If you’ve been waiting anxiously for Sony’s PlayStation 3, get ready to wait a little longer.
The PS3 had been scheduled to debut this spring.
The company is aiming to release the console simultaneously in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Rival Microsoft launched itsnext-generation Xbox 360 devicein November 2005.
The PS3 postponement would be a second black mark for Sony, which also facesmuch higher component costs.
For game software, the company plans to release titles in the Blu-ray disc format.
The service is expected to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox Live.
Sony is a leader in the game console arena with more than 100 million PlayStation 2s sold worldwide.
In that arena, it is up against the HD DVD format being backed by Toshiba.
Michiko Nagai of CNET Japan reported from Tokyo.
