News
The Ultimate in Portable Gaming Arrives With the Launch of PlayStation Vita in North and Latin America
Highly Anticipated PS Vita Delivers Unparalleled Gaming and Entertainment Experiences Virtually Anytime Anywhere
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 22, in the year of our Lord
2012 -- Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC today
announced the launch of the highly anticipated PlayStation®Vita
(PS Vita), the next generation portable entertainment system,
available now in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
PS Vita delivers new ways to play games that have never been
seen on any device, coupled with rich social features to keep
players connected to their gaming community. With the biggest
and best launch lineup in PlayStation® history, PS Vita offers
more than 25 titles on day one, plus a broad selection of
accessories. PS Vita is also launching today in Europe and
Australia.
"Today marks a historic day for the PlayStation brand and our
fans," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, Sony Computer
Entertainment America. "PlayStation Vita is the most powerful
and connected portable gaming system ever created. For the first
time ever, consumers will find compelling PS3™ console-like
gameplay experiences on-the-go from the most popular PlayStation
franchises as well as titles unique to PS Vita, while staying
connected with their favorite entertainment and social
networking applications through 3G and Wi-Fi support."
PS Vita is available at major retailers for $249.99 (MSRP) for
the Wi-Fi model and $299.99 (MSRP) for the 3G/Wi-Fi model. Both
models will include six Augmented Reality (AR) Play Cards along
with a voucher to download three augmented reality games from
PlayStation®Network.
AT&T is the exclusive U.S. wireless carrier for PS Vita and
customers have the option to activate 3G data plans directly
from their PS Vita. AT&T is offering three data plans, a $14.99
plan featuring 250MB of data, a $30 plan with 3GB and a $50 plan
with 5GB. All three plans will be session-based, and will not
require a long term contract, which benefits consumers by
providing them with flexibility. The high speeds and broad
coverage of AT&T's mobile broadband network means that PS Vita
owners will remain connected to their content and interact with
the world around them, including their friends and other PS Vita
owners.
The 3G/Wi-Fi model allows users to game at the speed of their
mobile lifestyle, including asynchronous/turn-based multiplayer
gameplay, digital gifting, instantly updated rankings and
leaderboards, immediate access to the latest downloadable add-on
content*, and real-time access to trophies, friends, web
browsing, and apps such as 'near'. PS Vita customers with an
AT&T data plan will also have free access at more than 29,000
AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
PS Vita introduces new ways to play, delivering new gameplay
experiences that have never been offered on any other handheld
gaming device. PS Vita features a powerful quad core processor
that offers unprecedented levels of performance, enabling deep,
immersive games that previously were only possible on home
consoles. Gamers will see amazing visuals and graphics come to
life on PS Vita's vibrant 5-inch high definition OLED
touchscreen, while they experience new ways to interact with
games using the rear touch pad. PS Vita's dual analog sticks, a
first for any handheld gaming device, provides familiar controls
that are ideal for shooters, action/adventure, sports and other
game genres. PS Vita also provides unique augmented reality
experiences through front and rear cameras that bring the real
world into your gaming world, plus a six-axis motion sensing
system and built in microphone.
Consumers will have access to music, videos, trophies, photos,
web browser and more. In addition to these features, consumers
will have access to several applications exclusive to PS Vita:
· With Content Manager, PS Vita owners can easily transfer
games, videos, music, and photos between your PS Vita and their
PS3 or a PC or a Mac.
· "near" allows PS Vita players to share their location with
friends and allow other PS Vita users to see what games they're
playing. Friends can rate games and enable location based gaming
features such as gifting in which a user can access virtual
game-related items that other users are sharing by checking in
at geographic locations.
· The Party application will enable cross game chat which allows
PS Vita users to communicate with up to eight friends through
text or voice chat, regardless of what games they're playing.
They can bookmark their favorite parties to reconnect later with
friends and or join existing parties to see what other users are
talking about.
· Remote Play gives consumers the ability to access content
stored on their PS3 such as personal photos, music, and videos.
In the future, PS Vita owners can look forward to utilizing the
remote play feature as a way to control compatible software game
titles as well.
· With cross-platform gameplay and compatible software titles,
players can start a game on their PS3, pause the game, and then
resume the game right where they left off using their PS Vita.
Consumers can also join multiplayer games on their PS Vita and
play against friends on their PS3 consoles.
In addition to PS Vita exclusive features, PS Vita owners will
be able to access popular social networking and communications
services via dedicated applications for Facebook, flickr,
foursquare, Skype™, and Twitter. These applications will be
rolled out within the launch window on PlayStation Network so
consumers can stay connected with the world around them.
Immediate access to thousands of movies and television shows are
readily available for PS Vita owners through the Netflix
application. Another great feature coming soon to PS Vita is the
Music Unlimited digital subscription service where consumers
will have the option to listen to hours of their favorite
musical artists and create their very own custom playlists.
With its extensive software lineup at launch, PS Vita boasts
strong first and third party developer support from day one. In
addition to the 25 titles available on day one there are more
than 70 games currently in development, ensuring that PS Vita's
vast library will have something to offer for gamers of all
ages. The launch day lineup includes blockbuster franchises such
as EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer plus brand new games such as
Escape Plan.
Consumers can now purchase PS Vita game cards at retailers
nationwide or download games through the PlayStation®Store.
Pricing for all PS Vita software will range between $9.99-$49.99
(MSRP).
In addition to PS Vita format games, more than 275 PSP
(PlayStation®Portable) titles are now available for download on
the PlayStation Store. U.S. consumers who already own digital
versions of select PSP titles will be able to seamlessly
transfer those games to their PS Vita system and enjoy these
games with enhanced video quality that's ideal for the system's
5-inch high definition OLED screen, along with controls that are
optimized for its features such as the dual analog sticks.
With the launch of PS Vita, SCEA will unleash the biggest
advertising campaign in PlayStation's history. PS Vita and the
official tag line "Never Stop Playing," along with the
Twitter-influenced hashtag #GAMECHANGER, will be featured with
retail partnerships, on wallscapes, billboards, digital banners,
and radio and television commercials. In addition, through a
partnership with Taco Bell, PlayStation and Taco Bell have given
consumers the opportunity to win one PS Vita for every 15
minutes since January 26, 2012, via the "Unlock the Box"
campaign.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC continues to redefine
the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one®
game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system,
the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system,
the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment
system and its online and network services the
PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store. Recognized as the
undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America
LLC markets the PlayStation® family of products and develops,
publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one,
PlayStation®2, PSP™ and PS3™ systems for the North American
market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer
Entertainment America LLC serves as headquarters for all North
American operations.
All games featured are trademarked and copyrighted properties of
their respective publishers and/or licensors. "PlayStation", and
the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks and "PS3","PSP"
and the "PSVITA" logo and the PlayStation Network logo are
trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "SONY" and
"make.believe" are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc. FLICKR and the FLICKR
Dots logo are the trademarks and/or registered trademarks of
Yahoo! Inc. foursquare® and the foursquare® logos are registered
trademarks of Foursquare Labs, Inc. Access to a broadband
Internet connection is required to use Skype. Skype is not a
replacement for traditional telephone service and cannot be used
for emergency calling. Skype, associated trademarks and logos
and the "S" symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited. Twitter is a
trademark of Twitter, Inc.
*PS Vita users can download less than 20MB of content