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Is the PlayStation Vita launching on October 28?(Credit:Sony)
Sony's upcoming portable, thePlayStation Vita, could be on store shelves October 28, a recent report claims.
According to gaming publication IGN, a reader sent it a flyer from Blockbuster in the U.K. that lists the PlayStation Vita as launching on October 28. The flyer shows the Wi-Fi-only version retailing for 229.99 pounds ($378.37) and the 3G-capable version on sale for 279.99 pounds ($460.61).
The Vita is arguably one of the most anticipated industry launches this year. The device, which will replace the ailing PlayStation Portable, comes with a 5-inch multitouch OLED screen and dual joysticks. Both front and rear touchpads can be used to enhance the gameplay experience. The portable also comes with front and rear cameras for augmented reality integration. According to Sony, the Vita's graphical prowess will easily overshadow its predecessor.
At the E3 gaming expo earlier this year, Sony said that it will be launching the Wi-Fi version in the U.S. for $249. The 3G model will retail for $299. At the time, the company would only say that the Vita would be available for the holiday-shopping season.
There's no telling if Blockbuster's release schedule is accurate, since Sony hasn't confirmed a date. And even if it is, Sony has already said that it will offer the Vita in phases, indicating that the U.K. might not have the same launch day as the U.S.
Regardless of when it launches, the Vita might just be the jolt the portable-gaming market needs right now. Sony's PSP sales are dwindling, and the Nintendo 3DS, which was expected to help carry Nintendo's portable business over the next several years, has been languishing on store shelves.
Last week, Nintendo announced that it would cut the price of its portable, which allows users to play games in 3D without the need for special glasses, to $169.99. The device launched earlier this year for $249.99.
According to data in Nintendo's first fiscal quarter filing, it sold 710,000 3DS units worldwide during the three-month period ended June 30. In the U.S., it sold just 110,000 3DS units. In a statement last week, Nintendo reassured investors that the price cut would "create momentum for Nintendo 3DS and accelerate its market penetration toward the year-end sales season, when the lineup for the applicable software shall be enriched."
But by year's end, Nintendo's 3DS will be facing off with the Vita, and it should be quite interesting to see which device will attract more customers.
Sony did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on the Vita launch date.
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