Following E3 most of us thought we knew that Spring 2006 would be the launch date for the PS3 but none of us were sure we knew that it was. Now a new image helps us know that what we knew is now true; PS3 will really launch in spring 2006.
The image, available in full size by following the screens tab above, apparently taken from Playstation Meeting 2005 shows a PowerPoint slide that has some key moments on the road to the launch of PS3. According to the slide this spring that just passed saw the launch of the PS3 evaluation system, we are not quite sure what that was but we have already sent our complaints to Sony for not sending us one here at MegaGames.
The slide does seem to confirm that Sony will have to settle for a spring 2006 release date for PS3 even though some were thinking that the Japanese electronics giant may have been trying to push the launch as close to Q1 2006 as possible. If the slide is the real deal then Microsoft will get at least a four month advantage over Sony's next-generation offering, provided XBox 360 does launch around November 4, 2005 as expected.
The authenticity of the slide has come into question however, with some claiming that the there are some things wrong with the image, especially the perspective of the letters and their clarity. If this is a fake image it may be just another attempt to bring the PS3 into the spotlight and may still leave hope intact for Sony fans hoping their manufacturer of choice will time its launch a bit closer to that of x360.