Pre-E3 2009: PSP Go revealed

PSP News | Confirmation comes early.

It hasn't been the best kept secret, but even so, we're a little surprised to wake up this morning to the news that the newest PSP model has been confirmed. It's especially surprising, given that Sony's E3 press conference is only a few days away. The 'slip' was made during an episode of Sony's subscription-based online service Qore, where the host, Vericona Belmont is given a tour of the PSP Go by SCEA Director of Hardware, John Koller.

The specifications of the PSP Go and information from the video are as follows:

Sliding interface that reveals the buttons underneath the top portion
3.8-inch display, but the resolution is undisclosed
43% lighter than the PSP-3000
16GB of built-in Flash storage
Bluetooth to support handset tethering and BT headsets
No UMD drive
Memory Stick Micro slot
Full PlayStation Network support, including movie and TV rentals/purchases
Integration with PlayStation 3, similar to the PSP-3000 does

While it has been speculated for some time, the lack of a UMD drive is looks like it has been finally realised. Furthemore, we're given a demostration of LittleBigPlanet Portable, as well as hints of the long fabled Gran Turismo and a new Metal Gear Solid. To add to this, Koller believes that the PSP-3000 and PSP Go will co-exist together, with the assertion that Sony views each of its products to have a "10-year lifecycle". However, he expected that developers will eventually start creating more tailored games of for the PSP Go, namely smaller and sharper experiences.

Some pictures of the new device can be seen in the media panel. While there are a lot of questions still surrounding the PSP Go, such as how retail and downloadable games will be supported, we'll bring you more on the PSP Go and other major announcements as E3 runs through out the week.

Full PSP Go video from Qore

Media

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43 Comments

Ciel

2 years ago

I don't mind the new PSP Go, whether I get one or not will depend on it's software line up and price. I do like how it's smaller and lighter, making it easier to carry.

I still have my PSP-3000 and PSP-2000 so I'm not too fussed that it has no UMD drive.

daishogun

2 years ago

Eyce wrote

Spanca wrote

Eyce wrote

It would have to have a touch screen.

There's literally no point to having a slider device like that with absolutely no usable buttons when it's in its smaller state.

Compact form for watching movies?

But then how would you pause or skip through the movie without having to flick open the controls?

Sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

Shoulder Buttons I guess, because you can use those even in its small state. M opinion is that it is ok, but unless the codes for download go retail, Games will be at full RRP all the time which is retarded

LeonJ

2 years ago

If it doesn't have a touch screen this is an EPIC fail. It's really really ugly design.

The ONLY thing that can save it is a touch screen. It needs to be a kick ass gaming device. The whole music/videos thing really didn't work for the PSP and the iPhone/iTouch blew Sony's offering out of the water.

Plus if you want to upgrade what do you do with your UMD games for your old PSP? I certainly don't want to have to rebuy them. They better have some sort of solution for being able to download the games you own for free or something. Otherwise this is probably one of biggest over sights in gaming history.

He need to cut the ego.

2 years ago

Well it hasn't swayed me to want a PSP, but it does raise some interesting questions. It still lacks that 'casual appeal' that has kept the PSP behind the DS. Even more so now with the lack of UMD. That to me makes it instantly unappealing to those who are relatively new to gaming. It's harder to market from a retail point of view as well, which is going to be a turn off for those guys. Can you imagine those poor EB sods trying to explain to a clueless person how you download games for the thing?

Pixie

2 years ago

Please, please,pahpahplease Sony don't make me buy this just for Little Big Planet! I have stuck up for you so please have the new games on UMD as well!

daishogun

2 years ago

Pixie wrote

Please, please,pahpahplease Sony don't make me buy this just for Little Big Planet! I have stuck up for you so please have the new games on UMD as well!

Don't worry UMD will still exist, through the PSP-3000. Must agree though that this is stupid for casual gamers, which is what is putting Sony behind Nintendo. Yes the down loadable games may be casual, but how are the casual gamers going to get to them?

Pixie

2 years ago

daishogun wrote

Pixie wrote

Please, please,pahpahplease Sony don't make me buy this just for Little Big Planet! I have stuck up for you so please have the new games on UMD as well!

Oh I realise that, but sneaky Sony might not play nice with certain games, to help the launch sales...

Also we still sell quite a bit of PSP in our shop, so we will certainly going to miss it..we missed the UMD movies when they stopped. Customers still ask for them actually...

The Brett

2 years ago

RhysDeschain wrote

I work at EB. I'm telling you, the PSP doesn't sell. Even PS2 stuff sells better.

I worked at EB when the PSP was released. It sold like hotcakes, both in hardware and software. Not a surprise that it's slowed late into its life cycle.

