It’s being reported that the PSP 3000, or PSP Brite, is now available in the US and Europe. The package comes as a bundle with a silver PSP Brite, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, National Treasure 2 (movie in UMD format), a 1 GB memory stick and an echochrome online voucher, all for the intriguing price of $199.99.

The other bundle - the black version with a 4 GB memory stick - is apparently only out next month. While the US and North America got the silver bundle yesterday, Europe, excluding the UK, get the bundle today.

Thanks PSP Fanboy!

Earlier in the week we reported that the battery life of the new PSP 3000 would be shorter than the current PSP model. This report was based on comments made by John Koller, Sony’s director of hardware marketing, that the new screen would reduce battery life by “about 20 minutes.”

However, Sony has since informed us that the battery life of the PSP 3000 will actually be equivalent to the current PSP. Koller commented on SCEA’s PlayStation Blog, “I’d like to make a correction and clarify that the new PSP will have equivalent battery life to the current PSP, about 4 to 6 hours for games and about 4 to 5 hours for UMD videos.”

“While the enhanced screen of the new PSP draws a little more power, our engineers in Japan worked to reduce the power consumption of the overall system including its components, so you won’t have to worry about losing any time when enjoying the more vibrant visuals displayed with the new PSP,” he continued.

Is that the sound of PSP owners breathing a collective sigh of relief?

John Koller, Sony US product marketing manager, has confirmed that the battery life for the new PSP 3000 will last between 20 and 30 minutes less than the PSP Slim. Koller said, “Battery life will decrease by a small amount; it’s material, but it’s about 20 minutes, maybe 30 minutes. And that’s because there’s a little bit of a larger power draw with the brighter screen.”

The extended life battery pack will be available, however, to address those concerns, continued Koller, “That’s going to be offset because we’re going to have the extended life battery that’s still available for consumers, so we’re still going to get the eight-to-ten hours out of that battery. The battery that comes with the PSP will now be right around three-and-a-half to four hours.”

You can read more about the PSP 3000 here.

[UPDATE] Sony has informed us that the PSP 3000 will have the same battery life as the current PSP. Although the enhanced screen draws more power, Sony’s engineers have reduced the power consumption of the overall system and its components to ensure that battery life is the same as the current PSP: 4 – 6 hours for games and 4 – 5 hours for UMD videos. Check out our coverage here.

Sony’s new iterations of their current consoles, the PSP and PS3, have had their UK pricing structure confirmed. The new PSP 3000 will retail for £149.99, launching on the 15th of October. The new 160 GB PS3, on the other hand, will go for £339.99 and will be out on October 31st.

You can find out more about the PSP 3000 and the PS3 160GB via the previous announcements.

SCEE has unveiled a new PSP that will become available in Japan, Asia, North America and Europe this October. The PSP-3000 will be available in Piano Black, Pearl White and Mystic Silver.

The PSP-3000 features an advanced LCD screen supporting higher image quality as well as a built-in microphone and will hit shelves across the PAL territories (Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand) on the 15th of October. The new PSP will be available as a bundle including one software title for 199 Euros.

The PSP-3000 will be available across North America on the 14th of October in the previously announced Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack as well as a new PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack. The PSP Entertainment Packs will be available across the US for $199.99 this October while a standalone updated PSP in Piano Black will become available later this year as part of the PSP Core Pack for $169.99.

The PSP 40GB Memory Entertainment Pack will be the first bundle to feature the 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and will be available in November. It will include a Piano Black PSP-3000, 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and a PSN voucher to download Everyday Shooter.

The Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack will include the Mystic Silver PSP-3000 (the first updated PSP to be available), a copy of Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, a National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets UMD video, a PSN voucher to download echochrome and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo.

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