In a recent announcement, Sony Ericsson has revealed that its much-awaited Xperia Play handset – popularly referred to as the PlayStation phone – will be officially launched on March 31.

Sony Ericsson also announced that the launch of the Android-powered Xperia Play - which boasts a slide-out gamepad, a 5-inch-screen, and 60-frames-per-second - will be accompanied by the company’s biggest ever marketing campaign in the UK.

The Xperia Play, which was unveiled quite recently at the MWC in Barcelona, will feature Android version 2.3; and will launch with six pre-installed games, namely: Bruce Lee Dragon Warriors; Tetris; Star Battalion; FIFA 10; Crash Bandicoot; and The Sims 3.

In addition to these six pre-installed games, the handset will also launch with fifty other available games titles – which will essentially be a mix of ported-over smartphone hits and PS1 classics including Assassin’s Creed; Guitar Hero; and Dead Space – as well as the Android games library. The handset will likely cost around £500 or more, without a subsidised contract, at some retailers.

It is quite likely that the forthcoming Xperia Play will directly take on the Nintendo 3DS, which is releasing on March 25, with its possible availability in video games stores as well.

Talking about the possibility, Sony Ericsson's marketing director for the UK and Ireland: “We are currently still in commercial conversation, but I'd be surprised if we didn't see the Xperia Play appear in other channels.”