No ICS for Xperia Play, other Sony devices to get the update next week

Delivering a blow to Sony Xperia Play users, the Japanese manufacturer has announced that Xperia Play will not be getting the Android 4.0 update. Company has cited its inability to provide stable gaming performance on ICS as the key reason for taking the decision.

Sony had earlier promised to release Ice Cream Sandwich update for every smartphone in their 2011 Xperia smartphone line-up, but now Xperia Play users will be left out.

"We have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich - therefore, we will not make the Android 4.0 upgrade available for Xperia Play," company stated on its official blog.

News is not so grim for buyers of other smartphones in the Xperia line-up; company confirmed that Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman will receive the ICS updates starting from next week.

Company will be pushing out Android 4.0.4 to these smartphones.

Sony has also revealed the status of updates for its 2012 line-up. According to the company, Xperia S will be the first smartphone to get the Android 4.0 update, starting from the end of June. Xperia P update will follow next, whilst Xperia U will get ICS it a little later in Q3.