Just moments ago during our 2011 E3 press conference we proudly unveiled an incredible 2011 software lineup and amazing new PS3 peripherals, and also shed new light on our highly anticipated handheld gaming device, officially named PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). “Vita,” which means “Life” in Latin, was chosen as the name for our next-generation portable entertainment system because it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context.
By blurring the lines between interactive entertainment and reality, our goal was to design a device that offered a revolutionary combination of rich gaming capabilities and social connectivity, bringing users closer to each other and closer to their gaming experiences wherever they are. Connectivity was a key objective and our goal was to create experiences and content that would challenge the traditional notions of gaming. It was vital to make a device that was an extension of a user’s entertainment world, no matter where one would go.
Successively launching in the global market for $249 starting the end of this year, PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Two analog sticks enable a wider range of game genres. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new gameplay, enabling entirely new experiences.
We know you’ve been closely following all of the news since we announced the product in January. With mobile connectivity playing a huge role in PS Vita’s interactive experience, we know many of you have been wondering what carrier will be helping us bring you closer to other users and closer to your gaming experiences on the go. Today, we proudly announced a partnership with AT&T, which powers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, who will serve as the exclusive service provider for PS Vita in the United States. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G/Wi-Fi models available, PS Vita will enable infinite possibilities for you to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with your friends wherever they are.
Ruin for PS Vita
The excitement doesn’t stop there. We believe that 2011 will be a defining year as we usher in a new era of portable gaming. With the official North American unveiling of PlayStation Vita also comes the introduction of an extensive line-up of software for the platform. PS Vita’s launch lineup is a force to be reckoned with, featuring exciting and attractive new titles from SCE Worldwide Studios, including UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, LittleBigPlanet, and Ruin (working title), which utilize PS Vita’s groundbreaking technology to make unprecedented immersive, interactive and social game play available on-the-go. In addition, titles such as Little Deviants, Hot Shots Golf, Reality Fighter, Hustle Kings, ModNation Racers, Wipeout, Super Stardust Delta and a broad range of third-party game developers and publishers make use of PS Vita’s unique feature set. We can let all of you know that the biggest and best 1st and 3rd party gaming franchises will be coming to PS Vita.
Further enhancing your entertainment experience are new PS Vita features, such as “LiveArea,” an interactive space for each PS Vita software title that allows you to access the latest game information through PlayStation Network; “near,” a pre-installed application that lets you see what other PS Vita users in the vicinity are playing; “Party,” which lets you voice chat or text chat while playing games or using the Internet browser; and “Welcome Park,” a tutorial application designed specifically to guide you through PS Vita’s new user interface. For more information, be sure to visit http://us.playstation.com/ngp/.
2011 is sure to be an epic year for us here at PlayStation. We’re always looking for ways to create compelling experiences for all of you and we’re very excited to bring you unparalleled gaming experiences with PS Vita. Let us know your thoughts and looking forward to having you try out PS Vita for yourselves!
Read more about PlayStation at E3!
- E3 2011: It’s An Exciting Time to be a Member of the PlayStation Family
- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – E3 2011 Preview
- Introducing DUST 514, a Persistent Shooter from CCP
- Resistance 3 E3 2011 Trailer, Doomsday Edition Revealed, Demos in L.A.
- BioShock Infinite to Support Move, PS Vita Game In the Works
- Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest Coming to PlayStation Move this Fall
- NEW 3D Display and PS3 Accessories Debut at E3
PSVita+AT&T=SUCK & FAIL!
Exclusive on AT&T is the worst, unless they offer me free 3G to go with my U-Verse or this thing gets a Verizon release it’s WiFi only for me too!
Way to listen to your customers Sony … AT&T exclusive 3G, HA!
I’d like to also add that it should be 4G on Verizon since the ping times on 3G (Any provider) are WAY too high for any kind of gaming.
It still has wifi, you don’t have to get the 3g, its not a big deal. Stop making it out like it ruins the handheld. Newsflash, millions of people use AT&T without issue.
Don’t usually comment here but:
I was a early adopter of PSP, and the same will be here. I’m really excited for this product but hope there is something along the lines of an office/organizer suite as it will entice older gamers even more.
I’m not sure why you guys killed the cell call plans. Well actually I do :) and that’s all I will say. Its just it would have been so amazing just to have/need one device on my person when I’m out and about, now PSV will simply replace my PSP, and I’ll have to hang onto my phone I guess o_o.
