The PlayStation Vita's Japanese launch is rapidly approaching, and Sony has finally offered some details on the program that will allow PSP owners to transfer their games and saves to their new Vita handhelds. All games will have to be repurchased to be played on the Vita, Sony said, but those who can prove via UMD that they already own games will get a discount when repurchasing the same content digitally.

　　The Vita will be released in Japan later this year.

　　Many full-price games will command a fee of ¥1,000 ($13, £8); titles confirmed to be in this price range include Dirt 2, Gran Turismo, Dead or Alive Paradise, and Patapon 3. While some other titles will cost less to transfer, some will cost considerably more. One Pachi-slot title from Daito has a fee of ¥2,400 ($31) attached to it.

　　More titles from third parties will also be available to transfer once the Vita hits the streets, Sony has said, with approximately 200 promised. The firm specifically called out Square Enix, Capcom, Konami, and others as having titles that would come to the program at some point but did not offer further details.

　　The PlayStation Vita is due to launch in Japan on December 17, in some other Asian territories on December 23, and finally in Europe and North America on February 22, 2012. It features two analog sticks, a 5-inch touch screen, and a rear touch pad. Two versions of the handheld will be released; one with 3G network access, as well as Wi-Fi capabilities, and another that can only connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. The 3G version will retail for ¥29,980, €299, $299, and £279 in Japan, the eurozone, the USA, and the UK, respectively. In those regions the Wi-Fi version will sell for ¥24,980, €249, $249, and £229.

　　Full details on the program can be found (in Japanese) on Sony's website or (in English) via Andriasang.