Sony has decided to alter its PlayStation Vita launch schedule plans, going back to what is an earlier claim: that they’ll have the new portable system available in “at least one territory” by the end of this year. Based on an AP report, that territory will be Japan.
This news was confirmed by SCEI Chairman Kaz Hirai during a press conference in Tokyo, where he mentioned that the system will miss the holiday season in Europe and North America – making it to those regions in 2012 instead.
The last that we had heard was that the device would make it to the global market “starting” at the end of this year. It was an alteration on the previous report which they’re apparently switching back to.
It was previously announced that PlayStation Vita is going to launch with two different versions, with the regular one starting at $249. The 3G-enabled one will be $299, respectively. These plans are apparently still on track. Hirai spoke about how there will be no price adjustment, despite Nintendo‘s drastic drop on their new 3DS.
“We packed so much into the device and made it very affordable,” Hirai said. “There is no need to lower the price just because somebody else that happens to be in the video game business decided that they were going to lower their price.”
This news sounds a bit more realistic and in tune with more traditional hardware launches from the past. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long before we get our hands on Sony’s newest toy.
