SCE HK boss: "Licensing" issues behind PSN delays in Asia

Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong boss Katsuhiko Murase has said that PSN has seen delays in Asia due to "licensing issues".

It's been reported that the service in the region has been lacking in comparison to the US or EU with content for the PlayStation Store.

"First of all, we recognize the seriousness of the issue and the voice of our consumers," he told GameSpot.

"We are trying our best in PSN Store consistency. Yet at the same time, I need them to understand that this isn’t a lack of effort on our part; it’s the licensing issue. There’s a legal restriction for some titles we really want to put on the Asian PSN Store."

Murase continued at last weekend's PlayStation Fest event in Singapore: "For example, a game that has Japanese voice acting that’s on sale on the Japanese PSN Store cannot be sold on the Asian PSN Store due to the voice acting content restricted just for Japan. Games featuring licensed cars too that are restricted only in Japan cannot be sold on Asian PSN Stores as well.

"Games with title names trademarked in Asia also have trouble being placed on the Asian PSN Stores even if it’s available on the Japanese PSN Store. We have to check that all major I.Ps can be distributed officially here before they’re placed on the PSN Store."