Just before Sony's Playstation Portable's 10 year anniversary, the company has announced they are discontinuing the device due to low sales, according to The Associated Press.
Tokyo-based Sony said Tuesday that PSP shipments ended in North America in January, will end in Japan this month and later this year in Europe, the AP reported.
The Japanese electronics and entertainment company has been pushing the successor machine, PlayStation Vita, to replace the PSP, according to the AP. Discounts on Vita and downloads are offered to Japanese PSP owners, but are still undecided for those overseas.
"By all means, please consider your transfer to the PS Vita from the PSP on this occasion," a translated Sony news release said, the AP reported.
Machines devoted to games are struggling against the popularity of smartphones and other devices, the AP reported. Sony reported a $1.3 billion loss for last fiscal year and is expecting to stay in the red this year.
Some analysts say the Vita has not sold in significant numbers, but Sony does not release the cumulative global unit sales of the Vita and combines it with PSP tallies, according to the AP. Some analysts suggest the Vita has not sold especially well.
Sony's handheld game machine also faced stiff competition from Japanese rival Nintendo Co.'s 3DS, but Nintendo has also struggled to keep momentum going for its game machines, the AP reported.
