Sony Delays Playstation 3 Motion Controller

Sony’s backtracking on earlier promises to deliver its Playstation 3 motion controller in spring 2010, delaying the release date to the fall. A spring release seemed a little unrealistic given how rough the prototype looked when it was introduced at E3 2009, but Sony pins the blame on software. “We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users,” Sony Computer Entertainment president Kazuo Hirai said in a press statement.

The motion controller, which hasn’t been named but could possibly be dubbed the Arc, uses the Playstation Eye camera peripheral combined with a wand that can track 3D motion. It’s sort of a cross between the Nintendo Wii, which has controllers equipped with accelerometers, and the Xbox 360’s upcoming Project Natal, which uses a special camera that can track objects in real space without a controller. A fall release for Sony’s motion controller would still put it ahead of Natal, which Microsoft said is scheduled for a holiday release. Indeed, a strong software lineup will be crucial for both motion controllers, as the games will either have to appeal to hardcore gamers jaded on the Wii, or casual players who aren’t quite sold on Nintendo’s console. [via Shacknews]