China PS4 Vita

Barring any further final hour hitches, the PlayStation 4 will finally launch in China from 20th March. The console was all set to release on 11th January – the platform holder even held a press conference to confirm the date – but was pushed back for unspecified reasons. It'll be joined by the PlayStation Vita when it eventually deploys.

Previously, the Chinese government had made it illegal for manufacturers to sell games machines in the potentially lucrative region, but it lifted this ban last year, prompting a race between Microsoft and Sony to enter the territory. The former actually deployed the Xbox One in September, meaning that its Japanese sparring partner is seriously late to the party.

Still, polls show that the market is more interested in the PlayStation maker's platforms, and it's priced its devices somewhat reasonably, at 2,899RMB ($468) for the PS4 and 1,299RMB ($210) for the Vita. Furthermore, the manufacturer claims that its hardware will be well supported, with over 70 third-party developers and publishers committing to producing content for the nation.

Of course, with PC gaming already culturally ingrained in China, it remains to be seen whether consoles actually have a place.

[source scei.co.jp, via gamespot.com]