PS2 European Delay Confirmed

Sony Corp. has confirmed rumors that Playstation 2 will launch later than originally promised, arriving in 17 European countries November 24, nearly a month after the U.S. launch on October 26, and even later than earlier speculation that the console would be delayed until November 17. Still, Sony Computer Entertainment said it expects to ship more units in its first shipment of Playstation 2s to Europe than the 600,000 units that shipped in the first three months of the original Playstation's launch. The console will sell for $299 in the U.S., but significantly more in Europe: 299 pounds ($447) in the U.K., 2,990 francs ($413) in France, and 869 marks ($403) in Germany.