Sony PlayStation Vita Japan sale set for Dec. 17

TOKYO—Sony’s upgraded portable video game machine PlayStation Vita is going on sale in Japan on Dec. 17 with 26-game software going on sale on the same date.

Hiroshi Kawano, head of Sony Corp.’s gaming unit, Sony Computer Entertainment, announced the sales date Wednesday at an event in Tokyo.

Sony has already said the machine won’t be ready in the US or Europe until next year. The company says the overseas sales dates and other details are undecided.

Kawano acknowledged some are viewing the gaming business as lagging and running low on energy lately.

But he expressed determination to revive growth through the new product, which offers 3G cellphone and WiFi connectivity and high quality imagery on its screen.