Sony Ericsson says the first "PlayStation phone" is coming to Verizon Wireless in April, marking a change in strategy for Sony and a coup for Sony Ericsson, which has been trying to get back into the U.S. market.

The Xperia Play phone will feature a big touch screen and a pad that slides out to reveal control buttons similar to those on a Sony PlayStation Portable. It's the first time Sony has allowed its PlayStation games to run on hardware not made by Sony.

Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg demonstrated the phone Sunday in Barcelona, a day ahead of the opening of the Mobile World Congress trade show there. Sony Ericsson is a joint venture of Sony and LM Ericsson of Sweden.