Sony to launch slimmer PSP in Japan

TOKYO - Sony Corp. (6758.T) will launch a slimmer version of its PlayStation Portable handheld game player in Japan on September 20 for 19,800 yen ($162), the Japanese electronics maker said on Tuesday, in an effort to better compete with Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (7974.OS) hot-selling DS.

Sony's game unit chief Kazuo Hirai said last week at the E3 game industry exposition in the United States it would launch the lighter PSP model in September, but no specific launch timing or price for the Japanese market were available.

Sony Computer Entertainment also said on Tuesday it would launch the latest version of its popular racing game "Gran Turismo" in October.

($1=121.92 Yen)

yahoo.com/