Sony "definitely not" committing to simultaneous US, Euro launch for PS3

A senior spokesperson for SCEE has told GamesIndustry.biz that Sony has made no commitment to launching PS3 simultaneously in the US and Europe, despite comments seemingly to that effect made by SCEE boss David Reeves this week.

Speaking to us this afternoon, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head of corporate communications Nick Sharples said that the company was "definitely not" committing to a simultaneous release at this point in time.

"[David Reeves' comment] wasn't intended to imply that, in the context of the question," he said, referring to a comment made by the SCEE president at the DevStation developer event in London, reported by UK retail magazine MCV this week.

Reeves was cited in the magazine as saying that "it is my job to match day and date with the US launch; I am doing my best to make that happen," seemingly suggesting that he and his team are working towards a launch date "matched" with the US date.

However, Sharples clarified today that Reeves had not "given anything away" in his comments, which were simply aimed at reassuring developers that SCEE is continuing to work towards a release in Europe as soon as possible.

"He was referring to the fact that as boss of the European organisation, it's his job and his responsibility to try and get PlayStation 3 into Europe as quickly as he possibly can," Sharples explained. "That's what he's trying to achieve."

"Traditionally, it's gone Japan, then the States, then Europe - not just on our console, but on other games consoles and on other consumer electronics. So he's making the point that personally, his role is to make sure that we get it into Europe absolutely as soon as we can. It's certainly not meant to imply that there will be [simultaneous] day and date, or anything like that."