Sony, which has already delayed the U.S. launch of its PSP (PlayStation Portable) from the 2004 holiday season to the first quarter of 2005, might be forced to push back the handheld gaming system even further, according to the CEO of a major video game publisher.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told investors yesterday that his company does not expect the PSP to launch in North America until the second quarter, according to an analyst note from P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research. That could conceivably push the system"s launch back to June 2005. Sony disputed Kotick"s statement. "We have not discussed or given any indication that an adjustment to the PSP launch window is on the horizon," said Molly Smith, director of public relations for Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Wall Street, though, is skeptical of Sony"s timetable. "We have maintained that it has been at best a 50-50 proposition that Sony will make its scheduled holiday 2004 Japan launch, and any delay in the Japan launch would likely push the North American launch out of the March quarter," wrote McNealy. "We believe the next significant update from Sony (including any possible schedule changes) will come in late September at the Tokyo Games Show."