Newly designed PSP coming in 2007 [update 1]

More $ony anal rape for the "follow the $ony Flute Man melodies" where he plays his flute for advertisements and the little mice ($onyfanbots) follow along skipping and laugh- having a good ol' time. Until the Fluter leads them into a dark alley and beats them up and rapes them for their money then throws and $ony product hard in their face. Then runs away into the night~

j/k...slightly

Ah, ignore that. Hopefully the newer model will have the type of impact that will have new BETTER games to follow and I don't mean *BETTER* as in graphics.

i'd have to say a new psp might be good for sony. i bought the current version the day it came out and it was a huge waste of money. the only game i actually enjoy playing on it is pro evo soccer. what i really hate is only one analog stick and i hope they add a second somehow or make some improvement on the original control scheme. If they do i'd probaly trade my old one in for a new one.

Does anyone know if that is a real picture or is that just someones idea of what it would look like because i noticed a second analog stik which would make me so happy. also is the still/video camera like a webcam?

N wen does this hit stores in the US???????

I have read this report and have to say:
1) this is a RUMOUR, not fact, which sony have denied countless times
2) sony stated at LGC that 200 more games will be released for the psp this year. Do you really think sony and the developers are stupid enough to launch so many games (with 1 analog nub support) for a console that will be redesigned with a whole new control scheme (new d-pad, 2nd analog. etc)???

Tom, you bring up a surprisingly good point. They announce it today, show it off at TGS, maybe, just maybe it makes it to the mainstream news, and people hold off on buying a PSP.

They announce it right before the holiday shopping period slowly begins (mid-september), and dont release it till next year, so nobody buys a psp this holiday season.

But the PSP does look to have a fairly decent 07 line up, so next year's holiday season could be pretty good for the PSP.

"Let the PSP die, release a new PSP2 with 2 analogs, and not so open to homebrew... and maybe cheaper games while you are at it..."

i am in total agreement with u man. i hate how i end up paying $40 for crappy games that i play for about an hour. 2 analogs is a must hve for me if i'm going to buy it. i'm not really sure what homebrew is so i hve no comments on that.

Well, that's....interesting. 8 GB internal memory would be a BIG boon to the PSP. As a multimedia device, you NEED that memory. Everyone I know immediately bought a memory card...because what good is a multimedia device with no room for the multimedia itself? An 8GB card is suitable for that.

The streamlined design might be nice...if it feels less delicate. One thing that most PSP owners have to deal with is the worry (real or not) of breaking the device by dropping it.

...and that's it. The nub is a problem. Too many PSP games feel like they're fighting the systems controls. This might not be as much of an issue if so many of the PSP's games weren't adaptions of existing games...but there you are.

Sony should be lauded for doing a redesign, but if they don't address the most serious issues for the unit, it will go the way of the Gamegear, Lynx and Wonderswan. And that would be a shame.

A)It's FUGLY.
b)What's the point? it's like buying a new saddle for a dead horse.

By next year it really will be too late for PSP, just like if PS3 misses holiday of this year. By the time the next big gift giving holiday season rolls around, everyone will have a DS/Wii60.

If this rumor is true, sony has just killed PSP until next Christmas (effectively).

I think Sony is running out of limbs to shoot themselves in.

Had they gone with a 20GB HD instead of 8GB flash drive, and if I knew I could get around their weird DRM requirements, I'd definitely get one.

As it stands I'd still get a DS Lite first, no question.

But I'm not really in the market for either.

by the way, when i say report i mean the one in the magazine

"3 hour battery life"

Oops, forgot this one. Funny how I never got under 5, and often topped 6.5 with my original battery. Guess the DS fanboys must override reality?

