TOKYO, Feb 18: Sony said on Monday it was slashing the price on its hand-held PlayStation Vita console in Japan by as much as one-third as the electronics giant and its rivals face stiff competition from online games.

The company said its 3G/Wi-Fi model would sell for 19,980 yen ($210) from later this month, down from the current 29,980 yen, with the price of the WiFi model also reduced to 19,980 yen from the current 24,980 yen. Sony warned earlier this month over slow sales of the Vita.—AFP