PlayStation Vita AU$349 in Australia?

Source: The EB Games Australia website.

What we heard: Yesterday, Sony finally unveiled more details about its upcoming handheld console--the tentatively named Next Generation Portable (NGP)--at its E3 press conference in downtown Los Angeles.

The PlayStation Vita to cost around AU$349 in Australia?

Rechristening the device the PlayStation Vita, Sony announced that it will be available with 3G compatibility for US$299 and a cheaper Wi-Fi-only edition for US$249. The console is expected to launch globally starting at the end of 2011.

While Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCEA) still has to announce an official local price for the console, local retailer EB has already estimated that the new handheld will retail for AU$349 in Australia for the Wi-Fi-only version. The retailer currently has the console on preorder but does not have a listing for the 3G-enabled version of the PlayStation Vita.

The official story: SCEA representatives have not yet revealed the Australian price of the PlayStation Vita, only hinting that it would more likely fall closer to the UK pricing of the console than the US pricing. The UK pricing is as follows: 249 euros for the Wi-Fi PlayStation Vita (which translates to approximately AU$341.32 using current conversion rates); and 299 euros for the 3G-enabled PlayStation Vita (which translates to approximately AU$409.86 using current conversion rates).

Bogus or not bogus?: Given that Australian gaming prices for both hardware and software have not yet fallen to match the change in the market and the rising Aussie dollar, it is looking likely that Aussies will have to pay around AU$349 for the Wi-Fi-only Vita and around AU$399 for the 3G-enabled console.