Sony said on Monday it would cut the price of its PSPgo portable game player in the United States and Japan this month as game makers enter the crucial year-end shopping period.

The price of the PlayStation Portable, launched about a year ago, will be cut to $199 from $249 in the United States and to 16,800 yen ($207) from 26,800 yen in Japan.

Sony's move comes a month after rival Nintendo announced its 3D-capable DS portable game player would not be available until next year.