At a media briefing in Tokyo earlier today, Sony announced that it will release a new game console named PSX in Japan before the end of the year. Scheduled for release in North America and Europe sometime in 2004, the sleek-looking PSX console is essentially a redesigned PlayStation 2--albeit with plenty of additional features.

　　With the exception of the console's 120GB hard drive and built-in Ethernet support, the PSX console's new features won't offer any benefits as far as gaming is concerned, but--thanks to the inclusion of a TV and broadcast satellite tuner and a DVD recorder--it will instead transform the PlayStation 2 into a set-top box capable of delivering online play, music, and movies straight out of the box.

　　When playing games, you'll plug your controllers into the rear of the PSX console, where the hard drive and Sony Memory Stick compatibility have clearly rendered the standard PS2 memory cards obsolete. No pricing information for the PSX has been announced at this time, but the box will be marketed as a high-end electronics product rather than as a game console and, as such, will be handled by Sony's Home Electronics Division as opposed to Sony Computer Entertainment.

　　We'll bring you more information on the PSX as it becomes available.