A sliding screen and no UMD drive for the rumored PSP-4000? If
Eurogamer's "close to Sony" source is to be believed, these are the changes you can expect to see in the next iteration of portable PlayStation. The screen is supposedly the same as the PSP-3000, with the only difference being that it can slide. When in the "closed" position, the unit will be "significantly smaller in width" and most controls will be inaccessible; however, shoulder button-only games like
LocoRoco will be playable while in this state.
The noted hardware change, which would make the PSP a UMD-less device, mimics statements made by former COO of Acclaim
Dave Perry last week -- to which Sony's PSP marketing head John Koller offered a vague
non-denial. With the PSP-4000 rumored to
arrive later this year, it won't be long before we get more verifiable information.
{ Mar 2nd 2009 at 2:44PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ghen @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:48PM
Ahh rumors and fake pictures, gotta love it.
required @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:30PM
Clearly fake news since LocoRoco is not a shoulder button-only game. Then again maybe Majed Athab just hasn't used a PSP or played that game before.
Noshino @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:05PM
required,
Before blaming the blogger, you should really read the source article...
"However, our source claims that games which use the shoulder buttons exclusively - such as LocoRoco - will be playable, as these inputs will still be accessible."
riv3r @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:28PM
If Sony does not finally include dual joystiqs
I will have finally lost all respect for the country
Arturis @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:50PM
When did Sony become a country? o_O
Tiptup300 @ Mar 2nd 2009 11:57PM
Am I the only one who thinks that image looks horrible? Do you know how uncomfortable that looks to hold?
joeybeast @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:48PM
Looks like Sony is going after Apple.
Marty @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:01PM
Just because Apple has shown a penchant for modern-looking products doesn't mean that every sleek new idea is automatically "going after Apple," does it?
Noshino @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:12PM
Well, I don't know whether his analogy was because of the design, but I do think that Sony is going after Apple.
UMDless PSP means DD only games, that is a direct attack to Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch + App Store.
required @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:34PM
Don't forget, the PSP has been the second best selling media player for a very long time.
CaramelZappa @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:58PM
Yea it's more like apple tried to go after sony and nintendo, and now sony is fighting back.
I doubt nintendo will. And no, the DSi doesn't count.
joeybeast @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:39PM
Marty,
It's not what I meant at all. SONY always has good hardware design.
Noshino,
That was what I meant actually. It's the UMDless PSP + PSN aprox.= iPod/iPhone+App Store.
yet, iPod is better multimedia device and App Store has so much more content than the American PSN.
By any means, the PSP is a five-year-old device with a five-year-old design.
I welcome a new design but what the hell am I supposed to do with all the UMD games and the one UMD movie I own?
SONY need to make the UMD more efficient.
Not cut it our entirely.
Of course if the PSP-4000 looks anything like the one in the picture.
I'll be camping out side of SONY store.
Marty @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:45PM
Either way, I think my comment still makes sense. Apple is neither the inventor of the online store, nor the best implementer of one.
joeybeast @ Mar 2nd 2009 6:36PM
Marty,
Actually I will argue that the App store is one of the best implementation.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Mar 3rd 2009 6:16AM
@ joeybeast:
Hey, as long as Sony isn't going to steal that terrible square iPod Nano design, I'll be happy. Plus the whole world doesn't revolve around Apple.
Kinsey @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:49PM
wow thats a really old picture. and having no UMD drive is just stupid.
The Baron @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:53PM
Better buy a PSP-3000 quick (if it's true) - personally I don't think Sony would find it very lucrative to scrap discs. Sure you get extra profit by selling all content yourself and controlling prices, but it's a turn-off for some customers, and others might not have access to the internet for it.
SecretAgentHam @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:56PM
as dumb as it sounds, they can get retailers to have a "wi fi" store in their location... but if your at the store purchasing a downloadable game, you can also purchase the phisical item there as well...
HippoHero @ Mar 2nd 2009 6:28PM
If it had a hard drive, Sony could sell physical copies of the game by sticking the game onto memory cards and selling those in stores.
John @ Mar 2nd 2009 7:12PM
This seems like a move to get more Japanese gamers to use the PS Store. I think having a download-only PSP is a good thing: no UMDs to worry about. I just hope (like everyone else) that the next PSP has dual analog sticks.
TechNick @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:54PM
So Sony's basically going to make 95% of their already small catalog of UMD games completely useless and instead make everyone have to download them over their extremely slow PlayStation Network? How do they expect everyone to wait around for their 1GB games?
Man if Sony keeps this up, those Blu-Rayless PS3 rumors may in fact also come true!
Rocks @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:57PM
I never have issues with speed DLing from the PSN, unless of course it's a Thursday or the release of something big...
I'd much rather download PSP games than keep them on UMD discs, I hate that format.
SecretAgentHam @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:57PM
PSN downloads are NOT slow. on the contrary, i find downloading things on the PSN faster than on the Xbox... i'm running a standard 10mbps connection here and have even timed similar downloads. (SSF2HDR)
phr3qu3ncy441 @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:05PM
@ Rocks:
i'd rather be able to continue to play the games i already own on umd format as opposed to having to rebuy the game through the online service...
Noshino @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:08PM
"So Sony's basically going to make 95% of their already small catalog"
400+ games is far from small
"...of UMD games completely useless"
So, as soon as this new PSP comes out, do the UMDs self destruct or something?
