E3 2011: PlayStation Vita details

In case you hadn't heard the news, Sony's Next Generation Portable is no more. Instead, it's going to be called the PlayStation Vita and it's coming in 2011. Yes, this year.

The word vita translates into 'life', which is appropriate considering how much of an emphasis Sony is placing on social networking. PlayStation Vita will support a new feature called 'Party', a nifty little way of communicating with your friends through headsets and microphones. The system is being built with some of the same functions that you can find on the PlayStation 3, e.g. the ability to compare trophies, make suggestions about other games and so on. There is also said to be eighty titles currently in development.

But the release date is what will come as a big shock; the PlayStation Vita handheld will be launching this year in Japan, Europe and the United States. And then you have the price, surprisingly low considering how advanced the hardware is. The standard Wi-Fi only versions costs US$249 (AU$233), while the 3G version will be US$299 (AU$280).

Will any of those Australian prices be accurate? Almost certainly not, but the successor to the PlayStation Portable is on the way, and it's looking mighty tempting.

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47 Comments

sobriquet835

1 year ago

Any word on whether tropy lists for Vita and PS3 will be thrown together or seperated? So, can I use my PSN account from my PS3 on Vita and keep the trophies in one list/account?

grim-one

1 year ago

EB have the wifi only model up for $338 right now. Expensive =P

mikezilla2

1 year ago

dos anyone recall seeing a 007 logo when they were showing off the NGP ? i wonder what game ..? , are we buying an NGP this year grim ?

Ciel

1 year ago

Fengato

1 year ago

Import time....

mikezilla2

1 year ago

i also hear rockstar are working on a number of titles for the NGP ....

mexalix

1 year ago

Get a life, get a Vita!

I can feel the smoothness from here.

Gamespot hands-on(off) the Vita

http://au.gamespot.com/shows/tonight-on-the-spot/?event=tonight_on_the_spot_ngp20110606&tag=topslot;thumb;1

LeonJ

1 year ago

Impressed by the price. If it is $350 AU, I cannot resist!

Also, if it is the same price as the 3DS, look out Nintendo! You might be in trouble this time around!

ppjim3

1 year ago

I really don't like the name but the gear on the inside is very nice. Hopefully we can all just quickly move into calling it a PSV (or just keep NGP?) and never hear the Vita part again.

The AU pricing is going to be a really tough thing, but assuming it's region free (haven't seen anything to dispute it?) then a US model is going to be a great investment at this point in time.

I was pretty sure I'd never want another Sony portable after the PSP bomb, but this *could* do it for me once I start to try some games on it.

trixSTAR

1 year ago

LeonJ wrote

Impressed by the price. If it is $350 AU, I cannot resist!

Also, if it is the same price as the 3DS, look out Nintendo! You might be in trouble this time around!

You could be right, we picked up a 3DS and it does seem to be struggling with must have titles so far

A Vita will certainly be at the top of the Christmas shopping list

THEMAN

1 year ago

technically, considering is basically a portable ps3... and cafe is slightly more powerful than a ps3/x360... ... I'd say this + PS4/x720 as a combo kit are much better value.

Your $250 goes real far. I'm thinking about putting money aside - converting to USD for launch while the AUS remains robust.

matrix-cat

1 year ago

At least it's not $450AU like the PSP Go was. I need to be sold a little more seriously by Sony, but importing one from America for $250ish with shipping is an attractive prospect.

LeonJ

1 year ago

Yes and no. You have the dramas with the DLC and what-not.

Esposch

1 year ago

THEMAN wrote

and cafe is slightly more powerful than a ps3/x360...

Lies, all lies. Going by the rumoured specs, the Cafe will blow away the PS3/360, and be beaten somewhat by 720/PS4 (yet still be comparable). If they were of similar power, Ubisoft would not have made the statement that they did yesterday (that they are very far into development of BG&E2, yet the current gen of consoles cannot run it).

Although you do make a fair point about the value. It's just so much more powerful than the 3DS, and the same price too.
And there seems to be interesting games for it (I hope that Vanillaware thing isn't exclusive!)
It'll be interesting to see how this gen pans out.

1aceraussie

1 year ago

two hundred and ninety nine us dollars
two hundred and ninety nine us dollars
two hundred and ninety nine us dollars

That sure beats five hundred and ninety nine us dollars

Sorry, I had to do it.

Flea

1 year ago

Feel so bad I bought a 3DS now.. Vita just blows it away. I will probably preorder in the next few days. Must say I'm shocked that Sony managed to unveil new hardware without a backlash, lets face it they have screwed the pooch on that one in recent years.

fatpizza

1 year ago

Was anyone else really impressed with the Modnation Racers interface? That was one of the highlights of the conference for me.

ZeroX03

1 year ago

Flea wrote

Agreed, feels like such a waste of money now...

admeister

1 year ago

ZeroX03 wrote

Flea wrote

Feel so bad I bought a 3DS now.. Vita just blows it away.

Agreed, feels like such a waste of money now*

LeonJ

1 year ago

Sony always does this. It's gonna be the DS/PSP thing all over

shiraj

1 year ago

I pray it isnt region locked - also hope that DLC from the AU PSN store works on imported consoles -

Will get this if the above is true - surely best buy will have a deal at launch with $250 US with a couple of games or something of the like ...??

RichieT23

1 year ago

This looks gorgeous. Do want.

moteread01

1 year ago

shiraj wrote

I pray it isnt region locked

Going by how sony work, I'm pretty sure it won't be.

ZeroX03 wrote

Flea wrote

Agreed, feels like such a waste of money now...

I sold mine not too long ago to make way for PSV.

ZNMS

1 year ago

Sony have only announced US prices. Considering, how pretty much everything video game related is higher in price here in Australia, no matter how well the Australian dollar is fairing on the stock market, the price for the unit in Australian dollars will be higher. I'm guessing somewhere around the $350-$400 mark, minimal for the standard version.

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