Sony planning over 30 first-party titles for 2001?

[02.24.01] » SCEA may be attempting to make up for lost time.

   With only Fantavision at launch and a few sports titles since then, Sony has seemed oddly reluctant to support its new console in the U.S. with first-party software. Though a few more titles were recently announced for an American release, the company's confirmed line-up for the coming year still remains relatively meager at a time when the console should be gathering the momentum to stand against the coming Xbox and GameCube launches.

   However, IGN reports that SCEA is planning to publish over 30 titles in the calendar year 2001 and as many as 42 by the fiscal year's end in March. While a number of these will certainly be all-but-confirmed titles from developers like 989, Naughty Dog, or Sony Europe, this still leaves over a dozen gaps in the release list.

   A few of these are likely entirely unannounced titles, but it's also probable that SCEA will be fleshing out its schedule with a few of its Japanese parent's products. With an increasingly diverse first-party line up in Japan, including games like The Devil & I, Tsugunai, and Phase Paradox, look for a few surprises to surface this May at E3.