You can still play them on the other PSP models.
"...and instead make everyone have to download them over their extremely slow PlayStation Network?"
You can download PSN games for PSP through your PC, PS3, or PSP itself. And no, I haven't really experienced slow downloads.
"How do they expect everyone to wait around for their 1GB games?"
Like they have already been doing so through PSN?...
"Man if Sony keeps this up, those Blu-Rayless PS3 rumors may in fact also come true!"
I doubt it, UMD's are nowhere near as good as Blu-Ray discs, the sales of UMDs aren't as high as that of Blu-Ray discs either, and on top of that, there are many complaints in regards of UMDs, from power consumption/drive noise, to the strength (or lack of) the cases and discs themselves.
Sorry kid, stop spreading FUD
baby sea tuna @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:29PM
PSN downloads are consistantly and retardedly slow. My most recent experiences, KZ2 demo, Flower, and an episode of Quore all took crazy long to download (not to mention install.) Hell, I even had to wait a good 5-6 minutes to install that 17Meg patch for Killzone 2.
To be fair, this is all over wireless so I'm sure that these times would be cut down if I plugged it in, but that probably still wouldn't do anything to shorten the maddeningly long install times.
xtole @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:58PM
/agree
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:08PM
well my PS3 downloads WAY faster than my 360. i think it has something to do with my network configuration though, my 360 just doesn't like how i have something set up (and i haven't figured it out yet). PS3 always works without a hitch.
Matthew McNamara @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:00PM
Old pic is old.
Cal @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:58PM
If this rumour is true, rather than a direct replacement, this unit should be offered alongside the 3000 for a slightly lower price (I'd imagine losing the UMD drive saves some money).
Marty @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:00PM
No UMD is almost a given, but... a sliding screen? What, you're using your screen to protect those shiny buttons now? That doesn't even make sense.
MarkHawk @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:08PM
Saves on Pocket space. The PSP is very bulky these days when looking at a iPhone.
el serpiente @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:35PM
Well, Martin, there's no reason to have the buttons exposed when watching a movie or listening to music. It does more than play games, you know.
required @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:37PM
I agree, it does make sense.
mgsrocks1 @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:15PM
I'm guessing to give it a more sleek look. You would want all those buttons near the screen ruining the look. This is what I think:
1) The screen is going to be a touch screen. Probably why the screen slides to cover the buttons.
2) They are going to add a second analog stick that is more like the one found on PS3 controllers.
3) They might still use UMDs but the casings are going to be very thin. Perhaps the disks will be the size of a Gamecube disk.
4) If it's not goin to use UMDs, then the games are going to be (a) come preloaded on a memory stick, (b) you will be able to download games from your PC, PS3, and online PSN store on your PSP over wi-fi, and (c) there might be stations in retail stores like Gamestop where you can buy games off there.
Marty @ Mar 2nd 2009 7:31PM
I can understand wanting to hide the buttons while watching a video, and saving pocket space is definitely a good thing, but I still don't see this as a feasible idea. Can you imagine how fragile the bottom half would feel while you were gripping it? How unbalanced the PSP would feel with the screen offset up towards the top? How low profile the buttons would have to be?
mgsrocks1 @ Mar 3rd 2009 6:22AM
I'm sure they are taking that into consideration. It might similar to a sidekick, the Sony Ericsson X1, or any other messaging phone. Maybe they are adding a qwerty as well but it's highly unlikely.
jitty @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:07PM
This a good step, but I think instead of making it a big PSP upgrade, they should have made it a full PSP2. With a better screen, better battery life, touch screen maybe, built 64GB+ of flash memory and stronger hardware. If I had to wait 2 more years for that, I would.
David Black @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:29PM
Sorry to say jitty, but the video game system you are imagining would probably cost as much as a PS3....
The Baron @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:33PM
In two years 64GB of flash memory is very feasible. As is the rest of it.
It'd be bulkier than the PSP's we know now but would out-graphics the Wii by a fair margin.
SnakeOzilla @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:07PM
No UMD = failed business until the PSP2...too many games still run on UMD.
Slayer @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:07PM
Don't mean to sound like an ass but, why are there so many revisions to the psp?
coffins outside the door @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:12PM
The same reason there's 3 versions of the DS.
Lee @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:36PM
EH-URRNNN, wrong.
Each PSP update was pushed to offer different motherboards to prevent the rampant piracy on the system. Just watch the sales figures of the PSP-3000 unit explode once its hackable. Sony could have put a better screen and mic in the 2000 unit, but then what would they have put out into the 3000 when they finally made a seemingly unhackable motherboard to get people upgrading?
coffins outside the door @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:49PM
REALLY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 2nd 2009 6:39PM
Lee
That's what Nintendo did with the DSi as well you tard.
tkAshur @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:08PM
That'd be nice. I just hope there is some form of resolution to those who have UMD games. Though I imagine there won't. If they'd at least mega boost their catologue, I'll sell my UMD's and get PSN cards to rebuy them. UMD's aren't DS cards, they're freakin playing card decks. Not compact.
shamowfski @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:09PM
Yay! Now Sony can start selling some of those $90.00 16gb Pro Duo cards.
Alien Lord whisperer @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:13PM
Note to self: do not buy from the same locations as shamowfski.
el serpiente @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:25PM
He probably gets them at the same store that sells bluray discs for $40.