PlayStation 3 shipment figures in doubt

Production issues continue to plague Sony, as the firm expresses its doubts that it may not be able to meet its intended shipment figures for the PlayStation 3.

The format holder has previously promised two million units of its new home console on retail shelves in the US and Japan by the end of 2006, but recent comments from Jack Tretton, co-chairman of SCEA have cast doubt over the firms ability to deliver.

Speaking of the shipment figures to Bloomberg, Tretton stated, "The honest answer is it's more of a target."

"Clearly we've had production issues," said Tretton, referring to the manufacturing difficulties Sony has encountered with elements of the Blu-Ray drive in the PlayStation 3.

Any further delays to the consoles manufacturing process, or shortages of units at retail, would clearly be bad news for the company.

Only last week Sony Corp reduced its profits forecast by 38 per cent, due to a range of factors including a price reduction of the PS3 in Japan, a delayed European launch, poor PSP sales and a global recall of notebook batteries

The PlayStation 3 is due to launch on November 11th in Japan and November 17th in North America. The company plans to ship six million units by the end of March 2007.