Early this year, we ran an article on US analyst Evan Wilson's speculations on PS3, which mentioned that Sony's next-gen console will be released in summer 2006 in Japan, November 2006 in the US, and March 2007 in Europe. Then in a later article, SCEE President and CEO David Reeves revealed that Europe may be the first to get their hands on a PS3. Then there's the admission of Kaz Hirai that the production of PS3 has started later than expected. With all these news about PS3's entry to the market, who would not be confused?

Well, confusion on the Sony PS3 release date is now over: SCEE has issued an official statement. But for the European consumers, brace yourself. Seems like Wilson was on track after all.

PlayStation 3 avids in Europe, Russia, Middle East, and other PAL territories have to wait until March next year. The statement says the launch date has been pushed back due to "the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PlayStation 3." Blue laser diodes are a key component of the PS3's Blu-Ray drive.

As for PS3's launch date in Japan, November 11 is still the date to mark; while North America gets a November 17 launch. Sony still plans to ship six million PS3 units globally before the end of the 2007 fiscal year.