Sony used the Tokyo Game Show to announce a Japanese ship date for the PlayStation Vita, mentioning that the rest of the world would see the next-generation Sony handheld in 2012. Sony said the PlayStation Vita will ship on Dec. 17 in Japan.
The PlayStation Vita is expected to go on sale in the United States and Europe in “early 2012,” according to the Reuters news service.
According to the report, the PlayStation Vita will launch with 26 games, although it’s unclear whether that many (or even more) will ship with the system when it arrives in the United States and Europe.
At E3 this year, Sony announced that a 3G version will be available at AT&T domestically, while a Wi-Fi only model will also be available. In Japan, NTT Docomo will offer prepaid 3G plans for the PlayStation Vita.
The Wi-Fi model is expected to cost $325, while the 3G version will retail for $390.
