PSP US Release Date & Price News

In a show of its intentions, Sony Computer Entertainment America today confirmed a launch date and a price tag for the PSP in the territory. At $249.99 (£133), the console is $50 more than Nintendoâ??s DS system launched for back in November 2004. The system is being sold as a Value Pack and will include a 32Mb Memory Stick and AC adaptor; the first million units will also be sold with a free UMD copy of Spiderman2 so owners can experience the multimedia handling of the PSP. The system will launch with 24 titles, each sold for upwards of $39.99 (£21,), more than double the number of titles released for the Nintendo DS at its launch.

Confirming the details, SCEA boss Kaz Hirai commented, "PSP will evolve and elevate portable entertainment, giving users the freedom to play full 3D games, watch movies, listen to music and connect wirelessly on their terms, their time and their placeâ?¦More than ever, today's consumer demands access to entertainment outside the home without compromising qualityâ?¦With more than 100 PSP game titles currently in development worldwide, and the ability to download and listen to digital music and view feature films with breathtaking screen quality, PSP lets users control their entertainment options, all in one package."

Some gamers have been importing the system for $400 from Japan as anticipation grows exponentially ahead of the PSPâ??s launch as the system lines up to be the biggest threat to Nintendoâ??s domination of the hand-held market. The news comes as momentum for the DS appears to be waning; January came and went without a major title for the system and Nintendo have already dropped their software sales forecast by a third, from 15 million to 10 million.

SCEE are yet to disclose a European release date and price, let alone whether PSP owning wannabes will be able to get hold of a copy of Spidey 2 free of charge â?“ stand-by for TVGâ??s PSP review next weekâ?¦

..And incidentally, the US release date will be March 24th 2005...