PS2 Manufacturing Holdup?

It may not be a beautiful day in the Japanese neighborhood for Sony come PS2 Launch. Here’s the article from the DC Tech Pages:

According to an employee at a Japanese factory supplying key components for the PlayStation2, the company is unable to produce the quantities originally agreed upon with Sony in order to meet the console’s launch quotas. The source would not reveal exactly which component it is producing for the PlayStation2.

Although Sony is pressuring the company to increase its production rate, it appears unlikely that the company will be able to do so before March 4. Sony has made no official comment on whether the production glitch will affect the number of PlayStation2 consoles available at launch, but according to our source, it appears nearly certain that the number will be far reduced from original expectations.

According to Sony’s latest financial statement, released just two days ago, the March 4 launch date still stands. In the statement, Sony also announced that it will establish a new company in Japan called PlayStation.com, which will allow consumers to purchase PlayStation2 consoles directly over the Internet.

“The newly established company is expected to begin its service in mid-February to coincide with the release of PlayStation2 on March 4, 2000,” the statement read.

So, though PlayStation2 remains on track, actually getting your hands on one may be even tougher than originally anticipated.