"but it's killer was the fact that there wasn't as many quality games on it to the DS"

Again, DS fanboy mentality eclipses truth. Check Gamerankings and see what the score is. Even with Nintendogs counting as three separate games, the PSP has more 'quality games' any way you cut it.

sorry, but this waaaay old news....rumors to be exact (been circulating since march 06)

and also keep in mind this is sony we're talking about (4 years between PS2 and PS slim).....not nintendo (2 years between GBA and GBA SP and GBA Micro and the DS)

I don't think this story can be true. If it is, then Sony has just conceded defeat of the PSP in less than two years. Why? because if they get rid of UMD and add a 2nd analog, it'll render the PSP absolutely useless; obsolete. how embarrasing would it be if sony's PSP lasted shorter than the GameGear or the Atari Lynx.

save the .jpg file of this supposed "psp 2 design"
open it with wordpad, look at the first 3 lines

"Adobe Photoshop CS Windows 2006:02:13 19:42:33"

There you have it, obviously photoshopped, for those who still doubt it's fake

a new psp isnt much of a save for the console but it has a bit more of a hiddem meaning to the people its directed at. (ie current psp devs)

My prediction is it will be a second rev much like with any sony console, psone, pstwo, same core components maybe intergration of something like camera/gps accesory. It will probably cost less but only 20 or 25$ less than current price. While shoing developers no matter the beating theyre taking theyre still willing to support the console. Meaning that there will be future bound games to come out on the system. If there is any ramp-up in that proccess it will be from other factors and not this re-release.

"...and get rid of the UMD format"

I sure hope they don't listen to you and keep UMD... I'm very happy with the format (1.8GB is nice), and so are the vast majority of PSP owners. Sony would be crazy to ditch the format. The only thing they should do is double the read speed if possible (perhaps with a higher capactiy battery).

What about all of the poor, unloved, original PSPs that were shipped but never sold? The originals better get a price cut, or they'll never sell like the new better-loved sibling(like the original DS.)

As a huge Nintendo fan and an owner of a DS Phat and DS Lite, I have to say this is really interesting news. The potential of the PSP is enormous, no matter who's "side" you're on. If, by adding the flash drive, they can cut down on load times exponentially and, most importantly, increase battery life (at least double the current life or no deal, Sony), the PSP suddenly goes from dusty ripoff to an extremely intriguing device for 200 bucks. Also, for the love of God, make the face and shoulder buttons feel less cheap and more like the DualShock buttons (which are crazy responsive and feel great). I don't think an extra analog nub will be possible, because that suddenly forces current owners to cough up another huge amount of money rather than making it simply a desirable alternative (ie, DS Lite), therefore pissing off a large chunk of fanbase forever.

You know I defended the PSP for the longest time, I loved it from launch and always supported the look and feel of it. Most games played fine on it and theres an excellent selection for what I want, now Sony gives me the shaft by putting in things that should have been in there to begin with if Sony was really serious. This is tempting me to sell my PSP while its still worth something and going for a DS but I have to wait for LocoRoco, E3, and I still love playing Lumines and MGA (1 and 2). However, this is coming from PSM so I have my doubts.

the internal memory is a great idea if true. 8 GB is enough for a ton of video - if this is the same price as a current PSP, and has a nice screen and upgraded battery life, I'd consider it as a portable video player + something i could play some games on too.

though, it would need to be significantly cheaper than the various DMPs out there, which have 30+ GB, similar screens, and seem to hover around $350-$400. that new creative video player, for example.

Sony: We just cant shake these guys (Nintendo) every step we take they're right behind us. First we decide to put motion sensing in the PS1 controller and then Nintendo does the same! Now we've redesigned our portable playstation and they're right there!

I find this actually kinda cool. One of the things i hate the most about the PSP is that its so friking huge. I had the same problem with the Original DS, and the release of the Lite made me buy one, as will a PSP if it actually is smaller and has a higher battery life.

wii > anything sony trys.

ROFL! From Engadget:
"UPDATE: Our original post was based on a fan-made PSP mockup from Joystiq's writeup that threw us off the trail, but now we've got a thumbnail of the magazine scan thanks to PSP Fanboy."

Wow, Engadget's writers were fooled by that pic... how pathetic x_x Nice going Ryan Block!

"I wanted so badly for it to be everything... and it's nothing..."

If you look at a blank wall instead of your TV, you're going to swear there's nothing on worth watching. People who stuff their heads in the sand (be they Nintendo fanatics or just Sony haters) and say there's no good games on the PSP are not just proving themselves to be morons, they're cheating themselves out of some damned good games. Your loss.

