14 DAY TRIAL // A flyer that is distributed by the United Kingdom based locations of the retail chain Blockbuster shows a launch date of October 28 for the new PlayStation Vita handheld from Sony.
The last Friday of October is said to be the day when gamers would be able to pick up two different models of the Vita in stores.
Sony has not commented directly on the October 28 launch date, saying that it plans to have a “phased global release” during the coming holiday season.
Since the new platform was officially announced Sony has said that it planned to have it out on a major market before the end of 2011.
The “major market” concept might mean that only the United States or Japan will see the device on store shelves this holiday season, with other markets getting access to it early during 2012.
The initial Vita announcement was made before the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan and Sony stated during the disaster that some of its plans for the future might be affected by the destruction.
The Vita was shown at the E3 2011 trade show but Sony refused to be clearer about launch dates although a price of 250 dollars has been announced.
A source from Sony has told CVG during July that the company was preparing to launch the PlayStation Vita during January or February 2012 in the United Kingdom, with the United States being the major market that will get it before Christmas 2011 comes around.
The PlayStation Vita is seen as the best chance Sony has to take the handheld market back from Nintendo and its DS line, especially now that the 3DS has failed to perform according to expectations in its first months on the market.
The Vita is said to deliver gaming experiences that are just a notch under those seen on the PlayStation 3 home console.