PlayStation 2 finally arrives in mainland market

Despite serious piracy concerns, Sony will launch the games console next month

Sony Corp has announced that it will launch the PlayStation 2 (PS2) games console in China next month, despite widespread concerns within the company about the potential for piracy of games.

Earlier reports had suggested the company would postpone the introduction of the best-selling games console in China until next year, due primarily to rampant piracy and the market disruption caused by the Sars outbreak.

'Many people said piracy problems made Sony reluctant to put PS2 in China,' Sony China chairman Hiroshi Shoda said at a press conference in Beijing. 'We have realised piracy cannot be stopped 100 per cent, not only in China, but in the rest of the world.'

Mr Shoda said Sony would encourage software developers to come up with new games for the PS2 in Chinese as part of a broader effort to tackle the persistent piracy Chinese software firms face.

'This will encourage people to fight piracy in order to protect their interests,' he said.