Hirai: Vita to get 2011 JP launch, early 2012 for US/EU

SCE chairman-to-be Kaz Hirai has confirmed that PlayStation Vita will not launch in Europe and the US until at least early 2012.

He said that it'll go on sale in Japan by the end of 2011, according to an AP report.

It confirms previous suspections that the handheld would go on sale in Japan this year. SCEA boss Jack Tretton said that it would ship worldwide by the end of FY2012, but didn't note if it would be in the calendar year.

This is despite previous comments from Hirai at Sony's E3 press conference this year, in which he said that it would roll out the device by the end of 2011.

We were told earlier this year that Vita would be out in Europe at least by early 2012, but that Sony was being secretive over its launch plans to developers.

More details on a specific timeline for launch are expected to drop at Sony's gamescom press conference on August 16 in Cologne, as well as the TGS keynote of Sony WorldWide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida.

Public attendees at both shows will be able to try Vita for the first time.