E3 came and went, and although there was plenty of juicy information spilled about the PlayStation Vita, a firm release date wasn’t revealed. If anything, Sony danced around the subject, saying a phased global roll-out was planned. With gamescom and Tokyo Game Show on the horizon, we expected those details would eventually come to light, however today, we’ve got the disappointing details of that plan a little early.
According to an Associated Press report, the PlayStation Vita will not be available in the US or Europe by this holiday shopping season, releasing by the end of the year in Japan only. North America and Europe will have to wait until 2012 for Sony’s new dual-analog, front- and rear-touch sensitive portable, the PlayStation Vita.
This information comes from PlayStation head honcho Kaz Hirai, who “didn’t characterize” this as a delay, rather saying that Sony wants to be prepared with a full launch line-up. This sounds more like the hardware is ready, but the software is not.
Hirai was also asked if there would be any price adjustments following Nintendo’s 3DS price drop to which he replied:
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.
Now, to go and research the hell out of the region-specifics of PlayStation Vita, because I can’t wait and I’ll have to import one. How are you feeling about this news? Does this curb some of your enthusiasm for the PlayStation Vita? Or are you glad Sony is waiting until the software can support the hardware? Let us know in the comments below.