"It does nothing worthwhile (without killing the battery in 3 hours)"

OK, so you didn't have one in the first place, then.

"All I did was waste money on the PSP."

No, because you never had one.

"I said I would NEVER own a DS, but the MYLO was the straw for me."

Whatever, fakeboy. The Mylo changes nothing about the PSP or the games it has, or that are coming.

"Turns out gameplay is much more important than graphics / raw power. Very satisified with my DS."

Right, because that's all you ever had.

"Say what you will, but pickup a copy of Metroid Hunters and tell me it doesn't feel like playing Quake."

LOL! OK, it doesn't feel like playing Quake. Not even like playing Quake on a PDA.

"Play for 10 minutes and then try to put down Mario Kart. Heck, try to play Sudoku without a stylus... I dare you."

Sudoko bores the living hell out of me. Mario Kart online is fun, until someone pulls the snaking crap. Otherwise, it's the same old MK gameplay. And the DS freaks bash the PSP for rehashing. Amusing.

"Yes, I am a convert... so what?!? I am having fun playing satisfing games... what are you doing with your spare time"

You seem to be spending YOUR spare time BSing about being a 'convert' and spewing Nintendo fanboy PSP hate any real PSP owner is crap. Me, I've been playing Burnout Legends and Harry Potter this week - and have been slowly getting into Valkyrie Profile and Monster Hunter.

"Sony and the game developers are not supporting the platform..."

Which is why the upcoming PSP game list looks as good as it does? And there's a new PSP on the way, GPS, Cam, $15 UMD movie cap, etc... Yeah, you win, DS boy. We must all lay down our PSPs and crush them underfoot.

"Sony gives me the shaft by putting in things that should have been in there to begin with"

So you're going to go with the device that got a similar revision with a decent screen, slimmer form and better battery less than 2 years after its launch? At least Sony waited a full 2+ years.

Why the hell do so many fanboys forgive Nintendo for doing the EXACT SAME THINGS they hate Sony for..?

I'm surprised that there is no touch screen.

Plus they added more features to it that sets it apart from the PSP. The good thing about Nintendo revisions is that there isn't a groundbreaking, set completely apart feature that makes the old one obsolete. The DS + DS Lite are the same things, only they are different in apperance, so you aren't forced to buy the new one. But this with a 2nd analog is just that. Also, the Nintendo revisions are as cheap or cheaper than its previous model, while this one looks to be as much or more than the PSP.

Sony thinks that they can finally stop the DS from outselling it by 200,000+ units per week with this? Yeah, right. DS has sold 23 million to PSP's 13 million, and the gap is only growing

Oh my God, you people need to relax. I like my DS games; you like your PSP games. That's it. Looking down the list of top PSP games, I see two or three games that interest me. By not owning a PSP, I, personally, am not missing out on much because the types of games that come out on it are simply not the types of games I like. At the same time, I can't buy all of the DS games I want because I don't have enough money. If you're happy with the PSP, good for you, but I'd prefer that you didn't try to tell me what I want. Same goes for the DS trolls.

You know... here's my 2 cents on this thing (not like anyone asked for it)

Issue 1 - 8 Gigs of flash memory. This should have been on the PSP in the first place. They go on and on about it not being just a gaming device but a full multimedia outlet that can fit in your ginormous pocket. 8 gigs is nothing compared to an ipod or what a zune is going to have. If it's more than just a game machine, then emphasize that it can do more than play games. at least 30 gigs imho.

Issue 2 - Redesign. Here's what I'd like out of a redesigned PSP -
-Proper button placement, I don't want my square button to screw up because it had to be moved further away from the screen. If need be, I don't mind an extra 1/4" of width that isn't screen.
-Analog nub, I don't want it to fall off in the middle of a game, maybe something solid state like the clickwheel in an ipod (not necessarily the same thing, but something similar) would be ideal
-A DAMN SCREEN COVER! maybe just a piece of plastic that slides around like graphing calculators have, nothing extravagant, but something that I don't have to fork another god damn 20 bucks out on.
-Battery. You know the $40 dollar battery that has more juice than the standard one? make that one better and make that standard. I don't want to have the equivalent of another PSP hooked up to my handheld to get decent battery life out of it.

