Aside from delayed game releases, it looks like Japan’s trio of disasters would affect even the release of Sony’s upcoming portable console, the NGP (Next Generation Portable or PSP 2 if you will).  Originally slated to release during the holidays of 2011, due to disruptions in manufacturing, the device might start shipping to awaiting gamers early next year.  🙁

According to Jack Tretton, president of Sony Computer Entertainment America, at best, the NGP will be out of the gate and start shipping for a single region only (yes, that’s going to be Japan).  At worst, well, there’s always the next holiday but at that point, the portable market will be held firmly by both Nintendo and the 3DS, Apple and it’s iDevices, and various manufacturers with Android.  It’s like the PSP vs DS market all over again but with more players.

The positive point for the delay however is that it will give more time for the PSP to mature (you late bloomer you) and give berth to the launch of Sony’s initiative to penetrated the Android Market with it’s PlayStation-brand, a move spearheaded by the Xperia Play.

You can read more of Jack Tretton’s statements via his interview at Bloomberg and the report by Nomura Securities indicating the current state of Sony’s hardware production via Ars Technica.

Ninja Edit: Whoops!  I had the title NGP may not launch in 2010 upon publishing.  Sorry about that.

Is the delay of the NGP a good thing or not?  Tell us in the comments.