RIP PSP: Sony pulls plug on handheld console after a decade

Tokyo: Sony Corp. is pulling the plug on its hand-held PlayStation Portable video game machine after 10 years.

The Japanese electronics and entertainment company has been pushing the successor machine, PlayStation Vita.

Tokyo-based Sony said Tuesday that PSP shipments ended in North America in January, will end in Japan this month and later this year in Europe.

[caption id=“attachment_86716” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sony is stopping shipments to the US and Europe. AP[/caption]
Discounts on Vita and downloads are offered to Japanese PSP owners, but are still undecided for those overseas.

More than 76 million PSP machines were sold, as of two years ago, the last time a tally was taken. The PSP went on sale in December 2004.

More from International

Nato on alert as Poland scrambles jets amid Russian drone threat Hong Kong rejects bid to recognise same-sex partnerships — a first for govt bill since China takeover

Machines devoted to games are struggling against the popularity of smartphones and other devices. Sony reported a $1.3 billion loss for last fiscal year and is expecting to stay in the red this year.

Some analysts say the Vita has not sold in significant numbers. Sony does not release the cumulative global unit sales of the Vita and combines it with PSP tallies.

Sony’s handheld game machine also faced stiff competition from Japanese rival Nintendo Co.’s 3DS. But Nintendo has also struggled to keep momentum going for its game machines.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

What will FBI’s new office in New Zealand do? Kash Patel’s suggestion leaves China fuming

AP