Eight titles including WipEout Pure and Ape Escape: On The Loose form part of the PSP’s raft of titles at launch...

Sony Computer Entertainment America has today confirmed the first-party line-up of US launch titles for the PSP, which is set to be released on March 24th 2005.

The eight games are:

• Ape Escape: On The Loose
• ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails
• Gretzky NHL
• MLB
• NBA
• Twisted Metal: Head On
• WipEout Pure
• World Tour Soccer

Confirming the line-up, Jack Tretton, Executive Vice President, Sony Computer Entertainment America said, "We are proud to present eight great PSP titles at launch from our internal studio groups at Sony Computer Entertainment…By taking the best of our franchises and making them truly new and unique on PSP, we are able to deliver stunning visuals and excitement never before seen. With many other innovative and original products on the horizon, consumers can expect March 24 to be the beginning of an unprecedented year for gaming and a revolutionary leap in the portable space."

With the addition of these titles at launch the PSP will have 24 games for sale on March 24th, and with a strong line-up in the months immediately after it seems clear as to what Sony’s intent is for the PSP.

There’s still confirmed launch date for the console on Europe, but e-tailer Amazon.co.uk has knocked back their expected release date to the end of June 2005. No word from Sony on the matter, but we’ll have more on that shortly...