Those are the main things that should be implemented in the next redesign. the camera will be cool, again with the multimedia aspect of the system. I don't own a PSP, but I really wanted to, I might just go ahead and get one when there's one I deem acceptable. I'm still upset they didn't just use the Minidisc format, that would've saved millions in R&D right there, and would've been much more battery efficient. Where's the next generation walkman I was promised sony? WHERE!?

RE #74
"Oops, forgot this one. Funny how I never got under 5, and often topped 6.5 with my original battery. Guess the DS fanboys must override reality?"

You crow about 6.5 hours of battery life, but my DS goes a week between charges, and that's usually about 11-14 hours depending on the game from the original 18 month old battery.

I've been tempted to pick up a PSP, but the only game I've seen so far that looks any fun is Loco Roco, but I can't justify $240 minumum to play it.

81, While Loco Roco is good, the PSP DOES actualy have some good games, Valkyrie Profile, Gitaroo Man Live, Guilty Gear, Lumines, Me and My Katamari, and all that, it just needs to fit ones taste I supose....

And Huh, new PSP, interesting idea, but Im happy with my 1.5.... unless the new one was able to be easily hacked >>;;

am I the only one that purchased a ds and has laid dormant since I bought it?!? stop bs about a system revision when the nintendo does it all the time GET OVER IT!!!!!!!! most of the time nintendo just releases a new color with no addition...

"wow I have a ds in grey but they released it in blue I'll go buy that, then complain when sony releases an actual update" said the nintendo fanboy..

For those complaining that this is whay sony should have built in the first place, they probably should have, but what price whould u have paid? a 4g ipod nano is 199... cmon do the math... its not that hard..... think!! come up with a crap load of money... then there would've been a ps3-esque it costs too much the horrror the horror!!!!!!!!!!

Pixelator for president!!!!!

it really does look like a sega controller, no?

I thought this rumor was squashed by Kaz Hirai?

pixelator, you keep throwing out 'nintendo fanboy' as an insult. i guess worshipping and defending a corporation all day long is excusable as long as it's sony?

Even if it's a Photoshop job, I don't think it looks so bad. PSP is in desperate need of some ergonomics. I would hope the analogs would be placed higher or even on top and not feel as though you could break them. A compact flash slot would be nice, and what about using Mini DVD instead of UMD. One more thing, What about shoulder buttons on the back of the unit. Video out connection somewhere could possibly rescue UMD. The PSP was a great idea that had piss poor implementation. Can Sony learn from it’s mistakes or just make new mistakes?

This is all SPECULATION - none of it is fact. PSM magazine says so up front.

@ lj-

The point I'm getting across is that wether it be a HDD or flash memory, the PSP should've had a substantial amount of native storage in the first place if it wanted to be considered a true multimedia device. Just because it CAN do something, doesn't mean the way it goes about doing said something is practical, i.e., Music and Movies. Sure UMD uses the full resolution of the PSP, but the 2 gig cap for music is recockulous, especially if Sony set its sights to "reinvent the walkman," something that apple has obviously done as of late. the PSP is selling units don't get me wrong, but it could've sold so many more had there been more people turned on to the multimedia functions, especially parents. "hmm, should little billy get an ipod that can hold 30 gigs of MP3s, or a PSP with 30 gigs and the ability to play games for a roughly similar price?" Just because an ipod nano is 199 doesn't mean that it cost that much to have 4gigs of storage. Sure it would've cost extra, but not by hundredS of dollars, maybe an extra 100, if that.

Well, this rumor has just squashed any possibility of me buying a PSP in the near future.

I was seriously thinking about it for a while, I've even been checking Ebay for prices (cuz to hell if I'm buying it new at $200). But, now that I know a new version might come out next year what the hell is the point in buying it now?

I think the PSP really could have killed if they never introduced the UMD format, and instead included some on-board flash memory from the get-go. That way, the space could be used for music/movies, and if you start running low you can just add more with memory cards. Also, downloading games would have been awesome. The PSP could have been a combination of in-store games (using Duo cards instead of UMD) and games that could be purchased online from the PSP itself.

