Launch of Sony's Next Generation Portable Won't Be Affected by Japanese Disasters

Sony has doubled back on an earlier statement and has now revealed that the terrible tragedies that affected Japan, a series of earthquakes and a tsunami, won't impact the production or launch of its Next Generation Portable device.

Japan has been hit hard by natural disasters last month, with the damage taking a heavy toll on practically the whole country as well as its industry.

While the gaming one wasn't as affected as the car-making one, for example, Sony Computer Entertainment America boss Jack Tretton was quoted earlier this week as saying that the disasters from the company's native Japan might impact the launch of the Next Generation Portable.

"It may be the straw that says 'maybe we get to just one market by the end of the year'," Tretton was quoted as saying in an article from Bloomberg.

Now, Sony Japan representative Satoshi Fukuoka made a new statement to the Wall Street Journal, via 1UP, in which it denies the things said by Tretton.

"So far we see no impact from the quake on our launch plan," said Fukuoka, meaning that it's still business as usual for the Japanese company.

Sony hasn't talked that much about when it is releasing the Next Generation Portable on the market, but made it clear that the new handheld device will arrive in at least one territory before the end of the year.

Traditionally, Sony first launches its gaming consoles in its native Japan, and then in territories like North America or Europe.

Seeing as how rivals like Nintendo, with its 3DS, or even Apple, with its ever popular mobile devices, are dominating the handheld market, Sony should definitely hurry up and make sure that the Next Generation Portable will be available for purchase before the start of the winter holiday season.