PlayStation 3 gaming console by nearly a fifth in the United States, a move that could lift the industry by boosting video game sales ahead of the holiday season. The PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system with 160GB hard disk drive (HDD), currently available at a recommended retail price (RRP) of 29,980 yen (including tax), $299 and 299 euros, will be available at a new RRP of 24,980 yen (including tax) for Japan, $249 for North America and 249 euros for Europe/PAL territories. SCE will also reduce the price of the PS3 system with 320GB HDD, currently available at a RRP of 34,980 yen (including tax), $349 and 349 euros, to RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax), $299 and 299 euros. The new pricing will be immediately effective for North America and Europe/PAL territories, and starting August 18, 2011 for Japan.

Since its release in 2006, PS3 has gained support from fans around the world and its cumulative worldwide sales reached a milestone of 50 million units as of March 29, 2011. Equipped with future technologies including the sophisticated processors, Cell Broadband Engine(TM) and RSX(R), as well as the Blu-ray disc(TM) (BD) player and HDMI terminal, PS3 has enhanced its value to userses including stereoscopic 3D content playback and support for the PlayStation(R)Move motion controller.

With strong support from software developers and publishers, as of June 30, 2011, the worldwide cumulative number of BD software titles for the PS3 system exceeds 2,495 titles and downloadable PS3 games available on PlayStation(R)Store exceeds 3,100 titles. Of these titles, more than 120 titles are stereoscopic 3D supported and 200 titles are PlayStation Move dedicated or supported. In addition to this extensive software title line-up, new titles are expected to be released from software developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios, including Samurai Warriors 3 Empires from TECMO KOEI GAMES Co., Ltd., MONSTER HUNTER PORTABLE 3rd HD Ver. from CAPCOM CO., LTD., TALES OF XILLIA from BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc., DARK SOULS from FromSoftware, Inc., PlayStation(R)Move Everybody's Golf 5 Beginners Pack, Resistance(R) 3, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception(TM) from SCE and more.

For the Japanese market, the "PlayStation(R)3 TALES OF XILLIA(R) X Edition" bundle pack, comprising a special PS3(R) system with 160GB HDD and TALES OF XILLIA(R) software title for the PS3 system, will have a new RRP of 32,980 yen (including tax) and will be available for a limited offer starting September 8, 2011. Additionally, the highly popular Classic White color PS3 system (CECH-3000) with 160GB HDD will also debut on September 8, 2011.

New PSP model

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. (SCEE) also today announced at its press conference at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, a new model of PSP (PlayStation Portable) (PSP-E1000) (body color: charcoal black) that will retail for €99.99 (RRP), and a range of accompanying PSP Essentials titles that will be priced at just €9.99 (RRP) each. PSP-E1000 will become available in stores in Europe/PAL territories from November, 2011.

Although the new model will not offer access to Wi-Fi networks, it will allow access to the entire PSP catalogue of games. Brand-new titles suited for the new PSP include:

- Invizimals: The Lost Tribe
- EyePet Adventures
- Geronimo Stilton
- Cars 2
- Mystery Team

Also announced was the PSP Essentials range, bringing PlayStation favourites into everyone's reach. Priced at €9.99 the range will include:

- Jak & Daxter
- LittleBigPlanet
- MotorStorm Arctic Edge

PSP-E1000 Product Outline

Colour: Charcoal Black
External dimensions: Approx. 172.4 x 73.4 x 21.6 mm (width x height x depth) (excludes largest projection)
Weight: Approx. 223g / 7.9 oz (including internal battery)

CPU
System clock frequency 1-333 MHz, Main memory 64MB

Display
4.3 inches (16:9), 480 x 272 pixel, Approx. 16,770,000 colors displayed

Built-in monaural speaker
Main input/output
Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0) (mini-B)
Memory Stick PRO Duo

Main connectors
DC IN 5V connector
DC OUT connector (for USB accessory)
Headset connector
USB connector
Memory Stick PRO Duo slot Key / Switches

Directional buttons (up/down/right/left), analog stick, Action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square), Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
START button, SELECT button, PS button
POWER/HOLD switch,Volume (+/-) buttons Power sources

Lithium-Ion rechargeable internal battery pack
AC adaptor
USB power supply Internal disc drive
Read-only UMD drive Supported profile

UMD Video Access Control
Region code, parental control Supplied accessories
AC adaptor

Supported coded (in Memory Stick) Video
- Memory Stick Video Format
- MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC)
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC)
- MPEG-4
- MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC)
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (CABAC) (AAC) Baseline Profile (AAC)
- AVI
- Motion JPEG (Linear PCM)
- Memory Stick Audio Format
- ATRAC3
- ATRAC3 plus
- MP3 (MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer3)
- MP4 (MPEG-4 AAC)
- WAVE (Linear PCM) Photo
- JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.2)
- TIFF
- BMP
- GIF
- PNG

New Applications for Social Networking Services and Communications

SCE also today announced that it will introduce dedicated applications for Facebook, foursquare, Skype(TM) and Twitter to PlayStation(R)Vita (PS Vita) which will launch in Japan by the end of 2011, followed by the U.S. and Europe early next year.

PS Vita users still be able to enjoy the gaming content but through the addition of these social networking services and communications widely used around the globe will also have an easy access and greater opportunity to enjoy communicating with friends by simply selecting the dedicated application.

The applications will be downloadable to PS Vita directly from PlayStation(R)Store at no charge. Users will be able to activate the application just by selecting the icon which will appear on the PS Vita home screen and enjoy navigation using the touch screen. Also, PS Vita's 5-inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen will allow users to enjoy photos and movies shared with their friends and acquaintances via Internet in visually striking graphics.