March 23rd For PS3? Nah.

Following the release into the wild of the first Euro-PS3 TV ad, rumours apparently leaked from Sony’s ad’ agency, TBWA, have it that the PlayStation 3 will launch in Europe on March 23rd^†. These join the older rumour that the nex-gen console will hit the streets, strasses and rues of Europe on the more marketing-friendly 3rd March (3/3 for PS3).

SPOnG spoke with a representative of Sony in London this afternoon and we were met with a bald statement that the March 23rd, 3rd and “any other date right now is pure speculation”.

A firm confirmation of the release details – including launch date, launch numbers, special events, press and all the other glitz that has to accompany Sony’s most important hardware launch ever – is expected at the end of this month.

There is no escaping the fact, however, that March 2007 is firmly in the minds of consumers and industry alike. For Sony not to get PS3 into the shops by - at the very latest - March 23rd would be a public relations' disaster. With the Easter buying spike (the chocolate egg and bunny festival is second only to Xmas in its importance to retail) looming, missing March would also dent possible sales.

Therefore the real news will be if Sony announces that PS3 has slipped into April - or even later. So, right now it's still take your pick of any day in March.

That said, you can never discount a slip of the tongue at the advertising agency…

^{†Source: gamesindustry.biz}