PSP to launch with 25 games, 18 movies
The Sony PSP will have 25 games and 18 movies available from its 1 September launch, as well as have web access ability pre-installed, Sony has confirmed.
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia today officially unveiled the PSP three weeks out from its consumer launch at a gala event in Sydney. The PSP will retail for AU$399.95, while games will be AU$79.95 and movies from AU$24.95.
Australian PSPs will also come with firmware upgrade version 2.0, an operating system upgrade which adds a web browser to the PSP menu allowing it to access the Internet via its built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.
Sony has high hopes for the PSP in Australia, with Sony Computer Entertainment Australia MD Michael Ephraim saying the company expects to sell between 200,000 and 250,000 units between now and Christmas. Sony expects to sell between 330,000 and 380,000 PSPs in Australia by the end of March next year.
Sony is boasting wide games and movie support for its handheld device. Games publishers on board include Activision, Atari, Electronic Arts, Take 2 Interactive, THQ, Ubisoft and Sony's in-house games unit. Movie studios to release films for the PSP include 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, Paramount, Universal and Sony Pictures. Sony BMG Music Entertainment Australia will also release UMD music videos soon.
Sony also announced today that Telstra BigPond will be providing subscribers with PSP-optimised video highlight packages of AFL and NRL games, as well as V8 Supercar races.
Ephraim said worldwide sales of the PSP was now in excess of five million units, with more than 11 million games and UMD movies sold.
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