The PS Vita handheld console is region free, as confirmed by Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida. The SCE Executive relayed the information via Twitter when posed the question by a follower. What this means for those waiting to get their mitts on the device, is that when the handheld launches in Japan later this year, anyone worldwide can order one. That is if you can find one. Given the gravity of this news, Japanese retailers that are taking online orders are likely going to have a hard time filling orders for the entire world.
The Vita will release in Japan on December 17th. If you want to be ahead of the curve, you can order one and have it before it comes stateside. Of course, you’ll also need to order your games from Japan, and understand Japanese, that is until the handheld releases in other territories.
Sony has been hush-hush about a worldwide release, but many expect the device to rollout in 2012.