Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has gone on record for the first time to openly acknowledge the certain delay of the launch of its PlayStation 3 next-generation videogames console and media player, pathing the way for what will be certain disappointment for gamers in any region hoping to purchase the mythical monster within the next half year.

Speaking to Japanese publication SankeiWeb, an unnamed SCE official is quoted as saying, “The highest quality picture is vital to the PS3. There is a possibility of delay [to the launch] if delivery of parts is delayed,” which is obvious as far as it's well known that building something without all the bits is impossible. SPOnG's game shelves' nailed-in telephone directory feet pay testament to this.

However, far from being the disaster some are desperate to portray the slippage as, Sony, as ever, finds itself effortlessly in a win-win situation. Should it launch earlier, it will immediately and decisively shift sales away from Microsoft's Xbox 360. And if it makes consumers wait for an extended period of time, the PlayStation 3 can easily be sold in as being of a different, 'next-er' generation than opposing hardware...

Of course, SPOnG readers will be aware that the PlayStation 3 is slated to hit European shelves in March of 2007. We have received no concrete information about other territory launch plans, though multiple sources at retail, publisher and developer level have confirmed that we have shade over a year to wait. You can read the full report here.