Sony CEO Howard Stringer has confirmed that Sony’s next-generation Playstation 3 console will be released in Spring 2006.

Howard Stringer

A Spring 2006 release for the PS3 would mean that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 would beat the PS3 to the market by only 5 or 6 months. Sony’s launch strategy for the PS3 is as yet unknown - some sources are predicting a staggered launch, with the console to hit Japanese stores in April or May 2006, and European and US launches in late 2006/early 2007, whereas others predict a simultaneous worldwide release for the next-generation console.

Japanese consumers appear particularly eager to get their hands on the new PS3 console: a recent survey of 1000 current-generation Japanese console owners discovered that a massive 72.3% said they would be buying the PS3. Following the Tokyo Game Show, however, Microsoft seems to be gaining a stronger footing in the Japanese market in the lead-up to the Xbox 360’s release.

Sony has yet to officially confirm any specific dates or launch strategies for the PS3.