Western Consumers to Be Zapped by DualShock 3 Scarcity

Retailers selling the PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 peripheral are warning Western buyers that stock is scarce.

Demand for the accessory is apparently so great that the import retailers have already filled all their pre-orders. Inflated prices for the rumble-capable controller are therefore more than likely.

"This is a product with limited availability and our allocations have been pre-sold," Play Asia has said.

The DualShock 3 arrives in Japan on November 11.

"Please wait for further updates from our Japanese distributors in the next few days but so far, it's not looking good for readily available stock on November 11," National Console Support has said.

"If prices ratchet up too high, we'd advise patience since prices should eventually drop to normalcy within 2-3 weeks after the Japanese debut," the retailer added.

Two versions of the controller are in the offing, in Sony's traditional black or white, priced at ¥5,500, the equivalent of $47. A spring North American and European release has been indicated by Sony but no date has been set.

Some import retailers, whose practices are frowned upon by Sony, are currently selling the product for about $80.

Source: Gamesindustry.biz