New PSP coming in September

60 Comments by Justin McElroy Jul 11th 2007 2:59PM
Filed under: Sony PSP, E3

Sony took the wraps off of the device we all knew in our hearts was coming: A redesigned PSP. Though it was expected, it's probably a surprise to most how little has changed. The new model keeps the 4.3" LCD screen, and still has UMD. It is, however, 33% lighter and 19% slimmer. Also, the battery is more efficient and games load faster. It can also output a high quality video signal directly to TVs.

The system will also come in two new colors which are also part of two new packs. First is the Ice Silver, part of the $199.99 Entertainment Pack that comes with a 1GB Memory Stick, Daxter, and the Family Guy Frickin' Sweet Collection on UMD. Also is a new, white Star Wars-themed PSP that will retail in October for $199.99 packed with Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. These release plans are for North America, announcements for Japan and Europe are forthcoming.

Tags: breakingnews, e307, psp, psp2, PSPLite

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Kinger: Jul 11th 2007; 3:06PM

no dual analog sticks? *yawn

Ty: Jul 13th 2007; 7:37PM

Because that would change up the gameplay for future PSP games. You'd still complain even if it have 2 analog sticks did because Sony would be screwing over the original PSP owners. Try to think in a logical standpoint before you post.

Evan: Jul 11th 2007; 3:08PM

Regarding video output to tv...

I wouldn't be surprised to see portable game systems take over console systems in a couple generations. Why support two systems when portable hardware is getting powerful enough to replace consoles?

Dann: Jul 11th 2007; 3:11PM

Hopefully the speakers would be louder...seeing that they're in the front now (assuming those little black dots in the front are the speakers.

tobin92: Jul 11th 2007; 3:11PM

The TV feature is cool....Not worth getting a new PSP.
I could just get a Portable DVD player

I don't want it smaller....It is too fragile anyways.

meatwad: Jul 11th 2007; 3:13PM

.... usually when you redesign something, you also want it to LOOK different

this is just stupid, they could have at least put in another analog stick

Chris: Jul 11th 2007; 3:15PM

I agree. The design isn't that bad, especially compared to the difference between the DS phat and lite, but you've gotta make people be ashamed that they're walking around w/ an ORIGINAL PSP! :-)

Steve: Jul 11th 2007; 6:03PM

The look of the original PSP was very good and doesn't need modified. The original DS, on the other hand, was an ugly POS and needed the update it got with the DS-Lite. It sounds like Sony concentrated on the things that could really improve the system like improving the system's abysmal load times and battery life. Making the device thinner and significantly lighter was a nice touch too. I doubt I'll buy one anyway since the DS fills my limited need for portable gaming.

Colin: Jul 11th 2007; 3:14PM

Kotaku should shut their doors and Crecent should get a real job now...

Stevo: Jul 11th 2007; 3:15PM

lolz, I thought the PSP was dead....

...I still think it is.

ferrarimanf355: Jul 11th 2007; 3:17PM

I must know how the D-Pad is. If it's improved, and I can play Tekken Dark Resurrection on it without a stick-on D-Pad or opening it up, I'm there. Otherwise, I'll pass.

Admiral_Mike: Jul 11th 2007; 3:26PM

D-pad looks the same. The only thing that this redesign might be good for would be playing umd movies on a TV so you don't have to get the umd and the dvd, but umd movies are dead anyway.

Nate: Jul 11th 2007; 3:19PM

No point in buying. TV-out is the only interesting feature, but I wouldn't use it anyways...

Kenobi: Jul 11th 2007; 3:19PM

You've got be fracking kidding me!

What is the point. Sony = Perpetually Clueless.

Killer Loki: Jul 11th 2007; 3:32PM

to quote Kenobi..

You've got be fracking kidding me!

What is the point. Sony = Perpetually Clueless.

Kinda like MS with their 'ipod' killer 'Zune' and let's not forget the fan favorite 'Xbox 360 Elite'

BPM: Jul 11th 2007; 3:19PM

To the fools who say "add a second analog nub":
That would be the WORST thing they could do. Any new game coming out couldn't utilize it (at least, not in a critical way), as that would render all PSP V1s useless.

Well, it's not the megaton redesign many were hoping for. Ah, well. I just hope the firmware is hacked just as easily as before.

Jitty: Jul 11th 2007; 3:25PM

What the hell is wrong with you people? You act like it would be a psp that would want you to buy it again even if you already own a psp. No! The point is it smaller, lighter, has better battery life and supposedly better load times. It suppose to make the psp more appealing to people, maybe make people who originally didn't want to buy one; buy one. (Ignoring the psp haters)

polly: Jul 11th 2007; 3:30PM

They should probably drop the price then. Although that first package isn't too bad.

Mabui: Jul 11th 2007; 3:30PM

Hrm, I finally want a PSP! Slimmer, lighter, better battery (Most important IMO) and cool colors, cept for the fact I have to buy some crazy packages to get them.

