The PS3 officially went on sale in India on 27 April 2007, priced at INR39,990 ($1000 at the conversion rate that time) for the 60 GB version. The PS3 Slim 120GB was launched at the end of November 2009 at the price of INR19,990. The PS3 Slim 250GB was launched simultaneously at the price of INR22,490 and in March 2010 it was bundled with the game God of War III or Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

At present the 160GB slim is sold as a stand-alone pack at INR16,000 (about $300), while the 320GB is sold with the PlayStation Move Bundle, Gran Turismo 5, or with Medieval Moves at about INR20,000 (about $350).

PAL launch titles

Title Developer Publisher
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII Ubisoft Romania Ubisoft
Call of Duty 3 Treyarch Activision
Def Jam: Icon EA Chicago Electronic Arts
Enchanted Arms From Software Ubisoft
Fight Night Round 3 EA Chicago Electronic Arts
Formula One Championship Edition SCE Studio Liverpool SCEE
Full Auto 2: Battlelines Pseudo Interactive Sega
Genji: Days of the Blade Game Republic SCEE
The Godfather: The Don's Edition Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Raven Software Activision
Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire Namco Bandai Games Atari
MotorStorm Evolution Studios SCEE
NBA 2K7 Visual Concepts 2K Sports
NHL 2K7 Visual Concepts 2K Sports
NBA Street: Homecourt EA Canada Electronic Arts
Resistance: Fall of Man Insomniac Games SCEE
Ridge Racer 7 Namco SCEE
Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic Team Sega
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 EA Sports Electronic Arts
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 Neversoft Activision
Virtua Fighter 5 Sega-AM2 Sega
Virtua Tennis 3 Sega-AM3 Sega
World Snooker Championship 2007 Sega
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Delayed) Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
F.E.A.R. (Delayed) Day 1 Studios Vivendi Universal Games
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Delayed) Bethesda Game Studios Take Two-Interactive
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Delayed) Sony Online Entertainment Electronic Arts
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas (Delayed) Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft

Release data and pricing

Suggested retail price and release dates by region*
Region 20 GB (discontinued) 40 GB (discontinued) 60 GB (discontinued) 80 GB (discontinued) System Release Date
 Japan JPY 49,980[21][22]6 $465 JPY 39,980[22] $372 JPY 59,9806 $558 TBC NTSC-J 11 November 2006
 Hong Kong HKD 3,180[23] $408 HKD 2,680 $344 HKD 3,780[23] $485 TBC NTSC-J 17 November 2006
 Taiwan NTD 14,980[24] $468 NTD 11,480[25] $359 NTD 17,980[24] $562 TBC NTSC-J
 United States USD 499 $499 USD 399 $399[26] USD 5993 $599[27] USD 5993 $599[27] NTSC
 Canada CAD 549 $546 CAD 399 $397 CAD 549[28] $546 $499.99 NTSC
 Singapore SGD 599 $422 SGD 559 $394 SGD 799[29][29] $563 $799 NTSC-J[29] 7 March 2007[29]
 United Kingdom N/A2,5 GBP 299[30] $582 GBP 425 $827 N/A2 PAL 23 March 2007
 Ireland N/A2,5 EUR EUR 629.99 $913 N/A2 PAL
 European Union N/A2,5 EUR EUR 599 $1,087 N/A2 PAL 23 March 2007.
 Australia N/A2,5 AUD 699.95[31] $627 AUD 999.95 $895 6992 PAL
 Croatia N/A2,5 HRK 3,190 $620 HRK 4,777 $951 N/A2 PAL
 Denmark N/A2,5 DKK 2,999 DKK 5,495 $1,068 N/A2 PAL
 Estonia N/A2 EEK EEK 10,999 $1,019 N/A2 PAL
 Finland N/A2,5 EUR 479 $694 EUR 650 $942 N/A2 PAL
 Greece N/A2,5 EUR 399 $578 EUR 659[32] $955 N/A2 PAL
 Iceland N/A2 ISK ISK 69.999 $1,211 N/A2 PAL
 Latvia N/A2 LVL LVL 495 $0 N/A2 PAL
 New Zealand N/A2,5 NZD 799.95 $630 NZD 1,199.95† $945 N/A2 PAL
 Norway N/A2,5 NOK 3,999 $721 NOK 5,995 $1,081 N/A2 PAL
 Pakistan N/A2 PKR PKR Rs 28,500 $477 N/A2 PAL
 Serbia N/A2 RSD RSD 50,000 $871 N/A2 PAL
 South Africa N/A2 ZAR ZAR 6,599.95 $852 N/A2 PAL
 Sweden N/A2,5 SEK SEK 5,995 $921 N/A2 PAL
  Switzerland N/A2,5 CHF N/A CHF 899 $814 N/A2 PAL
 Russia N/A2 RUB 15990 $646 RUB 21990 $888 N/A2 PAL 20 April 2007[33][34]
 Ukraine N/A2 UAH UAH 4000 $800 N/A2 PAL
 Turkey N/A2 TRY TRY 1,499 $1,243 N/A2 PAL
 India N/A2 INR 22990 INR 39990[35] $1,011 N/A2 PAL 27 April 2007[35]
 South Korea N/A1 KRW N/A1 KRW 518,000 $550 NTSC-J 16 June 2007
 Mexico TBC MXN TBC MXN 9,999 $743 NTSC 20 August 2007[36][37]
 Malaysia N/A N/A N/A MYR 1,599 $495 NTSC-J 20 September 2008[38]
 Argentina TBC ARS 2799 $883 TBC ARS TBC TBC NTSC 1 November 2008
 Chile TBC CLP 349990 $555 TBC CLP TBC TBC NTSC 2009
 Indonesia TBC IDR TBC IDR TBC TBC NTSC-J 1 October 2009[39]
 Thailand TBC THB TBC THB TBC TBC NTSC-J 5 November 2009[40]
 Vietnam TBC VND TBC VND TBC TBC NTSC-J 16 January 2010[41]
 Philippines N/A2,5 N/A2,5 N/A2,5 PHP 189996 $468 NTSC 27 March 2010[42]
 Brazil BRL R$ 7.999 $ 3,500 BRL R$ 9.499 $ 4,100 N/A BRL 1.9997 $1,135 PAL-M/NTSC-J 11 August 2010[43][44]

