Weekend Essentials 63

Find out all the official news on the next generation portable, get the fright of your life in Dead Space 2 and join Commander Shepard as he embarks on his first outing on PS3™.

The next generation of portable entertainment is coming

Unparalleled interactive entertainment anywhere you go. That's what PlayStation®Vita will offer when it arrives at the end of 2011. Officially announced at a press conference in Tokyo this week, PS Vita will feature a sleek Super Oval Design to fit comfortably in your hands, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 5-inch screen for superb picture quality. You can also get closer to games and other entertainment with its multi touch front screen and unique multi touch pad on the rear.

Want even more control? PS Vita has it all in hand with dual analog sticks and a range of buttons to offer ample control possibilities. And with both Wireless and 3G network connectivity, together with the location based service, "Near", to let you meet friends virtually and share game information, you're always connected no matter where you are.

Also unveiled this week was PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation experience to Android based portable devices (Android 2.3 or beyond is required). Thanks to this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.

We're only skimming the surface of what both PS Vita and PlayStation Suite can offer you. Visit www.playstation.com/psmeeting2011 for more information and keep an eye on au.playstation.com and PlayStation.Blog for more news on these exciting new additions to the PlayStation family.

Shepard's warning

Travel the galaxy, get to grips with powerful weapons and assemble your own trusted fighting force to scour space for lethal enemies in Mass Effect 2 for PlayStation 3 this weekend. With mankind facing the prospect of annihilation, you must step into the breach as the legendary Commander Shepard to stave off the threat.

Space sagas don't get much more sweeping than Mass Effect 2. The adventure launches in retail stores this week and is also available to download from PlayStation Store, along with a bunch of accompanying DLC including the Cerberus Pack, Aegis Pack, Equalizer Pack and more.

Dead set

Put your nerves to the test in one of the most blood-curdling adventures ever seen in a videogame - Dead Space 2 has landed on PlayStation 3.

This sci-fi nightmare is sure to shock your senses... and for an extra thrill try Dead Space 2 Collector's Edition which includes tense blaster Dead Space Extraction in full High Definition for the first time, complete with PlayStation Move motion controller compatibility and co-op gameplay. You can also download Dead Space Extraction from PlayStation Store now on its own plus three new Dead Space 2 add-on packs including the Martial Law Pack, Hazard Pack and Supernova Pack.

So, what are you waiting for? Not scared... are you?

The hottest games, the fastest trailers

Head over to PlayStation.Blog and get up to speed with incredible new trailers from forthcoming PlayStation 3 hits MotorStorm Apocalypse and Killzone 3.

Keep an eye on PlayStation.Blog at blog.au.playstation.com for the latest PlayStation news as it happens.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network account settings at au.playstation.com/registration or via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

PlayStation Australia has arrived on Facebook. Post comments and share all the latest PlayStation happenings along with the rest of the PlayStation community at the Official Australian Facebook Fan Page.