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PS3 Release Date

Official Sony PS3 Release Date + Launch Date | Worldwide Launch November 11 2006 for Japan, November 17 2006 for North America, Europe, and Australia.


The Sony Playstation 3 has gone through various release date changes and has received a considerable amount of speculation from the gaming industry. The official Sony PS3 release date and launch date is now nearly fixed, but the actual specific date for many territories and the games available at release and launch have yet to be specified.


Below we give a timeline of the various release dates and changes for the Playstation 3, beginning with the final, official information at e3 2006. We also give information on the release date information for PS3 games.


Official Sony PS3 Release Date + Launch Date Announcement at e3 Electronic Entertainment Expo 2006
            At the Sony Press Conference at e3 2006, Sony unveiled the final information for the PS3 Release Date and Price. Hirai takes the stage and announces the global launch details. The PS3 will be available in two versions (Xbox 360 anyone?), a 60GB hard drive with various additional accessories, and a 20GB hard drive with minimal accessories.


The console will launch in Japan on November 11, 2006 with the 20GB version going for 59,800 yen and the 60GB one allowing retailers to set the price. It will launch in North America, Europe, and Australia on November 17, 2006 at $499 US dollars, $549 CDN, and 499 euros for the 20GB version and $599, $659 CDN, and 599 euros for the 60GB one.


Official Sony PS3 Release Date + Launch Date Announcement at Japanese Press Conference
            On March 15, 2006, Sony announced a change in the release date of the Playstation 3.  Instead of somehow, magically releasing the PS3 in the coming months of spring, Sony delayed the release to November 2006, in time for the Christmas season.  However, to up the ante, Sony added that its November release would be a worldwide release, meaning the PS3 would launch in North America, Europe, and Japan in the same time frame.


Official Sony PS3 Release Date + Launch Date Announcement at e3 Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005
            At 2005’s e3, Sony officially unveiled the Playstation 3 to the public and announced a tentative release date of spring 2006 for Japan and possibly North America.  As 2005 came to an end, and 2006 began sneaking upon the gaming industry, many began doubting a spring 2006 release, which would mean before the summer months of July and August.  Most game developers were still hard at work on games in their early stages and Sony was giving the industry very tiny details on the console.  By 2006, the Playstation 3 was still not playable to the public.  As of March 15, 2006, the release date of spring 2006 for the PS3 was proved to be false.


 Official Sony PS3 Release Date + Launch Date for Games
            Although we now know the PS3 will be launching in November 2006, word on launch titles for Japan or North America is still vague. 


            At this time, three games have been mentioned as PS3 launch titles:



There are over 200 PS3 games announced for release between 2006 and 2008. Here are some high profile games in development:



For more information on PS3 games, click here for our main section on Playstation 3 Games.

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