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PlayStation TV Gets Western Release This Fall

Shawn Layden, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, revealed at his company's E3 press conference on Monday that Sony is bringing the PlayStation Vita TV mini-console to the West this fall. The PS Vita-derived mini-console will be known in the West as simply the PlayStation TV. PlayStation TV will ship for US$99. Additionally, Sony will offer a bundle starter pack for US$139 that includes an HDMI cable, a Dual Shock 3, an 8GB memory card, and The Lego Movie Videogame.

The Vita TV system allows users to play PlayStation Vita games on the television, download PlayStation Portable and PlayStation games, and access various video and web services. In addition, the system can connect remotely to the PlayStation 4 system, allowing for wireless play. Layden noted that the PlayStation TV will allow users to play PS4 games on a second TV, and users can also play PS2 games via PlayStation Now.

Layden also revealed that Sony will release a beta for the PlayStation Now streaming service on the PS4 in the U.S. and Canada on July 31. The beta will include games by NIS America and Atlus. PlayStation Now will be available on the PS3 and PS Vita "soon after," and Sony will also make PlayStation Now available for Sony TVs later this year. PlayStation Now will allow PS3 and PS4 users to stream games on their consoles. Sony had revealed in January that the service would launch this summer.

Layden also announced that the PS4 will integrate video sharing onto YouTube later this year. In addition, Sony will soon allow spectators to interact with the gamer for Ustream and Twitch streaming.

Additionally, Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., revealed at the conference that Sony is shipping a white PS4 on September 9. The white PS4 will bundle the Destiny game, and it will also include a 500 GB hard drive, a Dual Shock 4, and a 30-day voucher for PlayStation Plus.