Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has cut the price of the PlayStation Portable today ahead of the release of a successor later this year. The PSP will carry a new recommended retail price of €129.99 (£114), down from €179.99 and bringing it into line with a US price cut in February of $129.99. The console currently retails in the UK for around £129.99. We are not in a position to offer a similar cut in PSP for the UK.
Sony
According to SCEE, the move is for mainland Europe only - Sony is unable to offer a price reduction for UK consumers. "It has been made possible by favourable fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Euro and the Yen. Since we in the UK are vulnerable to two exchange rate calculations, pounds into Euro's and Euro's into Yen, we are not in a position to offer a similar cut in PSP for the UK," said a spokesperson. The PSP's successor, codenamed NGP, is due before the end of the year, with more solid details expected at this year's E3 event in June. There's some confusion from Sony as to whether it will be available in Europe, the US and UK this year.