Sony cancels closed-doors Japanese PS3 preview

An internal preview event for Sony's next-generation PlayStation console which was planned for March has been cancelled, according to a Reuters report, but the firm denies that its development has fallen behind.

According to Reuters Japan, in a report partially translated by US website GameSpot, the March preview was going to reveal general details about the next generation PlayStation, with the console itself going on show for the first time at E3.

But Sony told Reuters that it had decided to cancel as holding the event so soon "would pressure game publishers." The company was quick to point out that the cancellation did not mean development was falling behind, and said that it is still planning to exhibit the new console at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The Japanese event went right up to the wire, according to some reports which claim that senior Sony officials had booked flights to the event before the cancellation was announced.

It's expected that Sony will reveal the console in a special preview event in the days ahead of the Expo. Rivals Microsoft and Nintendo are also expected to debut their next-generation consoles at this year's E3.