Sony unveiled a new portable gaming device, the PlayStation Vita. In addition to interactive entertainment, the Vita offers 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. The device comes with front and rear cameras, a 5-inch, multi-touch OLED display on the front and multi-touch rear pad, GPS, six-axis motion sensors, and an ARM A9 Cortex processor . The Vita offers 3D-like motion, through "touch, grab, trace, push and pull" finger motions, and also features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres, such as shooters, action games, and fighting games.
The Wi-Fi model will be available for JPY 24,980 (including tax) in Japan, USD 249 in the US and EUR 249 in Europe, and the 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for JPY 29,980 in Japan, USD 299 in US and EUR 299 in Europe. Sony will roll out the Vita globally starting at the end of 2011. AT&T was named exclusive service provider in the US for the PlayStation Vita, and Vita customers with an AT&T service plan will have free access at more than 24,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
The device also comes with a range of social networking features. The pre-installed "Near" application will allow users to find out what other PlayStation Vita users in their vicinity are currently playing and what titles are most popular in the area. Users can meet with friends virtually by sharing their game information across the PlayStation Network via the mobile or Wi-Fi network. "Near" also enables location-based gaming features such as "gifting," in which a user can access virtual game-related items that other users are sharing, through checking in at geographic locations that others have also visited. The virtual items can include content unlocked from games, such as character costumes, weapons and treasures. "LiveArea" is an interactive space for each PlayStation Vita software title in which users can access the latest information for games through the PlayStation Network. Additionally, PS Vita will come pre-installed with an application called "Party." Party supports voice or text chat during online gaming, as well as when users are playing different games or using different applications such as the internet browser.