The PlayStation 3 will appear on UK store shelves on 23 March, Sony has said. The next-generation console, delayed last September, will cost punters £425 for the 60GB model. The 20GB version will not be made available until later in the year - if there's a demand for it.

Australians will pay AUD999.95; New Zealanders NZD1,199.95; and Euro-zone residents €599 for the the console.

Sony said 1m consoles would be allocated for the launch, but that number will be spread across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East. Some 30 games will go on sale when the hardware does, some shipping on disc, others available via the internet.

Sony also confirmed an early report that the European launch will coincide with the release of a firmware update to "enhance the entertainment potential" of the machine.