Ah well, still almost no reason left for me not to own a PSP now (Just gunna wait a little bit to see how much more improved the battery life is)

Ryan de michigan: Jul 11th 2007; 3:31PM

how could they not add the second Nub? I thought thats this was such a given that I was shocked it's missing it. Its going to be hard for the PSP to get back on it's feet when there is a bullet in each foot.

viito: Jul 11th 2007; 3:32PM

Please tell me they moved the power switch though. I always hit that damn thing while I am playing and put it into sleep mode.

required: Jul 11th 2007; 3:38PM

Those of you (the maybe two of you) that want a second analogue stick need to get off your anal logs, the truth is the PSP does not need two it works great as is.

Che: Jul 12th 2007; 12:35AM

HaHa hahahahahhahahahahaha

Funny.

Did u hear the one about good games on the Wii...

Mindbleach: Jul 11th 2007; 3:52PM

King, meatwad, etc: what you get when you change the useable hardware isn't a redesign, it's a different system. The Game Boy Pocket was a redesign. The Game Boy Color was a second generation in the GB line. The only way Sony would another stick is for lefties, such that both do the same job, and that would be expensive and largely useless.

Evan: Portables won't overtake consoles anytime soon because of batteries and heating issues. I too share the dream of an alternate universe where Sega gave the Genesis a miss and went straight to the Nomad, but it doesn't work that way in the age of gigantic power bricks and red rings of death. The best we can hope for is extended software life (the long tail, if you will). PSX titles on the PSP through PS3 is the only example right now, but Gamecube discs are small enough to incorporate directly into a handheld system and a DS firmware update could allow low-power Wii Ware / Virtual Console titles to run on that system.

Kenobi: it's probably a combination of publicity and economy that drove them to see this through. The smaller hardware means reduced shipping weight and less plastic - very little saved per unit, but not chump change if you make (and sell) a few million of them. Too bad selling hardware isn't Sony's forte right now.

I like what they've done, despite my hopes for a clamshell PSP SP being dashes. Nothing radical. The TV-out thing is really a major improvement, given the tiny console's power, and it lends some much-needed legitimacy to the UMD format. Now all I need is a price drop on the movies and news that it's been thoroughly hacked and this might be my next major purchase.

DarthDavid: Jul 11th 2007; 3:57PM

Did it have to look exactly like the first PSP?....Doesn't have a brighter screen, no internal memory, no improved D-pad, its slimmer but its the same size across....I don't get it...Nintendo took to old DS and at least made it look better...Looking back at what Sony did to the PS1 and PS2 I was expecting better....still getting though =)

Steve: Jul 11th 2007; 6:11PM

The original DS looked like an ugly tech demo. It was almost like Nintendo was afraid to invest too much money in the risky concept. When the thing became a phenominal hit it made sense to pretty it up when they improved everything else. Sony's PSP, on the other hand, was a sleek looking system that really doesn't need updating. The only changes the original PSP hardware screams for are things that can improve any electonic device: lighter weight, smaller size, faster data access, better battery life, and most importantly cheaper production costs.

Ninjakamster: Jul 11th 2007; 4:00PM

Oh god, I can't beleive you morons asking for a second nub, maybe they can add that to its sequel but adding it here would alienate all the 20 million+ current PSP owners you idiots. Its fine the way it is anyways, the DS has no analog at all and you don't see people bitching, shut the hell up.

I sold my PSP a while back but I'm getting this one, too bad September is so far away. I wonder if the black one's faceplate will be glossy like the previous one or matte? I wonder how much faster game loading will be and the battery life, bet the old PSP batteries won't be compatible with this?

Abscissa: Jul 11th 2007; 4:00PM

"It is, however, 33% lighter and 19% slimmer. Also, the battery is more efficient and games load faster. It can also output a high quality video signal directly to TVs."

Finally!! This is EXACTLY the news I've been waiting for! I'm finally willing to get a PSP now! Yay!

duerra: Jul 11th 2007; 4:27PM

Just how "high quality" is high quality? 480p? I'd consider 480p to be a minimum to be called "high quality" in my book.

required: Jul 11th 2007; 4:08PM

Nintendo had to change the look and feel of their "phat" thingy. It was fugly gimcrack.

nateee: Jul 11th 2007; 4:11PM

can you get the white without the star wars crap on it? i always wanted a white one. the battery in mine is getting worse now anyway.

Jabbar: Jul 11th 2007; 4:12PM

Question, will you need a PS3 to beam a signal to TV from the new PSP? I can't see how that would work with out a PS3. If you do need a PS3 to do so, will there be an update for the original PSP that will give the functionality? The redesigned PSP is cool but I don't think it is cool enough to go out and buy another PSP. Oh, and the questions are hypothetical.

jou: Jul 11th 2007; 4:31PM

"Question, will you need a PS3 to beam a signal to TV from the new PSP? I can't see how that would work with out a PS3. "

Uh, maybe they've just added a video out port to it? It doesn't have to be any more complex than that.

