Sony’s CEO, Howard Stringer, confirms PlayStation 3 for springtime launch in Europe. Company representatives stand by March.

We’ve waited a day for the dust to settle on this one. Yesterday Sony CEO Howard Stringer was quoted in many places as confirming PS3 launch in April. The quote came from an interview with CNET, but the original article has since been changed with an editor’s note to read more generally ‘spring’. Meanwhile SCEE PR has been maintaining that, as far as they know, it’s still going be March.

The price also came under scrutiny after the official PlayStation website quoted €629.99 and €529.99 for the 60GB and 20GB versions respectively. Again, SCEE has responded to interrogation with ‘no change’ to the original prices of €599 and €499 for most of Europe. A local higher rate of VAT (21 percent) is the reason PS3 could cost more in Ireland.

So, as it stands, PlayStation 3 will be launched in the UK in March for €599 (60GB) and €499 (20GB). That is, until further notice.