Sony has announced on the PlayStation blog that its highly awaited PS Vita will be released in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Europe on February 22, 2012. This next generation handheld was unveiled by the company in January this year and is said be equipped with front and back multi-touch screens, motion sensors, Six Axis sensors as well as augmented reality capabilities which are made possible by its front and rear cameras.
It will be offered in two models – Wi-Fi and 3G/Wi-Fi, both of which will feature Bluetooth, built-in GPS, stereo speakers and stereo microphones. Over one hundred games are apparently under development for the Vita currently. These include the likes of Sound Shapes, Resistance: Burning Skies, Uncharted Golden Abyss, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and other titles under the Assassin’s Creed, FIFA and Call of Duty franchises.
“I’ve had the chance to spend some time with several of these titles and I think you’ll be blown away by how each takes advantage of the technology packed into PS Vita to deliver amazing gaming experiences. With its vibrant 5-inch OLED screen, dual analog sticks, dual cameras, and front and rear touch panel, PS Vita will deliver rich, immersive games with stunning graphics, which simply can’t be found anywhere else. Now you’ll be able to play shooters and action titles on-the-go with controls that are familiar, and you won’t have to block out the gorgeous screen to interact with the games,” commented, Jack Tretton, President and CEO, Sony.
Apart from games, buyers of the PS Vita would also be able to enjoy social networking on their devices as a number of apps like Facebook, foursquare, Skype, and Twitter will come preloaded with the handheld. Furthermore, compatible titles will also provide gamers with PS3 integration.
The PS Vita which is set for a February 22, 2012 release date can currently be pre-ordered from major retailers. Its 3G/Wi-Fi version sells at 299.99 USD (approx. Rs. 14,817), while its Wi-Fi model is available at 249.99 USD (approx. Rs. 12,347).