Lately it seems like Sony just can't get a break from the negative end of the press. Unfortunately for them, today will be no exception.

The Japanese launch for the PlayStation 3 will suffer a loss of 20,000 units because of parts shortages - taking the original estimate of 100,000 down to an even more meagre 80,000.

Though unrelated to this expected shortage, retailers such as Play-Asia and YesAsia have recently cancelled any and all pre-orders of the PS3 to European countries, fearing similar lawsuits to those which brought down Lik-Sang.

Considering the PS2's initial launch in Japan - selling over 900,000 units in its first weekend on sale - and its risen popularity ever since, it seems as if a lot of our Eastern pals, and many of us, will be let down come November 11th.