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Sony to discontinue PSP in Japan next month

UPDATE: And in other regions too, report suggests.

UPDATE 3.27pm: A new report suggests that Sony is ending support for PSP worldwide - not just in Japan.

Sony shipped its last load of PSPs to North America back in January, Associated Press has stated, and the region will not receive any new hardware.

European shipments of the PSP will also cease - albeit at some point later this year.

We're still waiting to hear back from Sony on details for the UK.

ORIGINAL STORY 11.45am: Sony will ship its last PlayStation Portable in Japan next month, the company has announced.

The company revealed the news as part of a statement offering Japanese users a discount on Vita products when they trade in their old PSPs (translated by Polygon).

Despite not reaching the heights of Nintendo's competitor DS (154m sold), the PSP has still notched up a respectable 80m units worldwide since it went on sale nearly 10 years ago.

The handheld originally arrived in Japan in late 2004, before turning up in Europe and North America the following year. Sony launched its successor, the Vita, at the end of 2011.

We've asked Sony UK for news on any discontinuation here.