In August, it was reported that the Playstation Vita would hit Japan by the end of December, and that did indeed happen, as it was released this weekend.

The Vita is Sony’s handheld PlayStation gaming device. “The new PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi, powered by AT&T’s Mobile Broadband Network, will change the way you game with real-time scores and game ranking news feeds, competitive multiplayer game sessions, and cross-game text messaging with Party.,” Sony says.

Here’s a video showing off the device:

The PlayStation Vita hits the U.S. on February 22. I guess Sony is hoping people are tired of the gadgets they got around the holidays by then. It’s an interesting move considering that last year, 40% of Sony’s Christmas revenue came from the U.S and Europe.

It’s available to pre-order online through Sony, Best Buy, Amazon and Gamestop for $299.