Sony to delay sale of PlayStation 4 in China

[SHANGHAI] Sony Corp will delay sales of the PlayStation 4 gaming console in China, originally scheduled for Jan 11, due to "various factors", according to a statement on Thursday.

Sony Computer Entertainment said in the statement that a new sale date had not yet been determined. Prolonged negotiations with Chinese authorities were part of the reason for the delay, a company source in China told Reuters.

The release would have marked the PlayStation's entry into China for the first time.

Beijing lifted a 14-year ban on foreign gaming consoles last year, paving the way for Sony's rival Microsoft Corp to launch its newest-generation Xbox in China in September.

Despite being the world's third-largest gaming market, where gaming revenues hit US$15 billion last year, China may be a tough market to crack for the console makers.

Strict censorship rules prevent the sale of many popular titles, while Sony and Microsoft also facing stiff competition from PC and mobile games, which have dominated the Chinese market in the 14-year absence of console games.

REUTERS