Euro demand for PSP outstrips supply

Retailers are expecting Thursday's European launch of the PSP to be an "instant sellout" because demand has already begun to outstrip supply.

"More than 150,000 machines will be available in Britain on launch day, more than double the biggest launch in this country so far of a games console, thought to be the Nintendo DS. One retailer said: 'Stock will be very tight at the launch. It is clear that demand has been very high.' Retailers including Dixons, HMV and Game are understood to have stopped taking pre-orders of the PSP for collection on the launch day."

Meanwhile, some European PSP games are already appearing on store shelves. Activision's launch titles -- Spider-Man 2, Tony Hawk's Underground Remix and Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade -- were for sale at Virgin's central London stores.