I know this last part is pushing it, but I really think there should be some sort of DUAL strategy for your cross platform play. What I mean by this is that AAA games should come with the PS3 and the PSV version. Now you guys have more brains then me, but both could be on one BluRay, to put the PSV version on you would need to hook it up to your PS3, it would do some sort of authentication, and send it to the PSV.
Anyways…where’s Agent?! lol
the psv looks sweet can’t wait for a firm release date merry christmas to me, but i have a few unanswered questions! my #1 is what kind of external memory cards will the psv use for downloading from ps store.
memory stick pro duo
memory stick pro micro m2
does anyone know, i’m curious if i’m going to have to buy a new memory format or will my psp and psp go memory stick duo cards work.
I need to know if the 3g will have a monthly plan please let me know this I work in retail and I want to sale pre orders but i want a confirmation that customers will not be charge monthly for 3g if they purchase this, please respond to this
@SONY
When are you guys and girls going to give me a PS3 system update that allows my friends to see EXACTLY what I am doing besides playing a PS3 disk? I have a release date 80GB system that plays PS1, 2, and 3 disks. I want my system to reflect this info when my friends look to see what I am doing.
@ SONY
It should have been able to do this in the first place
Don’t worry about AT&T. This will be jailbroken just like the iPhone so you can use other carriers, I guarantee you.
You guys are all stupid, the PSV is awesome tech with some awesome new features. Sony definitely up’d the game on this one, other handhelds will be playing catch-up for years yet again. And the reason they didn’t go with 4g is because its [DELETED]. 3G has the ability to run twice as fast as the 4g is set to run right now, plus the lack of 4g coverage makes the added cost of the radio pointless. As far as AT&T the reason they went with them is because they have the best nationwide coverage so better chance of you actually having signal if you purchase the option. Does everyone on here just talk out their [DELETED] or do people think before they make emotionally rationalized statements? Don’t think so.
For the first time ever, I’m excited for a handheld at launch.
You have learned, Sony!!!
Need more details!!
Awesome… I am really waiting this release. When is it come out?
I guess I won’t be getting this after all. I live in the fricken boonies and there is no AT&T coverage in my area.
Playstation It only dashes your hopes
backwards compatible?
waawww ps vita look grate but att raally ??? thats y they didn’t say 4g cuz they know att cant handle that kind of service..
idk i still give sony my full SUPPORT but all i HAVE to say is DOWN WITH ATT!!!!!!! DOWN WITH ATT !!!!!! DOWN WITH ATT !!!!!!! DOWN WITH ATT !!!!! DOWN WITH ATT
@343 can you read? What part of it also has a wifi version dont u understand?
@Zorvan
Remember what happened the last time something was jailbroken? It’s safer to just not buy it and show Sony the mistake they made.
@346
Can you read? I live in the boonies. Where the eff am I supposed to pick up a wifi signal from?
The Vita looks Awesome! But I was thinking it would be totally cool if you guys would make the 3G version like my Kindle 3G in that I can choose which one I want to use. If I’m out I use 3G but if I’m at home or at a friends or in a hot spot I can use the wifi.
Why 3G. I’m waiting until at least 4 or price drop
There you go — there’s a lot of value in there, though you lost me on the 3G model when you told me I had to sign up with AT&T. Ah, well… I kinda wanted to wait until a model with a smaller form factor was released anyway. Hopefully by the time something around the size of a PSP Go comes around (a handheld that’s too large defeats the purpose of a handheld) the exclusivity deal with AT&T will be done and I can do it with Verizon or something because AT&T is just terrible.
Very good price.I’m definitely getting the PS Vita.I’m really looking forward to it.
day one for me
love the price will be getting this rather than an ipod touch (price difference of 40 $) one little tiny itsy bitsy problem ….. WHAT DOES IT HAVE FOR MUSIC STORAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a chance I’ll get one. Too pricey, and it’s probably not comfortable after 5 minutes of playing. That what makes my PSP hard to play for any length of time.
I’ll def buy this day one… But the name really sucks, guys. :/
And the move with at&t was real dumb…
scott, please respond to comment #354
Please reply to this question.
How long is the battery life?
@#357
check gamespot
Vita name is lame, NGP sounded better.
Will it be able to play downloadable PSP Games?
If it does I will totally buy it, if not I’m not even slightly interested…
Everyone likes backwards compatibility!
You just lost a sale.
