Sony can no longer guarantee that if you pre-order a PlayStation 4 in the UK you'll get it at launch, EuroGamer reports.

"Sony have confirmed all PlayStation 4 pre-orders placed from 6th August will now not be guaranteed for launch. You can still pre-order PS4 with us in case we receive cancellations and can fulfil your order for launch," a message from ShopTo revealed.

Amazon has also posted notices that next-generation consoles ordered after August 6 will not be received on the release date and will await a full shipment of sufficient inventory.

Playstation 4 release date rumors have been spreading since Toys R Us announced the next-generation console would be available on December 13, but now the speculation might have some validity.

When Toys'R'Us was contacted for comment about whether these were simply placeholder dates or if they had a factual basis, a spokesperson replied, "I can confirm this information has been given direct from our suppliers and is accurate," IGN reports.

The December 13 release date means Microsoft will have a two-week head start over Sony with the November 29 release of its Xbox One.