PSP redesign confirmed?

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 13, 2007 7:07 pm GMT

Source: A GamesIndustry.Biz report of a Sony UK event to launch the PSP in Education initiative. The official story: See below. What we heard: Much like the rumors of a bigger Xbox 360 hard drive, speculation about a redesigned PlayStation Portable simply refuses to go away. Yesterday they...

Source: A GamesIndustry.Biz report of a Sony UK event to launch the PSP in Education initiative.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: Much like the rumors of a bigger Xbox 360 hard drive, speculation about a redesigned PlayStation Portable simply refuses to go away. Yesterday they resurfaced as a GamesIndustry.biz article reported that Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing director Ray Maguire finally confirmed the new PSP's existence at a PSP in Education event to promote the system's use in the classroom.

According to the article, Maguire called the current PSP the "first iteration" of the hardware, and that a "smaller, lighter" version would be released in the future. When asked how that would affect the screen size, Maguire reportedly said the PSP's screen dimensions would be preserved despite any changes to the hardware.

When asked about Maguire's comments, Sony Computer Entertainment of America corporate communications director Dave Karraker told GameSpot that "Ray's comments regarding decreasing the size of the PSP were made in the general context that almost all consumer electronics shrink over time as advances are made in the technology to shrink the components used in manufacture. We have not, however, made any announcement regarding any new PSP hardware changes."

While the "we haven't made any announcement line" is an old standby for publishers wanting to make a splash with news that was assumed to be coming anyway, even the GamesIndustry.biz story includes mention of the less-than-concrete nature of Maguire's comments.

"In the longest term, of course we are always looking at ways to continue our platform development, and this normal business practice is what Ray was referring to," the article quotes a Sony representative as saying.

It looks like this one can join the Gears of War sequels and the bigger Xbox 360 hard drive in the file of sure things just waiting to become official.

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus that it's confirmed, not bogus that it'll happen.

230 Comments

  • MARIOJAY450

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 7:31 pm GMT

    sad

  • nem1

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 7:03 pm GMT

    they dont need a redesign... they need games. thats been the psp's problem from the beginning. They should fix that before worrying about how the thing looks (its a cool looking little gadget)

  • _Sam_

    Posted Apr 14, 2007 6:26 pm GMT

    the psp needs more games before I'll buy it

  • LeonKennedy64

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 3:47 pm GMT

    BRING ON THE DOUBLE NUBS!!!

  • JustQuest

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 3:33 am GMT

    This is like Angels singing in my ears, I hope they do redesign and improve the PSP version 2, I would definately put a pre-order in for this where and when its confirmed for release.

  • icstars2

    Posted Mar 19, 2007 10:13 am GMT

    wow a psp2 would be awsome

  • xifritx

    Posted Mar 18, 2007 10:43 am GMT

    damn man now your going to make me wait when im finally willing to buy it : (

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 12:02 pm GMT

    Interesting.......

  • samyyo1

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 4:58 am GMT

    "TheStealthGhost i hope it comes in diffrent colors like ipods and i also hape it has a so much needed second analog stick
    PLEEEEEAAASE sony!"

    By the way,the PSP already HAS different colours,like white,blue,silver,red,and a whole bunch more....I got mine in white when it came out last year

  • blacklotus218

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 4:54 am GMT

    nothing wrong with it now , how about sony works on some good games first, lets make a new psp even tho ff7cc isnt out yet? ugh, games>new psp

  • Nerissa

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 4:11 am GMT

    This is good news, IMO PSP is a worthy portable, even if others think its not. I hope it continues to evolve. I'm wondering about the UMD support too, probably will not be supported since UMD's never did well to begin with. But who knows...

  • black_sabra

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 4:03 am GMT

    I recommending selling your psp now and when a new design does come out just walk past it and get a ds.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 10:49 pm GMT

    I agree that the PSP is still a good-looking device by today's standards. It has sleek look, clean modern lines, and not a lot of fat to be trimmed. I can't imagine what they could do to reduce the size that wouldn't make the screen smaller or the buttons more cramped (one of my nits with the DS Lite).

    People keep saying that it could use an internal hard drive, and while that would be a great addition, it sounds like it would only increase the size of the device and decrease the battery life. I can't imagine how they could add significant built-in storage (e.g. 4 GB or more) and still hit the $200US price point.

  • cckcmain

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 10:12 pm GMT

    Now if there were just more good games for it... Handhelds lack a blockbuster must-have game.

