Euro Vita out 2012, Sony being secretive over launch plans

Sony intends to skip the Christmas period with Vita in Europe, instead launching it in 2012, VG247 has learnt.

While we've been told by one development source today that Sony is refusing to detail specifics regarding the European launch, another told us that a 2012 Euro release is a certainty.

"It will not be out here this year," he said.

The news adds into the earlier report this week from Amazon pegging it for a January release.

CVG's reporting this morning a January or February launch from a retail source, with a US 2011 launch still a possibility.

Kaz Hirai said that the handheld would launch this holiday at Sony's E3 press conference two weeks ago.

However, SCEA president Jack Tretton said after the presser it would launch globally within this fiscal year - which ends March 2012 - as opposed to calendar 2011.

The system's being priced at £229 and £279 for WiFi and 3G versions respectively, although the prices - in the UK, at least - haven't been confirmed by SCEE.

$249/$299 pricepoints for both SKUs in the US were confirmed in Los Angeles.