Following the launch in Japan on 12 December, Sony will launch the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in Europe on 25 March 2005, according to the company's own retailer-oriented sales and marketing documentation. That Sony has been planning to ship PSP over here by the end of Q1 2005 is no great surprise. Certainly, the company's recent annual strategy meeting featured a company roadmap which clearly pegged the handheld's US and European release to late fiscal 2004 - Sony's current financial year ends 31 March 2005, six days after the European launch date cited by Spong. That said, back in May this year, reports were pointing to 18 March 2005 as the date for PSP's European debut. Both dates are Fridays, a traditional release day for games consoles. The new date is only a week after the old one, giving Sony seven extra days to punch out more PSPs from its production plants.
Sony rival Nintendo will announce the European release date for its DS handheld console early next month. Again, DS' launch date was previously reported as taking place on 18 March 2005, so Sony may well have moved its own date to avoid a clash. Spong claims that Sony is already pitching PSP to retailers and is touting the idea that they give over shelf space exclusively to the new console. What Sony is offering in return - if indeed it is proffering such a plan - is not known. Nintendo launched DS in Japan recently, and said that the US launch, which took place on Monday, 29 November had seen 500,000 units sold within the first week. SCE also has a number of optional accessories launch with the system on 12/12: Memory Stick Duo Model: PSP-M32 Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax) Specs: Magic Gate, 32 Megabytes PSP AC Adapter Model: PSP-100 Price: 3500 yen (3675 with tax) Specs: 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz PSP Battery Pack Model: PSP-110 Price: 4800 yen (5040 yen with tax) Specs: 3.6V/1800mAh PSP Headphones With Remote Control Model: PSP-140(W) Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax) Color: white Specs: inner-ear headphones, functions for play, pause, FF, FR, volume, hold PSP Soft Case & Hand Strap Model: PSP-170(B) Price: 2000 yen (2100 yen with tax) Color: soft case is black, hand strap is white Case Size: 195 x 7.5 x 108 mm (width, height, depth) Strap Size: 189 x 3.3 x 9 mm (width, height, depth) In addition to the base unit, SCE will make the PSP available as part of a so-called "Value Pack." This package (PSP-1000K) will cost 24,800 yen (26,040 yen with tax) and will include the system and all the accessories listed above. Unfortunately, SCE hasn't provided details on the system's lineup of launch titles. It has stated that 21 PSP games will gradually arrive throughout the year both from first party and third party sources, but how many of these will arrive on 12/12 will have to wait for a future announcement. Sony Computer Entertainment of America has not announced its side of the plans for PSP. The system will be released in North America in early 2005 (with a European release further into the year). We'll keep you posted ... source: The Register & IGN
