No more PS3 dev kits?

In the months before a console's debut, there are few pieces of hardware more important than the developer's kit. Dev kits are rough versions of the final unit, allowing developers to test their code under real gameplay conditions. Unfortunately, it seems as if Sony has dropped the ball for the PS3 once again. A source for Kotaku is reporting that the company has actually run out of dev kits, and worse, the test controller doesn't even have a motion sensor. Quoting:

Sony has run out of PS3 test kits to give to developers. Since the announcement of the European launch being delayed, nobody has any idea what's going to happen with the PS3 port of F.E.A.R... specially since we only have the one PS3. And it's a devkit. In case you haven't seen those things, they sound like giant vacuum cleaners. They're reportedly ridiculously complicated to use, specially when upgrading the firmware. It has just the one controller, and it's not even the proper PS3 one even! It doesn't have those "innovative" changes from the PS3 controller, it's just a Dual Shock 2 with a USB Mini port.

If this is true, could Sony's blunder result in a temporary drought of PS3 games while developers wait for new kits?

by MacNN Staff