Ben-DutkaLooking to put the PlayStation Vita on your holiday wish list? Don't bother. …unless you want a really belated Christmas present.
Despite several pieces of evidence that have pointed to a holiday 2011 launch for Sony's new portable, Sony Corp. executive vice president Kaz Hirai told the Associated Press that it just won't happen. The unit won't be available in time for Christmas in the US or Europe, although it's still expected to release in Japan this year.
Hirai didn't label this news as a delay, but reaffirmed Sony's desire to come prepared to other regions with "solid game software offerings" for the Vita's launch. He wasn't specific in regards to dates but as for pricing, he was quite decisive: after Nintendo opted to slash the price of its 3DS portable, people wondered if a price cut for the Vita would also come before launch. But Hirai says no way:
"We packed so much into the device and made it very affordable. 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."
The Wi-Fi-only version of the Vita will hold a $249 price tag in the US and the more advanced 3G-enabled version will run you $299. For a frame of reference, depending on the Nintendo 3DS version you want, the device will cost between $169 and $249 as of August 12. But the bottom line is that we can't expect the PlayStation Vita this year, so it's time to focus on other things. …like, games.