New PSP Gets Launch Date and Price in Japan

Sony says it will begin offering its slimmed-down and updated PlayStation Portable (PSP) in Japan on September 20 for about $162.

Sony Corporation has announced its plans to roll out its slimmer, updated version of the PlayStation Portable…at least in Japan. In a release (Japanese), Sony says will offer the new PSP in Japan beginning September 20 at a price of ¥19,800, or about $162 in U.S. dollars. PSP fans will notice that’s a bit cheaper than the current just-reduced price of $169.99 for an old-style piano black PSP in the United States.

For U.S. customers eager to begin speculating about when the new PSP might reach U.S. shores…it’s looking like Sony might be holding it back until very close to the end-of-year holidays, or even planning for a 2008 launch in the United States. The company recently reduced the price of the basic PSP package by $30 to $169.99 and has launched a new “Dude, Get Your Own” marketing campaign designed to highlight the PSP. In addition, Sony is rolling out special editions of the current PSP at the old $199.99 price point: these editions feature special colors and are themed to accompany the games Daxter and Star Wars: Battlefront—the special editions are scheduled to go on sale September 10 and October 9, respectively.