PSP price drops to £149.99

Earlier this week, we reported Sony was preparing to drop the price of its handheld games console, when it declared a European price tag of €199.

Using arcane calculations (such as the official exchange rate) we worked out this would equate to around £138. Obviously, what with today's volatile financial markets, import taxes, and those perilous high seas, we couldn't be exactly sure.

Well, Sony has now officially clarified matters with industry trade mag MCV.

The UK price of PSP as of March 22nd will be £149.99 (and not a penny more) for which you will receive the new PSP Base Pack. As yet, we've still not been told what will be in this (with five days to go, we're presuming Sony knows). We don't expect much more than the console, power supply and headphones though.

We could be churlish about exactly where that £12 has gone (or £35, if you compare it to the $199 US street price). Instead, we'll take comfort from the £30 saving on the existing UK PSP price – enough to buy your first game!

If you haven't already got hold of a PSP, the price drop is as good an excuse as any to join the estimated 15 million PSP owners already out there. Or you could even hang on for imports of the lovely new white PSP Base Pack, which is due to arrive in Japan later this month for a bargain ¥19,800 (£96).