InvivnI

2 years ago

Macka wrote

The placement of the analogue stick seems a little uncomfortable. Rather than on the far left like the old models, it's kinda centred now

If you've got huge hands like me you'll see the more centred analogue stick is a godsend. I used to get pretty bad hand-cramps on my PSP-1000 because the nub was far too close to the edge of the console. Now its position is more in-line with the Dual-Shock controller.

sefanboy

2 years ago

so when did sony start to copy chinese mp4 designs? this is not some sonystyle product, what is this ugly look......? i read this news at first in an asian game forum, people were all joking that this is once again a cheap chinese mp4 knock off pic, then when it got proved to be real, that brought alot of silence to the post.....

sony never even got the chance to do digital download with walkman, since it got choked to death by ipod instantly(after ruling so many decades). se was so late to start digital download service with mobiles, apple and nokia would rule over se anyday. so now sony wants to push digital download on gaming console.....history can prove sony as an excellent hardware maker, and a clueless software maker. if history repeats itself then....then go is going to be hacked again and sony is going to blame failure on piracy, when nintendo is still able to make loads under piracy difficulty. i don't support piracy, but i hate the way sony dumps all failure on piracy endlessly from psp 1k to 3k, instead of checking other reasons like themselves.

renegadesx

2 years ago

OK Sony I hope you dont plan to talk too much about this at E3, this is not news worthy, focus on your PS3 titles for later this year, you have an awesome line up there, focus on that.

* Ok, the PSP Go has been a known for a long time, this is not news Sony.
* No 2nd thumbstick I personally find to basically kill the thing for me
* Dont see any evidence of updated hardware
* Rumoured touch screen seemed to be a now show
* The design is terrible

Thanks but no thanks Sony, I'm still happy with my PSP-2000 model

Oh and Brett, the PSP sold well on launch as does every major entry into the hardware market meaning it doesn't really have much appeal outside the core fanbase. On the otherhand the DS has steadily been a hot seller for years now.

seany

2 years ago

Well i wont be buying any more UMD games. All digital downloads for me.

Game on

Jellyfish

2 years ago

sefanboy wrote

You'll actually find they've copied themselves. Here is the PSP Go! next to Sony's Mylo 2, note the almost identical shells. It's as if they didn't even try

Source: here

InvivnI

2 years ago

^And the Mylo 2 actually looks better! Though I actually don't mind the look of the PSP GO.

Also, I wonder if the white rings around the D-Pad and face buttons are anything. Looks like they might be touch-sensitive scrollwheels. Probably not, but it'd be interesting (albeit probably useless) if they were something like that.

Jim Dash

2 years ago

So the hardware is no better than the last PSPs?

Ok. Fine. It is ugly, definately.

But Sony's biggest issue with the PSP has always been the insane amount of piracy the console has faced. Is digital downloads only the best way to combat this?!

sefanboy

2 years ago

great comparison with the mylo, i agree this has too much mylo than a brand new hardware design, grandson of mylo 1 and son of mylo 2? there is also an intersting thread orginally started from china, since in many asia game forums people at first thought the real psp go was just a chinese mp4 knockoff. so far these are the pics that have been collected in china to prove psp go has many siblings.

renegadesx

2 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

But Sony's biggest issue with the PSP has always been the insane amount of piracy the console has faced. Is digital downloads only the best way to combat this?!

No, to the best of my knowledge the PSP-3000 has been pretty unhackable for a while now

The Brett

2 years ago

renegadesx wrote

Yes I know, that's why I made the point of saying I'm not talking about sales relative to the DS. Any company would be pissed to lose something that has sold/ is selling as much as the PSP. EB's business is video games, and there's about 5 handhelds and consoles they sell hardware and software for. Even if we're conservative in our estimates about PSP software sales, that's about 1/10th of their business. That's a LOT.

Jaws

2 years ago

What a load of poop. Instead of taking the console forwards, Sony go sideways!

Taking out the UMD drive may save production costs but I see no way in this increasing software sales unless something is offered to people who don't have credit cards. What will the solution be for people who own UMD discs and want to upgrade?

If the lack of a MemoryStick ProDUO slot in their new unit is anything to go by, it seems that the answer is plain and simple - "fork out / deal with it".

I own a PSP-1000 and will eventually upgrade to a 2000 model for it's screen improvements, but count me as alienated out of this. I dont want to throw money at their newest creation only for it to be eclipsed by the 'latest & greatest' model requiring the latest Sony brand of memory device / game format..

Yeah, Nintendo have done it.. but you could atleast play their older handheld titles on a newer toy. Sony are yet to offer such an option, and instead force you to update to their next 'revision' for newer features (Skype, TV connectivity and now their very games it seems)..

This is certainly not the breath of fresh air I was hoping for.

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