Jabbar: Jul 11th 2007; 5:21PM

Sorry jou I forgot to mention that I read an artical on PSPUPDATES that said

"Furthermore, Hirai brought out a copy of movie Spider-Man 2 then pressed a button on the PSP. The video then suddenly appeared on the giant screen behind him. He said that this is going to be part of the new display functions and the same will be implemented to everything that is inside your unit including games and photos."

I also saw A rear view picture from PSPFANBOY. No video outputs to be seen. So what I am saying in plain English is " Sony is trying to make us buy a PS3 to make the PSP do cool things."

Che: Jul 12th 2007; 12:30AM

I suspect Jabbar is right here.
"...high quality video signal..." has to mean Component, HDMI or S-Video at the VERY least. All of which sound like a port too big for a regular PSP not to mention a thinner, lighter one.
Unless they have some USB magic up there sleeves I hope Sony isn't asking me for $698 to get PSP on my TV.

Georgio: Jul 11th 2007; 4:15PM

All i wanted was two nubs. THATS IT. That is all i needed to trick me into another PSP. I little integrated memory and a clam shell design to protect the screen would have been nice, but not necessary.

Ninja: DS users don't ask for analog because we have a TOUCH SCREEN. PSP users beg for one because FPS fail massively thanks to 1/2 analog 1/2 digital, among other things that would have been nice.

Alexander: Jul 11th 2007; 4:44PM

@Georgio

FPS DON'T fail massivly. Syphon Filter: DM, SOCOM FTB1 & 2 both got great reviews, even MOH: Heroes got a good review. So NONE of those aforementioned games failed. I don't find the controls to be an issue, it just takes a while to get use to them. I hate using the ds's touch screen *ugh*, but then again I hate using pda touch screens as well. Also, only an idiot would expect Sony to include two nubs, which would exclude 24+ million original psp owners from the new games utilizing them.

All I wanted was a clamshell design, and internal some internal flash memory. I might still get this though.

deaftly: Jul 11th 2007; 4:20PM

looks like they moved the speakers to the front, thats one thing i never got, the bottom was a wierd choice

required: Jul 11th 2007; 4:24PM

Georgio, PSP users DO NOT beg for that. You do.

Georgio: Jul 11th 2007; 4:43PM

required. you're just mad because you don't have dual nubs on your psp. It's cool bro, I totally know how you feel. I feel the same way. So much so i even sold the 'ole lady.

I loves me my FPS, driving games, and Katamari Demacy. All of which totally rock with dual nubs. No dual nubs means no rockin, and i get sad when im deprived of my rockin.

Rubang B: Jul 11th 2007; 4:54PM

Holy crap it's too little too late wowee zowee! Watch the DS break 8 gajillion sales this week!

Skippy: Jul 11th 2007; 4:55PM

The PS Lite then?

mike: Sep 6th 2007; 1:07AM

i think sony is trying to milk this thing as they can, if i was making a psp, i would add a tv tuner to it, 3 speakers, two in the front and one in the back, then i would add a 180 gb hard drive to it, to atlease hang with the i pod, and a shared memory card slot for extra memory,then i would add a 5 mega pixel camera to it, so you can take pictures with it, i would add blue ray to it so you can talk to the people you play with on line,
then i would add one last thing to kill every game system out ther, i would create the worlds firs mini blu ray hard drive and disk to play on it, to replace the umd now thats what i call a psp 2.

h8rain: Jul 11th 2007; 5:01PM

So it took Sony this long to make it slightly thinner, and have better battery life...... Loading games faster....anyone want to bet it is caching on the MS.

Needless to say, I think I will keep mine that has been improved by Dark_Alex

Lp47: Jul 11th 2007; 5:04PM

it's not a new PSP is like a DS lite but with better features tossed in as an extra.

dave: Jul 11th 2007; 5:22PM

SO its the PSP LITE then

Skippy: Jul 11th 2007; 6:02PM

"PS Lite" is catchier - PlayStation Lite

SToNeP2277: Jul 11th 2007; 5:31PM

you is crazy we need that second analogue stick for games like dexter and Ratchet & Clank...them games suck ass without the second analogue stick its damn near impossible to play them.

Doc: Jul 11th 2007; 5:38PM

this is sad...no HDD and NO dual stick??? the psp is dead IMO, this is a sad day no HDD support what a waste a one gig memory stick here we go again trying to sell sony's lovely and massively over priced memory sticks...don't they understand how much they missed out!! think about it,how much would you download if you had a HDD?? a lot!! having to buy memory sticks...i'll pass. Think about it if the ipod had to use memory cards it wouldn't be so popular just like the psp...RIP PSP and please take the umd's with you