New PSP Go Officially Revealed By Sony Exec In Leaked Video
Sony may have been hoping to keep the cat in the bag, so to speak, unveiling the new PSP Go to the public at the company's conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009. However, in the fast and furious world of video game development and journalism, such secrets seldom stay secrets for very long.
Sony may have been hoping to keep the cat in the bag, so to speak, unveiling the new PSP Go to the public at the company's conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009. However, in the fast and furious world of video game development and journalism, such secrets seldom stay secrets for very long.
Just 1up.com led off with leaked news that the new system would feature a sliding screen. Subsequent reports revealed Sony was likely ditching the UMD format with the new handheld. Now an (almost) full picture has at last arisen with the leak of Qore (video game news) video onto YouTube. The video contains dialogue where Qore host Veronica Belmont talks to John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America about the new device and gets some hands-on time with it.
The video reveals a wealth of official information -- the new screen size is 3.8", down from 4.3". Sony says its 43 percent light than the PSP 3000, meaning it likely weighs about 3.8 ounces. It indeed has a slide screen, similar to the Sony Mylo internet phone/mp3 player.
The device comes with 16GB of built-in flash memory, with expansion courtesy of a Memory Stick Micro slot. The oddball UMD (Universal Media Disc) format, featured in the PSP 3000 and previous models is officially dead. The new format allows for smaller size and potentially better battery life, but it also means there's no clear solution porting your old PSP games to the new device.
One rumor that didn't pan out is that the device would feature a second analog stick. It still only features one. The stick has been moved from the outside right to near the center of the control deck, which some gamers have noted may be problematic, or lead to discomfort. However, the layout does resemble the PS2/PS3 controller more closely, so some may prefer this layout. Touch screen controls, another rumored feature, are not mentioned in the leaked video.
The PSP Go features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. The device is able to connect and tether to Bluetooth 3G cell phones, allowing for potential online gaming or content downloads. While support for music, video, and photo files on the device are mentioned, a rumored online music store receives no mention.
Perhap most intriguing is that the video reveals some of the early gaming lineup -- PSP versions of Little Big Planet, Jak and Daxter, Gran Turismo, and "a new Metal Gear Solid. The Jax and Daxter game is likely the already-announced "Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier", while the Gran Turismo game has been in the works for five years, first shown at E3 2004. Mr. Koller says in the video that Sony is pushing for more "casual" games, likely looking to emulate Nintendo's success with its Wii and DSi platforms.
He says that the new PSP Go will go on sale this Fall, but declines to mention a price. He does state that the PSP 3000 will continue to be sold concurrently, over the holiday season, happy news for any UMD-lovers that might be out there.
Expect any other details about the device to come at Sony's press conference. To view the leaked video, go here.