References

  1. ↑ "Foreigners And Fights, PS3 JPN Launch's Dark Side". Kotaku. November 12, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  2. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment Japan games list for 2006 PS3 games". Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "PlayStation 3 (80 GB) Korean". Retrieved 2007-05-23.
  4. ↑ "Sony Style Mexico". Sonystyle.com.mx. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  5. ↑ "PlayStation 2 Mexico official website". Web.archive.org. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  6. ↑ "Sony Style Mexico". Sonystyle.com.mx. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  7. ↑ "PlayStation 3 costs $800, sez Merril Lynch mob". Engadget. February 18, 2006. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  8. ↑ "Sony’s PS3 has record launch in Europe". Financial Times. March 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  9. ↑ "PlayStation 3 becomes UK's fastest-selling home system". GamesIndustry. March 26, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  10. ↑ m-cancellations/ "Sony PS3 hit by £10m in cancellations". BR. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Sony's PS3 has record launch in Europe". Financial Times. 2007-03-29. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
  12. ↑ PlayStation 3 hardware sales plummet 82 per cent, Gamesindustry.biz
  13. ↑ "PS3 Sells €400 Million Across Europe". Gwn.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  14. ↑ "PS3 launches in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. March 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  15. ↑ "Crowds go mild at PlayStation launch". CNET.com.au. March 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  16. ↑ "Apathy dominates Australian PS3 launch". Australia's PAL Gaming Network. March 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  17. ↑ "PlayStation 3 generates $33m of sales in Australia". 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  18. ↑ "PlayStation 3 causes record retail spike in Australia". Gamesindustry.biz. 2007-04-05. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  19. ↑ "NZ PS3 launch created unprecedented sales spike". Gameplanet. 2007-04-11. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  20. ↑ "PlayStation 3 Midnight Madness". Middle East Gamers. 21 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  21. ↑ "PLAYSTATION3 HDD 20 GB EQUIPPED WITH HDMI AS STANDARD" (PDF) (Press release). Sony Computer Entertainment. 2006-09-22. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "PS3 Launch Prices from around the world". PS3Rules.com. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Hong Kong Sony PlayStation site". Archived from the original on 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Taiwan Sony PlayStation site". Archived from the original on 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
  25. ↑ "Taiwan 40GB price from official site". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  26. ↑ "40GB PS3 Goes Worldwide". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Sony Confirms PS3 Price-Cut, 80GB Bundle". Kotaku. July 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  28. ↑ "Daily Tech - PS3 in Canada to Drop to $549, Same Price as Xbox 360 Elite". Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "EXCLUSIVE! PlayStation 3 Official Singapore Launch Dated!" (Press release). Gameaxis. 2006-12-18. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  30. ↑ "Sony offers cut-price PlayStation". BBC News. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  31. ↑ "No PS3 price cut for Australia". PSU.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  32. ↑ "PlayStation 3 to cost EUR 659 in Greece". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11.
  33. ↑ "PLAYSTATION 3 Russia Official Launch on April 20". Computerra.ru. 2007-03-26. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  34. ↑ "PLAYSTATION 3 Ukraine Official Launch on April 20". Gameplay.com.ua. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "PLAYSTATION 3 India Official Launch on April 27".
  36. ↑ "Sony Mexico website". Web.archive.org. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  37. ↑ "Release date in PlayStation 3 official website". Web.archive.org. 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  38. ↑ "The PS3 is here, after a two-year wait". The Star. 2008-09-20. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  39. ↑ "SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ASIA STARTS ITS PLAYSTATION® BUSINESS IN REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA New Slimmer & Lighter PlayStation®3 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-3006) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)go (PSP-N1006) First Hit to Indonesian Market on 1st of October 2009". SCE Asia. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  40. ↑ "SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ASIA TO START SELLING PLAYSTATION®3 IN THAILAND Slimmer and Lighter PlayStation®3 to Hit Thailand Market on November 5th 2009". SCE Asia. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  41. ↑ "SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ASIA STARTS ITS PLAYSTATION® BUSINESS IN SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM". SCE Asia. 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ASIA STARTS ITS PLAYSTATION® BUSINESS IN REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES". SCEAsia. 2010-03-27. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Por R$ 1.999, Sony Style começa a vender PS3 no Brasil nesta quarta (11)". UOL Jogos. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  44. ↑ "The PlayStation 3 Launches In Incredibly Expensive Brazil". Kotaku. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  45. ↑ "Sony offers cut-price PlayStation". BBC. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
  46. ↑ "SCEI TO DISCONTINUE SHIPMENT OF 20GB HDD AND 60GB HDD PLAYSTATION3 IN JAPAN". Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-12.