  • lewser5

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 9:58 pm GMT

    If this redesign does happen, it better have two analog sticks and how about giving us americans another color while your at it.

  • nic2000

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 7:35 pm GMT

    So its confirmed that a new PSP will be released?

  • Dualmask

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 7:20 pm GMT

    This wouldn't be the first time they redesigned their hardware--both the PS1 and PS2 were redesigned in the past. It's not copying, it's simply smart business sense. Consoles have been redesigned since the NES, when it was remade to look somewhat like the Super Nintendo, then the SNES was made smaller, the Genesis became the Nomad (handheld and still functioned as a tv-enabled Genesis) and they combined the Genesis, 32X and Sega CD into one smaller unit, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if the PSP were redesigned, although the change most folks seem to want, the second analog stick, would only support the system's future games and compel developers to port more PS1/PS2 games to the system instead of designing games specifically around the handheld.

    Personally, I'm happy with my PSP as is, but there's always room for improvement.

  • snakeman360psp

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 7:13 pm GMT

    It's ignorant when people say that Sony is copying the Big N in the handheld gaming market when Sony makes a much better machine.

  • pwnr

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 3:53 pm GMT

    if this is in fact true, i better sell my psp.

  • panosl

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:42 pm GMT

    psp lite??hell no!!!!
    what about ds micro then!!??or psp advance?

  • Nuk1euz

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:22 pm GMT

    Considering Sony just brought out a new sleek and thin digi camera 7.2 megapixel that has a battery that lasts a whole weekend, im assuming they will use something like that. That same battery might last longer on the PSP since digicams suck the life out of batteries extremely quickly.

  • Nuk1euz

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:17 pm GMT

    They should call the PSP redesign PSP Cubed, even tho its not the 3rd PSP, it does have a catchy name. lol. Im gonna sell my 1st gen PSP as soon as the 2nd gen PSP gets a public confirmation, so i can get the 2nd gen.

  • sykomyko

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:01 pm GMT

    they can do whatever they want to the psp, it will still be worthless with out some good games!

  • omcpapa

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 1:38 pm GMT

    Lite???? I want 2 analogue sticks....Heck with Lite.

  • weirdaljunky

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 12:23 pm GMT

    so here is a list of things that the psp2 should have better battery life,2 analog sticks flip down screeens, briter screen no more umds beter loding times any thing els

  • weirdaljunky

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 12:23 pm GMT

    so here is a list of things that the psp2 should have better battery life,2 analog sticks flip down screeens, briter screen no more umds beter loding times any thing els

  • Proman84

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 12:02 pm GMT

    I don't like the idea of a smaller PSP. I actually hope for an even bigger model.

  • CapitalG17

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 11:51 am GMT

    Games On Chips. NOW.

    Stomph... No. Nintendo had already re-designed, "shrunk", the NES, SNES, and Game Boy (3 times) by the time the PSone debuted.

    If Sony REALLY wanted to sell a re-designed portable game console, perhaps they could try doing so this time, instead of squeezing games onto a movie disc player and expecting gamers to eat the extra cost.

    The instant the UMD's capacity was outstripped by the MS Pro Duo, the format was doomed. Nintendo seems to make enough of a profit publishing its DS software on ROM chips. Utilizing the PSP's memory card reader for game software would practically eliminate both loading time and battery life complaints, without breaking compatibility.

    Switching to ROM chips would only improve current PSP software, while expanding the potential back catalog for a UMD-less PSP2, if and when. Given Sony's eagerness to provide PSP titles by way of download from the PS3 (A Blu-ray movie disc player that Sony squeezed games onto, expecting gamers to eat the extra cost... argh!), only a Betamax-esque stubbornness could be holding back their ditching the UMD format entirely.

  • imortiferus

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 11:42 am GMT

    The PSP's last hoorah before it's canned. Consider it dead already. The PSP was a victim of the UMD format push by sony, it's anemic battery, and lack of good software. What is the point of making it smaller, if you dont get good games and good battery life? The problem was never abouit shape or size! Sony continues to hit up the crack pipe! Losers!

  • KingsofQueens

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 9:45 am GMT

    I'm not surprised. Considering Sony has a knack for shrinking thier PS Consoles. Doing so for thier Portable would make sense.

