A release date of Spring 2006 has been set for the newly unveiled PlayStation 3. Sony is hoping that its promise of a superior gaming console will be enough to persuade consumers to hold off on buying the Xbox 360, which has an earlier release date of November 2005.

Like the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 will be much more than just a gaming console, sporting a host of multimedia features such as video chat, Internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video. Sony head Ken Kutaragi introduced the PlayStation 3 as a “supercomputer for computer entertainment”. Featuring the much-hyped Cell processor, the system will run at 3.2GHz, which Sony claims is twice as fast as the chip used to power the rival Xbox 360.

The PS3 will also have the capacity to support 7 BlueTooth controllers, which can be used for nearly 24 hours before they require charging. Developers have described the PS3 as “easy to program for”, and Sony showed off several tech demos for games such as Evolution Studios’ Motor Storm, Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 2007 and EA’s Fight Night Round 3. An impressive host of publishers is backing the PS3, with games under development from Konami, Capcom, Polyphony Digital, Namco, SCEE and Rockstar Games.