MANILA, Philippines – Sony on September 9 announced two new offerings for gamers centered around the PlayStation Vita: a slimmer version of the Vita, and a device called the PlayStation Vita TV.

Endgadget reports the new PlayStation Vita, known by the model number PCH-2000, is 20% slimmer and 15% lighter than its predecessor, measuring 15 mm in thickness and weighing 219 grams.

The new Vita comes with an additional hour of battery life, allowing for up to 6 hours of uninterrupted play. It also comes with 1GB of onboard storage and a micro USB charger.

This new Vita will be released in Japan on October 10 for 18,980 yen (approximately US$190) and will come in pink, black, blue, grey, lime green, and yellow.

Adding to this announcement is a miniconsole known as the Vita TV. The Verge says this 6 x 10 cm console and set-top box connects to TVs and allows users to play Vita, PSP, and PlayStation 1 games using a DualShock 3 controller.

The Vita TV, which is set for Japanese release so far, supports Japan-specific video services such as Hulu, Nico Nico Douga, and Tsutaya TV, as well as a collection of applications.

The miniconsole can also double as an extender of PlayStation 4 games, allowing them to be played on a second television if the main screen is occupied.

It can also act as a second Vita system for multiplayer Vita gaming as needed, though not all Vita games are supported in this case due to the reliance of touchscreen functionality in some Vita games, which the DualShock 3 lacks.

The Vita TV will be released in Japan on November 14 for 9,480 yen (approximately US$95), with a bundle supplying the Vita TV, a DualShock 3 controller, and an 8GB memory card available for 14,280 yen (approximately US$143). No international announcements have been made for the miniconsole yet. – Rappler.com