  • mikado01

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 9:44 am GMT

    quetzalcoatl45:

    "Wow, Sony runs out of ideas Again, so they steal from Nintendo.
    Can we Say PSP lite?"

    ummm i'd hate to break it to you, but every electronics company makes smaller versions of its hardware when its possible. Smaller versions= less money to manufacture. Sony has been doing this with its hardware for years now. They made smaller versions of TVs, Stereos, the Walkman, Ps1, and Ps2, all before the DS lite was even though of.

  • faizali86

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 9:23 am GMT

    a prototype picture is all i ask for

  • -L-U-I-S-

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 8:52 am GMT

    Wow such idioticy around here is laughable. If PSP copied the DS for getting smaller then I could also say DS Lite copied from the PCs because they are also getting smaller and smaller. See how stupid that argument is?

  • Woofie_kun

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 8:07 am GMT

    If its an improvement by all means go for it.... but I guess it will only happen a long time from now.

  • StylinLancer

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 6:07 am GMT

    Just like a prior comment, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. The PSP is great as is!

  • ChitoKiryoku

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 6:00 am GMT

    For a hand held, smaller is almost always better, so it'd be good for sony to do this.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 5:34 am GMT

    redesigned psp? sony is going to have to rethink the thing all together...... oh, and actually get some good games on it.

  • jensen_slipknot

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 5:18 am GMT

    they dont really need it...well maybe they do since sales are so low for them these days.

  • crck

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 5:05 am GMT

    It will be very hard to shrink the current psp model. There is no wasted space like the DS phat. The screen, battery and umd drive take up much of the space. They can maybe shrink it 10%-15%. Other then that I guess the only other things the psp needs is a screen with a faster refresh rate and longer battery life. Everything else is perfect and the system still looks sexy as hell after 2 years. I mean a touch screen and 2nd analog nub would be good but I think they'll save that for the psp2.

  • NandoSupes

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 4:57 am GMT

    well is about time,I think the PSP is a pretty good handheld,is not the DS Lite,but is still pretty good and a smaller size might increase its sales,heck I might even buy it lol.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 4:46 am GMT

    i agree with undeadmeat. no one really cares about a re-design right now. GAMES are what's important. Sony should help push the highly anticipated titles like Disgaea, FF and now GoW on the PSP.

  • zsc4

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 4:15 am GMT

    A redesigned PSP...makes sense. Will definitely bring buyers and improve sales regrading Sony products

  • Fax_Modem

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 3:30 am GMT

    Hmm! Rather then a smaller version, I think I would rather have a PSP with an extra analouge stick and a built-in harddrive + plus better software for music-sync and movie-encoding.

  • theclaw135

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 3:29 am GMT

    Hmm... Let me see, systems that were not redesigned as of this post being made:

    Xbox, VIrtual Boy, Dreamcast, Xbox 360, NEC PC-FX, PSP.

    Of course, this needs some guidelines. The Q model Gamecube, Pikachu N64, and Saturn with the newer power/reset buttons are redesigns. PSP firmware updates, the removed Gamecube digital output, and systems that have no known differences than the outer case color are not.

  • surajpatil007

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 3:01 am GMT

    Well i bought myself a psp in december!! IM very happy with it cos i never had a ps2 so i dont care if the games are ports or whatever!! ANd who is sayin the psp is dead?? IT isnt dead at all. Its just tht d ds sales r better.
    As for d redesign, there will 100% not be any 2nd analog stick otherwise, the existing psp owners will dump their psp= psp dead forever. SO all those guys who want a 2nd analog stick, better wait for a psp2 . The only thing wich cud change is a better existing analog hub and more sturdy buttons!

    Luv my PSP!!

  • eafifagame

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:33 am GMT

    not bad

  • theLakers

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:30 am GMT

    PSpee?

  • cyberflash

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 2:13 am GMT

    Swingers (1996) Hockey Clip
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vHbOilhpc

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Mar 14, 2007 1:14 am GMT

    Hmmm, the PSP is already pretty compact. If the screen is the same size, there's not much else left to shrink. Maybe the thickness of it or something.
    Two thumbsticks would be nice, especially for 3D games, but that would really be giving the finger to people who already bought one.

  • DrewBlood08

    Posted Mar 13, 2007 11:56 pm GMT

    Who's the **** who reported me? Someone who likes to hide behind rules. If society was based off rules, everyone would live in perfect bliss. I do think the PSP would be great with a redesign by the way. Those current analogs or nubs are just no good at this point...

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