When was the PocketStation released in Japan?
The PocketStation was released in Japan on the 23rd of January 1999. The original ship date had been set for the 23rd of December 1998, but the launch was delayed by a full month.
Questions about PocketStation
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why was the PocketStation never released in Europe and North America?
SCEA cited an inability to meet existing demand in Japan as the reason the PocketStation's international release was canceled. Sony had conducted promotional activity in Europe and North America but ultimately did not ship the peripheral outside Japan.
How many units did the PocketStation sell?
The PocketStation shipped nearly five million units before it was discontinued in July 2002. At launch in January 1999, Sony shipped only 60,000 units, which sold out across Japan almost immediately.
What game sold the most copies on the PocketStation?
Doko Demo Issyo was the PocketStation's most popular game, selling over 1.5 million copies in Japan. It is also notable as the first game to star Toro, who became Sony's mascot.
What are the PocketStation's technical specifications?
The PocketStation uses an ARM7T processor with a variable clock up to 7.995 MHz, 2 KB of SRAM, and 128 KB of Flash RAM. Its screen is a 32 by 32 dot monochrome LCD, and it weighs approximately 30 grams including its CR-2032 lithium battery.
Was the PocketStation ever revived after being discontinued?
On the 5th of November 2013, Sony announced a PocketStation revival as an application for the PlayStation Vita in Japan. It allows owners to play PocketStation-format minigames from classic PlayStation games they own, and remains exclusive to the Japanese PlayStation Vita.