The PSP could have been good, but I think this new revision (if it ends up being true) is a bit too late. Afterall, you can't ignore the millions upon millions who bought your first version.

Just a point of clarification...the original link mentions "PSM". This is the Unofficial Playstation Magazine. "OPM" stands for the official.

This isn't coming from an official source as your posst suggests, may want to clarify that.

"You crow about 6.5 hours of battery life, but my DS goes a week between charges, and that's usually about 11-14 hours depending on the game from the original 18 month old battery."

I got 6.5 on average before getting the 2200mAh battery, the brightness on full. Also, the battery isn't as sapped by sleep mode as the DS, which is by far the bigger concern for me. If I leave a DS game on suspend as opposed to turning it off, the thing is dead within a week. If I do that with my PSP, it lasts weeks - maybe a month. I haven't tested it out, but the battery takes very little hit by the sleep mode. I've had my DS die on me in sleep mode if I leave it more than a couple of days when the battery isn't topped off. The DS also takes over twice as long to charge.

Turn a DS Lite up to full and see how long it lasts. About the same as a PSP. Granted, it'll go 14+ with the brightness on low, but the point is, PSP is no slouch at battery life, unlike many DS fanboys would have you believe.

Sony-haters aside, this is good news for the PSP. The new system will boost sales (maybe not as much as the Lite did for the DS, but who knows) and people will likely be able to buy the older model for $150, just like Nintendo did with the older Phat models when the Lite arrived. More press, more attention and likely a more positive view (except here at JQ) of Sony listening to their userbase and making (some) improvements to their hardware.

I'd like to see video out, the allegedly-coming keyboard (look for Logitech for this) and a good online source for music and video... That, plus the roster of upcoming games, and you can scream all you want, hysterical Ninty fans, but it doesn't change how impressive this thing is, or that the game selection is starting to look pretty damned good.

"DS has sold 23 million to PSP's 13 million, and the gap is only growing"

Please provide proof that only 13 million PSP units have sold. Don't use the PAL article, he doesn't know any more than the rest of us and extrapolated every country except the USA and JP, and based all other figures on NPD and MC. NPD doesn't account for online sales and MC doesn't factor exports. If there were really 8 million PSP units collecting dust in warehouses, NOBODY WOULD ORDER ANY MORE. Get it?

The real PSP sold-through figure is likely 15-17 million, and at its current rate, it'll outsell the Gamecube by the end of the year. But hey, it's a failure to fanboys like you.

If you guys thought the PSP was a dead system now, just wait for this... I mean, seems perfectly logical to release a new version of your failing system, and try to charge another $300 for it, right?

They need to put their money towards attracting 3rd party devs, so their system doesn't become any more of a colossal failure.

I think Sony just knows all you PS fanboys will keep buying hardware, so there's no point in actually creating any software for it.

The new built-in features sound cool, but that's an ugly ass mockup. I hope the design is better than that. And yes I know it's a fake pic.

lkearn to read yall will se at the end it sez

[Update: The image above is a fake, not the actual redesign. Sorry for any confusion.]

@33: Um, buddy... backwards compatibility doesn't mean NEW games play on OLD systems... it means OLD games play on NEW systems. Therefore, adding a second analog stick wouldnt effect backwards compatibility at all.

"12. "I'm sure the response time will be better with the games now on carts or memory cards"

Response time = pixel refresh rate = nothing to do with carts or memory cards unfortunately. If a LCD screen is going to smear, it's going to smear regardless of media format."

"Response time" is a term as applicable to memory and hard drives as it is to screens (both of the CRT and LCD variety).

I don't know any benchmarks for the PSP's hard drive, and certainly don't know any for the replacement (although you can bet it'll be a Memory Stick from Sony ;) My bet is that the hard drive will be faster, though, but the difference in performance should be marginal either way.

Oh yeah, shame on Joystiq for the 'shop. Love Sony or hate them, but don't pull stunts that will give readers false expectations for the new unit. Although, if Joystiq is more along the lines of consumer advocacy, well sure, I suppose it's okay to send Sony a message about what is wanted...two analog sticks sounds pretty tasty if you ask me

I like niggers.