Sony shares hit by PS3 launch delay

TOKYO, Sep 7 (Reuters) Sony Corp. shares opened 2.38 percent lower at 4,930 yen on Thursday after it said it would delay the European launch of its PlayStation 3 (PS3) game machine to March from November, missing the holiday shopping season in a key market.

Sony, which competes with Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co. Ltd.

in the nearly billion video game market, said the delay was because production of a key component for the laser in the PS3's Blu-ray optical disc drive had fallen behind schedule.

It is the second time Sony has delayed the launch of its latest blockbuster PlayStation console.

Earlier this year it delayed the overall PS3 launch to November from spring 2006.

The new delay could mean the PS3 falling behind its rival machines -- Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii -- and could have ramifications for game software makers.

Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 late last year and Nintendo plans to offer the Wii in the final quarter of 2006.

Shares in Japanese game makers were also lower in early morning trading, with Capcom Co. Ltd. down 0.12 percent and Square Enix Co.

Ltd. down 2.06 percent.

Sony kept unchanged its plan for a launch in Japan on Nov. 11 and in North America on Nov. 17.

It also stuck to its target to ship six million units of the PS3 worldwide by the end of the business year to next March despite the delay in Europe, though cutting by half its shipment target for calendar 2006 to two million units.

REUTERS DH PM0646