NGP could be delayed

Sony has stated that the manufacturing disruption caused by the fallout of last month’s earthquake and tsunami last month could force it to alter its NGP launch plans.

This could include the delaying of the launch in some regions.

Bloomberg quotes SCEA president Jack Treet as saying that the disaster "may be the straw that says ‘maybe we get to just one market by the end of the year’".

He added that a lack of parts and component manufacture in the country is affecting a large number of sites including those not directly affected by the earthquake.

Sony has remained cagey about its NGP launch plans for some time time now.

When Sony first revealed the device in January boss Kaz Hirai said the launch would see NGP "begin rolling out this year".

However, SCEA boss Jack Tretton moved quickly to calm those hopes saying that "it’s very difficult to have the quantities to be able to launch on a worldwide basis on the same date" and that "our goal is get at least one territory out by the end of holiday 2011".

MCV reported last month that many European games companies have been preparing for a surprise European launch before the end of the year.