PlayStation 4’s Japanese Release Date Locked For February 22nd, 2014

It looks like Sony’s native market won’t receive the PlayStation 4 until 2014 after all, following the company’s confirmation that its next-gen device will hit Japanese retails stores on February 22nd, 2014. News comes via Sony’s pre-Tokyo Game Show conference, where the industry giant also confirmed that a limited day-one edition of the console will come bundled with a free copy of Knack and an extended one year warranty in the Eastern market.

Priced at ¥41,979, the standard version of the PlayStation 4 will become available to pre-order in selected retail outlets in the region on October 5th. What’s more, Sony also confirmed that a premium bundle will be available, which will include the console’s PlayStation Camera, too, for ¥46,179. At launch, the Japanese fanbase will have access to a grand total of 19 games across retail and digital outlets.

During the press conference, the company duly beefed up the launch catalogue with some newly announced titles. Naturally, these games are infused with Eastern sensibilities and include Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends and a new project from Kadokawa Games Studio entitled Natural Doctrine.

Pushing back the PlayStation 4’s Japanese debut until 2014 may upset some of Sony’s native community. However, the company validated its decision by stating that a Q1, 2014 release window was selected so that the launch line-up could contain software orientated towards the indigenous population. With that said, it could well be that Sony are doubling down on Western markets, where the console will launch a full three months before its Japanese bow.

After all, it’s no secret that the Japanese demographic gravitate more towards handheld devices, as evidenced by sales of the 3DS and, crucially, the PlayStation Vita – which was subject to a hardware revision during this morning’s press conference. Furthermore, with Microsoft opting to release the Xbox One for Japan sometime in 2014, too, coupled with the increasingly extraneous Wii U, Sony can be quietly confident regarding its lion’s share of its domestic market.

What do you think, though? Did you anticipate that the company would push Japan’s release date of the PlayStation 4 into 2014? Let us know below.