What the hell are you thinking Sony?????!!!!! AT&T???!!! So you give us the PSVita at a good price point, but then you want us to use the most expensive network around?!!?!!!!
SAME BOAT AS THE OVERPRICED PS3……………………………….again……………………………………
Too bad, I really wanted the PSVita… with AT&T????… no thanks, I’ll pass now. Does this have to do with the Teen-Mobile deal?
Well, too bad for me. I refuse to pay premium prices for AT&T’s crappy customer service and less than great network.
So the next question;
What other carriers can we use with PSVita and when? I refuse to pay $249 for the WiFi only device with a 3G option only $50 more.
LOL the Vita has cross game chat. All you who said you would be willing to pay for cross game chat now have that option!!! Actually always did as you could have been using Skype on PSP this whole time.
Why does this thing have 3G??? As in can it be hooked up as a phone?
Why do you need a service provider ALA AT&T? Only in the USA?
Basically I live in Canada, why would I want to have 3G?
As far as gaming will I notice a diff between 3G and WIFI?
I’m confused now, can Canadians get 3G on the Vita?
Why would we or wouldnt we?
Sony make a program that lets us insert a disc into our PSP’s, then connect to PS3 via USB, then transfer the data from the UMD disc to our Vitas.
Or do we have to buy the same games all over again?
Make all PSP games playable on this thing and I probably would. Currently I cant stand shooters on PSP with only one stick.
Vita? Vista? Don’t like the name I shall call it PSP 2! I still have no idea if this thing has physical media have yet to see that. what type of physical media are they using?? memory cards don’t count becouse you still have to download.
I just care about four things;
1. battery life so I can use it as my music player.
2. Will PSN PSP and minis be compatible with it.
3. Comics? Will it work on it?
4. bluetooth? Will it work like the PSPGO!’s bluetooth?
Somewhat off topic; when will SONY’s E3 conference be on PSN?
HEY!!! Why the hell do all the blogs turn into mindless idiots who don’t know how to use a phone whining about cross-game chat. Please tell me why do you want it you freaks if your friend is playing a different game why would you want to hear all the extra noise of 2 games why not use a phone? why not text a message? Cross game chat =most pointless feature ever. I used my ps2 hard drive more than i would use this.
I’m over-excited about this. By Christmas, I hope, PSVita will already be out for me to purchase.
As I am trying to think over, my plans are…
Buy the PSVita for Christmas, which will sync nicely with my PS3, (along with two free PSP games that I downloaded from the WB package.)
Which next year, I can buy the new Nintendo console, along with the 3DS which will sync with it.
(Cross company comment.)
But yeah, I’m just glad the Vita wasn’t going to be able for use on a “soon-to-be-not-really-soon PS4” console.
That, and the price, is the reason why I’m buying it.
However, for 3G, I’m hoping for an unlimited plan, instead of a 4GB/month kind-of-thing.
Looks sweet. I love my 3DS, but Vita is going to be impressive. Definatly getting! Not sure about the 3G version though. Its not exactly something that I NEED. I mean if it connected to any WiFi connection and gave you updates like the 3DS, then that would be fine with me. But Im not sure if I need to ALWAYS be connected. Plus, last generation 3G At&T connection is a major turn off lol. Think of the battery life!
bring in the freakin cross game chat sony!!! we are all asking for it, you give the psv cross game chat and not the ps3? shame on you
I’m not asking for cross game chat i think it is absolutely stupid in every way including as a concept. I think there is a reason it has been on the board for 2 years it is stupid
I can’t wait for the 3G+WiFi unit. I have been an At&t customer for more than 10 years and have been very satisfied. If At&t merges with T-mobile we could have the best network for PSVita. Make a choice buy the WiFi model or the 3G but stop complaining about Sony choice for a partnership…I’m sure they had their reasons.
Little Big Planet..Vita? I can’t wait!
Talk about doing something right!! Keep it up, don’t just let this thing market itself. You’ve got an Apple killer right here.
You guys are soooo lucky! I got an early Christmas present. D: Guess I’d better start saving up!
@375 Oh yeah, Im tired of playing shooters with fake buttons. GO VITA!
What will be the price for Canada ?
Already pre-ordered on amazon! Can’t wait!
Defiantly buying that!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the system i’m going all out for, games, screen protectors, system case, its own bag what ever!!!!!!!!!!!
wait a minute … do i have to be a ps plus member to use the cloud save feature
@ 375 and 377 oh yes