Sony Corp plans to delay the release of the PlayStation 4 gaming console in China, originally scheduled for tomorrow, due to “various factors,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Sony’s Computer Entertainment division said a new date had not yet been determined, but a company source in China said that prolonged negotiations with Chinese authorities were part of the reason for the delay.
The release would have marked PlayStation’s entry into China for the first time at a moment when loss-making Sony is leaning on its gaming business to partially offset weakness in its mobile division.
Beijing lifted a 14-year ban on foreign gaming consoles last year, paving the way for Sony’s rival Microsoft Corp to launch its newest-generation Xbox in China in September last year.
Despite being the world’s third-largest gaming market, where gaming revenue hit US$15 billion last year, analysts say China might be a tough market to crack for the console makers because strict censorship rules prevent the sale of many popular titles, which could make the consoles less attractive to gamers.
Sony and Microsoft also face stiff competition from PC and mobile games, which have dominated the Chinese market in their 14-year absence.
Sony said it is in the process of applying for licenses for 30 games. The company has sought to head off censorship concerns, saying it is working closely with the government.
Sony plans to price the PlayStation 4 in China at 2,899 yuan (US$467), slightly higher than in the US, where it sells for about US$400. The portable PlayStation Vita has been priced at 1,299 yuan.
The Xbox, which sells for 3,699 yuan, currently has 10 titles on sale in China, mainly censor-friendly sporting games such as Forza Motorsport 5.
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