Keynote from Tokyo

Kaz Hirai, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), outlined the strength of PlayStation® and new initiatives during his keynote speech for the Tokyo Game Show 2007.

PlayStation®3 will continue to see cost reduction efforts including shrinking the chip size and reducing the number of components, while a new controller for PlayStation®3 incorporating vibration function will become available in 2008. The new DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller inherits the vibration functionality of the popular PlayStation® controller while keeping the motion sensing features of the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller.

Kaz Hirai confirmed that even more support for third party developers would be forthcoming, through the sharing of assets and know-how built up within Sony Computer Entertainment World Wide Studios.

Additionally, in a move to further secure the future excellence of games development on PlayStation®, SCEI have acquired Evolution Studios and its subsidiary Bigbig. Evolution Studios is responsible for the award winning MotorStorm and World Rally Championship series on PlayStation®, while subsidiary Bigbig is behind the action-packed Pursuit Force series. Both studios will become part of the SCE WWS family.

Commenting on the acquisition, Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios said, "Our strategy is to create the best games by working with the best talent and Evolution and Bigbig are world-class additions to our team. The incredible people in these studios further extend the depth and skill of the industry's largest platform-exclusive development resource."

Discussing PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), Kaz Hirai announced SCEI's aim to further enhance its portability and convenience, along with continuous cost reduction measures to boost the expansion of the PSP® platform.

With strong support from users, plus million seller titles from publishers around the world, PSP® sales exceeded 26 million units worldwide by June 2007.

Continuing support for PSP® will see the introduction of colour variations and software bundles, such as Limited Edition Simpsons and Spider-Man bundles in PAL territories, new peripherals such as the camera and GPS, as well as full support for Remote Play. The latter will see the connectivity of PlayStation®3 and PSP® being fully utilised to present users with more ways to enjoy interactive entertainment.

Kaz Hirai confirmed ongoing support for PlayStation®2, which has reached the remarkable milestone of 120 million units shipped in the seven years since its launch. With continued and greater demand than its predecessor, the original PlayStation®, SCEI will continue to promote PlayStation®2 vigorously, by introducing more and more exciting new games.