US PS3 Numbers Cut By 50%

OK, so European gamers still have to wait until March, but we can at least afford to look at tiny bit smug today. It is being widely reported that Sony has slashed its launch figures for PS3 into the USA by somewhere in the region of 50%.

That's right, Colin Sebastian, an analyst for Lazard Capital Markets, is being quoted throughout the web as stating, "We expect Sony to deliver 150-200k units to stores in the United States for the launch; consumers without pre-orders may find it difficult to locate an available system. We estimate sales of approximately 750k PS3s domestically by year-end. We expect a more robust launch from Nintendo, with at least 1.2 million units sold in the U.S. and up to four million units shipped worldwide by year-end."

Bear in mind that previous figures referred to 400,000 PS3s into 'North America' on launch day. Also this latest piece of analysis draws on Sebastian's distinctly US-facing contacts; Canada, for example, is not specifically mentioned. Sony has also to go public with any confirmation or denial.

If true, you've got to ask yourself what's happend to the missing 200,000 units? We will, of course, contact Sony and update this story at the earliest opportunity.

However, it's also rumoured that major retailers are preparing to offer Xbox 360s to unfulfilled PS3 punters in the States.

And what's 'the opposition' up to? Well, December 2nd will see the Wii hit Japan with more of an impact than Sony was able to muster with its PlayStation 3 launch: 400,000 Wiis versus 88,400 PS3s . Ouch.