Report: Sony will unveil new PSP at E3

David Carnoy | Apr 30, 2009

Artist's rendition of the PSPgo. (Credit: 1Up.com)

For the past couple months, we've been covering the ongoing rumors that Sony is prepping a new PlayStation Portable.

Well, more details are emerging, with game site 1Up.com reporting that Sony will trot out its new Universal Media Disc-less PSP at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June, targeting it for a September release in Japan, followed by a US launch in October or November. While the potential name for the new unit hasn't been confirmed, there are indications that it might called the PSPgo.

As previously reported, the new PSP will allegedly slide open to reveal its controls. But those hoping for dual analog sticks may be disappointed--word is the new PSP will retain the same control scheme, as depicted in the mock-up above. Whether or not it has a touchscreen is still up in the air, as 1Up says (much as I had previously) that it wouldn't be shocked if Sony borrowed "many design features from their Mylo 2 handheld Internet device, which is seemingly dead in the water".

1Up claims that the new PSP will come in two configurations: One that features 8GB of internal memory and another that has 16GB. There will be a memory card expansion slot, but that old-school UMD drive will disappear, with Sony moving toward a digital-download delivery system for games. "Since the UMD is going away, Sony will have over 100 classic and new PSP titles available for download at launch (Gran Turismo Mobile is said to be one of the premier launch titles)," 1Up says.

Apparently, Sony is looking to E3 to reinvigorate the PSP platform, which has seen fairly strong hardware sales but has lagged in the software department and now must contend with Nintendo's DS refresh, the DSi, and iPhone gaming.

Recently, Sony announced that such titles as Rock Band, Soul Calibur, LittleBigPlanet, Tekken 6, and MotorStorm would hit the console, and earlier this month, Sony Computer Entertainment America's director of hardware marketing, John Koller, told GameSpot that more than 50 percent of the PSP's 2009 lineup had yet to be announced.

This all sounds good, but naturally, we'll wait until we see official specs and pricing for the next-generation PSP before we get too excited.

What do you guys think? If these rumors are true, should Nintendo be worried?

(Source: 1UP via Kotaku)

Via CNET Crave

Filed under: Music & Play
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12retards

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12retards says...
I've seen the mock-up and time and time again I have to ask, if the picture is real, once I slide the machine open, how in the name of holy begeezus am I supposed to press the L and R buttons?! LOL

It's a good design though and it looks sleek. I'm just hoping the whole "no more UMD drive" part is untrue.

Apr 30, 2009 12:20

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guynax

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guynax says...
best take away the UMD... if SONY distribute the games in MSPro, the size is so much smaller and btw, the UMD drive consume quite an amout of power too.

me, in fact, more hopefull that they add in another joystick, at least can play like the PS1/2/3.

May 01, 2009 01:00

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