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Vita out in Europe and US early next year

By the end of 2011 in Japan.

UPDATE: Sony has confirmed to Eurogamer that Vita goes on sale in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan by the end of the year. It goes on sale in Europe, the US and the rest of the Asian territories "early next year".

ORIGINAL STORY: Sony executive Kaz Hirai has confirmed that the PlayStation Vita will launch in Europe and the US early next year.

It launches in Japan by the end of the year, according to MSN Money.

Apparently Hirai did not characterize the timing as a delay. He said Sony wants to be prepared with solid game software offerings timed with the hardware launches.

And there appears to be some doubt over whether Vita will launch this Christmas even in Japan.

Hirai was clear on one thing: Sony will not cut the price of the Vita – despite Nintendo's decision to slash the cost of the Nintendo 3DS.

"We packed so much into the device and made it very affordable," Hirai said. "There is no need to lower the price just because somebody else that happens to be in the video game business decided that they were going to lower their price."

Sony is yet to announce a UK price for Vita.