The next generation in portable gaming technology has arrived with the launch of the PS Vita. The PS Vita is the latest handheld gaming console from Sony following on the heels of the Playstation Portable and the Playstation 3.

The PS Vita is already available and was released in Japan and parts of Asia on December 17, 2011. It will launch in Europe, Australia, and North America on February 22, 2012.

The device has been eagerly awaited by the gaming community although somewhat less so than its predecessor – the PSP.

The PS Vita is purportedly backwards compatible with the Playstation Portable meaning that PS Vita Game Downloads are already possible using the old platform. However there are already several launch titles available and obviously many more are already in the pipeline from the major software houses.

The PS Vita has a 5-inch touch screen display as well as the usual two analog sticks for control. It also has a rear touchpad for further control and flexibility. Bluetooth, Wifi and optionally 3G are all supported.