PSP Prepped for Korea as Europe Watches

Sony looks to take advantage of South Korea's high installed base of broadband Internet access.

It's not the much-anticipated European announcement everyone is waiting for, but Sony has revealed new PSP launch plans - for South Korea. The PSP will be released in South Korea as a Value Pack, similar to that recently released in the US, containing the PSP and various accessories. The portable will go on sale on 2 May for 328,000 won (£170) - the PSP sells for $249 (£130) in the US and ¥24,800 (£124) in Japan.

The major difference between the recent US PSP launch and the South Korean one is that Sony's South Korean arm will have a robust online infrastructure in place by the time the PSP launches. The first 100,000 PSPs will include a network utility UMD, allowing people to take their PSPs online for Web browsing and content downloads right out the box.

South Korea is the most wired country on the planet and more than 75 per cent of households have broadband Internet access, which makes the country an ideal testing ground for new technology.

Sony, meanwhile, is still quiet on when we can expect to see the PSP launch in Europe. Recent comments from the company have led many to speculate that the handheld could launch as late as September, but Sony has not given any hints.

The PSP recently went on sale in the US, where retailers are reporting a good turnout. GameStop, the largest game store chain in the US, called the launch a "tremendous success". The official NPD sales figures for the PSP's opening week will be available in April.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games