It will take place this year, as previously promised. The system will be released to Japan on December 12, 2004. The base system, model number PSP-1000, will retail for 19,800 yen (20,790 yen with tax -- at current US exchange rates, that's approx. $185-190) and will include the system, AC adapter and battery pack.
SCE also has a number of optional accessories launch with the system on 12/12:
Memory Stick Duo
Model: PSP-M32
Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax)
Specs: Magic Gate, 32 Megabytes
PSP AC Adapter
Model: PSP-100
Price: 3500 yen (3675 with tax)
Specs: 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz
PSP Battery Pack
Model: PSP-110
Price: 4800 yen (5040 yen with tax)
Specs: 3.6V/1800mAh
PSP Headphones With Remote Control
Model: PSP-140(W)
Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax)
Color: white
Specs: inner-ear headphones, functions for play, pause, FF, FR, volume, hold
PSP Soft Case & Hand Strap
Model: PSP-170(B)
Price: 2000 yen (2100 yen with tax)
Color: soft case is black, hand strap is white
Case Size: 195 x 7.5 x 108 mm (width, height, depth)
Strap Size: 189 x 3.3 x 9 mm (width, height, depth)
In addition to the base unit, SCE will make the PSP available as part of a so-called "Value Pack." This package (PSP-1000K) will cost 24,800 yen (26,040 yen with tax) and will include the system and all the accessories listed above.
Unfortunately, SCE hasn't provided details on the system's lineup of launch titles. It has stated that 21 PSP games will gradually arrive throughout the year both from first party and third party sources, but how many of these will arrive on 12/12 will have to wait for a future announcement.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America has not announced its side of the plans for PSP. The system will be released in North America in early 2005 (with a European release further into the year).
The current ratio for yen-dollar exchange is fairly close to 100-1 (a 'yenny' is a penny, so just move the decimal over two places and you're close), with Japanese prices typically slightly higher than American prices. The base price of 19,800 for the PSP is about $185 US, meaning the system could weigh in here somewhere between $179 and $199. The Value System costs 24,800 yen, which is about $232 in our money.
Knowing typical Japanese prices, one might guess that the US system could be priced here even further below the 200 dollar mark than our estimates. However, there is one caveat to taking the PSP's US conversion on the lower end: the Nintendo DS was recently announced for a US price of $149, with a Japanese price of exactly 15,000 yen, so unless competition drives down the US price, we do not expect yet for the US PSP launch to significantly undercut the Japanese price. However, with the base system being so inexpensive in Japan, the price here is essentially guaranteed to be under $200.
Included are pictures of the system and its final accessories. Also be sure and check out our other stories in today's headlines as SCE let the flood gates open on official PSP details.