PS3, PSP tuning into surround sound

LOS ANGELES--Sony peppered Electronic Entertainment Expo attendees with announcements this morning, offering launch details for the PlayStation 3's motion-sensing controller, dating Gran Turismo 5 and Killzone 3, adopting Portal 2, and announcing Twisted Metal, to name a few. However, the publisher had more to say than what it included in its press conference, announcing today that the PlayStation 3 would benefit from a surround sound system.

Billed as an all-in-one audio solution for the PS3, the surround sound system will connect directly to Sony's gaming device by way of an optical digital cable. The single-speaker unit features a built-in subwoofer, making use of Sony's proprietary S-Force Pro Front Surround Sound technology to create its immersive wall of audio. The surround sound unit also includes an analog audio input that can be used to connect portable devices, including the PSP.

The surround sound system is expected to launch in North America, Europe/PAL, Japan, and other Asian countries this fall. It will carry a $199 price tag in the US (€199, ¥19,800).